TIRANA, Albania
On an otherwise bleak Wednesday afternoon, a gleeful shriek echoed through the walls of Tirana's Central University Hospital as Mahije Kabashi's tiny fingers clawed through the simply wrapped package sitting on her knee. In seconds she had freed her present and was happily playing with her new toy - a Beanie Baby.
Mahije, a seven-year old ethnic Albanian from Velika Krusa, had waited almost two weeks to receive her Beanie Baby but, said Mahije, it was worth the wait. "It's exactly what I wanted. I have the octopus and the shark but this is the one I wanted most."
Her Beanie Baby is part of a special Yugoslavian war memorabilia collector's line, noted Mahije. Called "Slobodan the Serb Bear," it looks like a small teddy bear and features a coiffure similar to the Serbian leader.
"This is for my parents," said Mahije as she dropped the Serb Beanie to the floor and ground her heel into its back.
While watching Mahije spit on the flattened bear's back and make a hand motion that, in the Balkans, loosely translates to "up your ass," Red Cross volunteer Carol Burton explained that even in war-torn countries like Yugoslavia, children clamor for Beanie Babies, requesting them from relief workers and hospital staffers in numbers that far outrank food, water and bandages.
"There are many reasons why we see this as a positive experience for children like Mahije who are going through a traumatic period," said Burton. "Obviously, one benefit is it allows them to release their aggressions and express themselves in a healthy and safe manner."
Burton's point was emphasized by Mahije's repeated pitching of the Serb Beanie against the hospital wall.
"If that was another child, we'd have a problem on our hands," admitted Burton.
The Serb Beanie has a special feature all its own, having been treated with a flame-repellent chemical, allowing children like Mahije to light it on fire repeatedly without ruining the toy while maintaining a satisfactorily singed look and odor.
Currently, the Yugoslavian War memorabilia line only includes "Slobodan" the Serb bear and "Billy," a bluetick hound dog modeled after President Bill Clinton. Beanie manufacturer Ty Company is waiting for a singular marketable ethnic Albanian personality to emerge before committing to further designs. Also rumored to be in development are Beanie Babies modeled after Madeleine Albright, NATO fighter pilots and television commentator Geraldo Rivera.
Mahije is hoping for an entire line of war crimes tribunal bears. "I love them," she said, revealing a shy grin as she bit down on her new Beanie's leg. "I would buy every single one, no matter what."
