Red Bear become Real
When I was a child, I had a stuffed Snoopy dog who was real. His fur was loved off to bald bare spots. His stuffing was squished from soft fluffy to rock hard. His nose is no longer centered from multiple nose jobs. His fur salty stiff with years of tears that he has soaked up.
He is a real dog. Real as in the Velveteen Rabbit real. He was loved into realness which is magical and wonderful and sweet and even sad. But my Snoopy (who I might mention still lives today) has been a constant companion since about age 5.
About a year and a half ago, Duke located “Red Bear.” I say located, because he adopted him from the Queen Mum’s home. (I think he was a random gift over the years, but he was there waiting for Duke.) Duke was staying with them and he discovered Red Bear. Duke named him (I also think it is cute that all other bears like Red Bear are in the same family — there is Green Red Bear; Brown Red Bear, and my favorite, Pink Red Bear — he clashes).
Well, Red Bear has been a near constant companion since. There have been nights when Red Bear, like the Velveteen Rabbit, was left before bed, but those are rare. When we travel, Red Bear sits in Duke’s seat with him.
But while Duke asks for Red Bear and he gets comfort from Red Bear, I’ve not seen him talk to Red Bear like I used to talk to Snoopy — that is until last night.
Duke, playing on the sofa and looking outside, says, “Hey, Red Bear, come look at this.” There, right there. My boy began to make Red Bear real.
I don’t know how long Red Bear will be with us, will it be a lifetime like Snoopy or just a few years like my mother’s Hound Dog. Either way, I’m thrilled that Duke has his own real, stuffed animal. It made me want to go give Snoopy a dusty, teary hug.
March 30th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Awww… I have Frosty (a bear) who is very, very real, and still sleeps with me every night. When I’ve moved, everytime, Frosty has been seat-belted into the seat next to me.