Daily Free-Write June 23, 2021: Irreplaceable Pt. 3

Continuation of June 22, 2021: "Irreplaceable Pt. 2"

Part 1 Part 2 

Anthony is sitting across from me on the train to Giengen. He is holding his new stuffed badger in his lap and his expression is one of mixed embarrassment and happiness as he holds his new best friend out in the open. Of course I don't pass over the opportunity to give him a hard time about it.

"See? I knew you'd come around. You were giving me such a hard time and now look, your stuffie is almost twice as big as mine!" The badger is quite large and fluffy, at 25 inches or 63cm compared to my teddy who is only 15 inches or 38 centimeters.

Anthony turns bright red and shoots back, "W-well you're the one who decided to buy him! And I'm only holding him here because I didn't have any room in my bags."

"And because I insisted," I add.

"I... I never had a plushie of my own before," he admits, after a moment. "My parents never let me have one... said it was for babies."

"And see, don't you feel so much better with your little buddy in your lap where you can cuddle him to your heart's content?"

He gets a flustered look on his face and changes the subject. "I don't know how you talked me into getting on a train to nowhere at 6 in the morning!"

"Giengen is a lovely town, you'll see. Maybe you and Mr. Badger can explore it together!"

"His name is Toots," he mumbles. I smile. This is too cute.

"Right," I say, patting his knee. "Toots. Like a train whistle! That's a very good name for your special friend. Right WooWoo bear?" I turn to look my teddy in the eyes, then look back up to my bashful boyfriend. "WooWoo bear agrees."

"Oh, stuff it. Both of you," he says, rolling his eyes and holding his badger closer as he looks out the window. I look down at the Zeiff tickets in my hand. It's been a hassle arranging a hotel and travel to a whole different part of Germany, but this journey has to happen, no matter the cost. I can sense it. Even Anthony can't deny that pull. He says he thought he could hear Toots whispering in his ear last night as he drifted off, telling him how much fun they would have in Giengen at the Zeiff factory.

We step off the train and we have a short taxi ride to our hotel. Anthony and I each spend the ride with our plushies tucked under one arm as we hold hands. As soon as we walk into the hotel, they know exactly why we're there.

"Ah, Zeiff enthusiasts! Welcome! I hope you enjoy your stay," says the concierge. "And if you need any extra accommodations - bigger trash cans, toiletries... changing supplies... we're happy to accommodate!"

"What is he talking about?" Anthony, whispering to me. I don't know. I just shrug and thank the concierge. The bellhop takes us and our bags to our room, a very nice suite with a whimsical almost childlike feel, but we spend little time appreciating our new room. Really, just enough time to drop off our bags and then we're off.

"Anthony, do you have butterflies in your stomach?" I ask, as we begin the walk to the Zeiff museum and factory.

"Yes, I do. I don't know why. I don't even care about this stupid Zeiff factory." He suddenly gets a stricken, guilty look as he stares at his badger. "S-sorry, Toots. I didn't mean that. I was just... It's embarrassing, okay?"

"Just give him a hug and I'm sure he'll forgive you."

Anthony just rolls his eyes at my trite suggestion, but still, he furtively begins to hug his badger buddy and whispers something into his ear. I can't help but chuckle.

Our anticipation only mounts as we approach the Zeiff complex. It's just past noon and already there is a line. We are far from the only ones with our plushies, though we are certainly older than most. However, we have an appointment. Yesterday after we left the Zeiff store, I called ahead and arranged for the restoration, printing out our tickets at the hotel. Thus we are able to enter the VIP line. And it feels much deserved, not because Anthony or I are VIPs, no. Our stuffies are the true VIPs here. Very important plushies.

"Let's see," says the man who checks our passes at the entrance. "Anthony and Benjamin, hmm? Oh, yes, we've heard about you two. You'll come with me right away."

"R-really?" I ask, looking between the man and my boyfriend. What could they have possibly heard besides the fact that I've scheduled a restoration?"

"Come along," he says, when he sees my hesitation. "We don't have all day. And I have a big surprise for you in particular, Benjie."

Benjie? How did he know my childhood name? That wasn't in the request form. Something is off, but that inner voice urges me forward, and I obey. Anthony seems oblivious to this tension, until he too has a shock.

"Come along little Andy. You too. You've finally got a fuzzy friend, and you won't want to be left out."

"How did he know?" asks Anthony, with a bewildered expression on his face. Then he comes along as well.