Free-Write June 20, 2021: Irreplaceable

Whenever I travel, I have one rule. I never bring anything I'm not willing to lose. And for a while, that included a very special bear I called WooWoo Bear. Don't laugh. I named him when I was a baby, ok? Anyway, like I said I could never bring WooWoo Bear when I travel because I could never replace him. But this time is different because this trip is just for him.

What is a 29 year old guy doing taking a trip for his teddy? Well, it's a funny story. You see, five years ago, I decided to actually get rid of him. My parents told me they were having a huge garage sale and to get rid of any of my old things that I didn't want to keep, so I piled a bunch of my old video games and toys into the garage, and as an afterthought, I looked at my bed. I thought, You really shouldn't be sleeping with a Teddy bear any more, Benjamin. It was just a voice inside my head that told me it wasn't right. I mean I was 24, right? Old enough to sleep just fine without him. So I looked at him one last time, gave him one last hug, and then took him down to the garage.

"Alright buddy. I hope you make some other kid happy," I said, then I went to work, figuring that by the time I was back he'd be gone. It was easier that way, anyway. But it wasn't meant to be. Because when I got back home, he was waiting right there on my bed again.

"Uh, Mom?" I asked, thinking that maybe they didn't sell anything. The garage looked empty, but who knows. I found my Mom in the living room reading her trashy novels. The kind about pet cats that help solve mysteries and print large enough for babies to read. "Mom, how well did the sale go?"

"Oh, it went great! We sold everything!"

"Everything?" I asked.

"Yeah, pretty much. Your video games sold like hotcakes. I was surprised you were willing to give them up. You used to love your games."

"Yeah, well. I guess I've just gotten too old for them."

My mom just raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Mm-hmm..."

I didn't really know what that meant, but I was tired so I just went back upstairs, brushed my teeth, and crawled into bed with Teddy.

"Well, old buddy. I guess you and I weren't meant to part yet. Sleep well."

And as I fell asleep, I could swear I heard a little voice in my head return the sentiment.

Neither Mom nor Dad ever said anything about it, but I just assumed they decided to save him themselves. Maybe they weren't quite ready to see their boy grow up, or maybe it's because he was a gift from my Dad when I was born. I don't know. But five years later, his age would really start showing, and that's when a little voice inside my head told me it was time to look into restoring him.

"Teddy bear restoration?" asked my boyfriend, Anthony.

"Yeah! Just like that TV show, The Minky Medic, with Maria Kasanova and her hot assistant, John Flufferson? No?"

Andy looked at me like I was crazy. "Sorry, dude. You lost me. Why don't you just buy yourself a new one? Why are you even sleeping with a teddy in the first place? Teddy bears are for girls and babies!"

"Oh my gosh! Don't say that about WooWoo Bear," I said, covering his ears. Anthony just started laughing. "I'm serious, he's sensitive. And I'm pretty sure he already heard you. Apologize to WooWoo Bear right now. Or no sex."

"Okay, okay," he said, still laughing. "S-sorry WooWoo Bear! I hope you don't bust a seam over it!" He was now rolling around on the bed and laughing. And so that's how he ended up being dragged along with me to the airport. We're waiting now for a flight to Germany, where he was made. He is a Zeiff bear, you see, made by the famous company teddy bear collectors know and love. I look at my round trip ticket to Berlin for the thousandth time. I'm so excited.

"Really? Germany?" my boyfriend asks for the millionth time.

"Yes, Germany. He is a Zeiff, after all!"

"Isn't there someone on EHarbor or Getsy or something?"

"I'm not just going to trust anyone with a Zeiff treasure like WooWoo Bear! Oh no, you must be tripping. You should just be happy we're getting to travel! Come on, it'll be fun."

"Yeah, right. The first thing I'm gonna do when I get there is get a McBurger. You can go off and have Schnitzels and Bratwurst with your Teddy, weirdo." I laugh but I have to admit I'm a little hurt as well. I can't believe Anthony is being such a stick in the mud, but then again, I guess I can't blame him. I mean I thought I was over my baby things myself, but somehow I've grown very attached to WooWoo Bear since he was mysteriously rescued.

Now we're boarding the plane and we find our seat by the windows. I take the aisle seat and immediately snuggle up with my teddy.

"Couldn't you at least put him in your luggage? This is embarrassing," he says.

"Yeah right, and risk him getting damage, or worse, stolen? Not on your life." He just rolls his eyes and looks out the window, pretending he doesn't know me. "If anyone asks, we've never met."

I punch him in the arm playfully, and snuggle back up with WooWoo Bear. I don't really care how it looks, I just have to have him. As soon as we are in the air and the waitresses come by with the carts, I drink my tomato juice and I'm out like a light, slipping my thumb into my mouth as I hug him in a death grip of ultimate security. As I fall asleep, I could swear I hear a small voice in my head.

"That's it Benji. Don't let that meanie tell you what to do. We're best pals. All you need is me and your thumb. You'll see. When we get me fixed up, you'll be just like new too." A little high pitched giggle follows, but I figure it's just the beginnings of my dream as I slip into a restful sleep.

-Written by ChampTehOtter