Once Upon A Time

A brief story about our son, Jeremy, and a blanket puppet he loved when he was a mere wisp of a lad. Written to a prompt about things that are valued (inanimate things).

Once Upon a Time

Ernie Stricsek©

     Once upon a time in the New England state of Connecticut, there lived a child named Jeremy. Jeremy was bright-eyed and curious, with a heart full of wonder, whimsy and imagination.  He had a very special companion named ‘Bunny’, a soft and cuddly blanket bunny that had been with him since he was a baby.

     Bunny was, indeed, no ordinary bunny; he had pink, satiny inner ears surrounded by white felt outer ears. Bright eyes hovered over a pink, satin nose and a broad smile stitched on a face as fluffy as his ears. Bunny’s coat was a patchwork of colors that hung from his head like a cloak and two white cottony paws peaked from beneath it. From the moment Jeremy’s tiny fingers grasped him they formed a bond that was stronger than the strongest of steels. Every night Jeremy would tuck himself into bed with Bunny nestled nearby. He would become Jeremy’s protector, his confidant, and a great source of comfort in a world that felt big, overwhelming, and sometimes very scary. 

     For an inanimate object, Bunny developed a personality that was bigger than life and became a big part of the family. He went everywhere Jeremy went. The grocery store, on visits to the doctor, visits to grandparents, family trips. Sometimes Jeremy’s dad even let Bunny steer the car! When it was mealtime, he would sit next to Jeremy to make sure he ate everything. Because they were so inseparable, Bunny needed to bathe with almost the same frequency that Jeremy did. Jeremy in the bathtub, Bunny with the towels and linens in the Sears Hotpoint washing machine. He didn’t seem to be bothered by that; he would always emerge with the same broad smile on his face.

     One day, while shopping at the Pathmark grocery store, Jeremy was distracted and didn’t notice that Bunny had slipped from shopping cart seat. He only became aware of his absence whey they got home from the store. Jeremy’s mom called the store and discovered some kind person had found Bunny and brought him to the service desk for safe keeping. We all breathed a sigh of relief. 

     Bunny was so well loved that over time, his once magnificent coat became tattered and threadbare. However, Jeremy’s mom was able to fashion a new coat from a section of blanket that Jeremy had also loved. Which also became threadbare, but thankfully was quite large and provided enough fabric for several more wardrobe changes.

     However, the day that many children fear came. On a long trip from their comfortable home and familiar New England setting to a strange place that was flat as a pancake and surrounded by corn, Bunny disappeared. At a rest stop somewhere along the Ohio Turnpike, he tumbled out of the car, unnoticed by Jeremy and his family until they stopped at another rest area many, many miles away. Everyone was devastated. Jeremy’s dad called all the rest areas the family had stopped at, but the news from each of them was not good. A bunny with pink satin ears and well-loved cloak had not been brought to safety. Jeremy’s faithful companion, the symbol of his childhood innocence and unwavering friendship, was forever lost. No matter where his young life had taken him, Bunny was there, a constant reminder of love and resilience. 

    As time passed, the plucky, resilient Jeremy, would find another faithful companion. On a visit to an animal shelter, an orange tabby kitten called out to Jeremy when he walked past his cage. Sunny replaced Bunny and would be Jeremy’s constant companion for many more years.