The End of an Era

Christopher turned one on the birthday he received Woo Woo. Obviously he named him by the noise that a stuffed dog would make if a stuffed dog could talk. Woo Woo definitely could talk–to Christopher. As Christopher learned more words, so did Woo Woo. Christopher would whisper secrets into the dog’s floppy, black ears and Woo Woo would answer back–to Christopher. Their adventures expanded beyond our house to any and everywhere that Christopher went. Cedar Point Amusement Park marked Christopher’s third birthday and Woo woo’s first ride on a ferris wheel. The grocery cart had a place for Woo (his nickname) as did the stroller and the carseat. One day in Woo Woo’s fourth year, the same year his red ribbon collar became tattered and his ears matted, Woo Woo got lost. After weeks of searching, crying, searching, and crying we gave up and went out to purchase “Woo II.” Christopher was glad to have a new dog but we all knew he wasn’t the same. After only 24 hours of playing with his Woo II, Christopher FOUND Woo Woo. He was still hiding in the bottom of the china cabinet where he hid as they had played Hide-and-Seek a month before. It seemed that Woo II liked the same hiding spot.
Over the years Woo Woo became less a constant on Christopher’s arm and more of an observer of this growing little boy. Oh don’t get me wrong, he was still special and spent each night folded over Christopher’s neck with Woo’s worn nose and ragged ears still bringing comfort. But the tattered red ribbon collar was now missing and his time off the bed was minimal.
One day when Christopher was nine, I noticed Woo Woo in a basket at the end of his bed and no longer lying draped over his face. I asked about it and was told, “Woo Woo likes to sleep in there now.” Woo Woo slept there for most of that next year until at age ten Christopher needed him again. He contracted a rare infection which necessitated both open heart and brain surgery within a two week period. Woo Woo was there for him. (See Photo)
Now on the verge of being a teenager in a month, Christopher has placed Woo Woo in a basket in his closet with all the other stuffed animals collected from a decade of birthdays and Christmases. Despite his significant role in the family, Woo Woo was in the middle of the pile next to a koala bear Beanie Baby and a well dressed owl. Seeing him there disturbed me for some reason today, so I freed him from this prison and set him right in the middle of the new double bed that we set up in Christopher’s room this morning.
I just left Christopher’s room minutes ago and found Woo Woo missing from the bed. On careful searching I found him right back in the basket in the closet. Guess Mom needs to realize that his work here is done!