When you leave home, you never think about coming back. You say goodbye to your family, to your neighbors (both the ones you liked and disliked), and to your friends. You leave without looking back, coming home for the holidays (if that). Unfortunately, I failed.
I received a full ride to a college of my choice and after choosing, I was ready to leave and I did, but a few wrong choices lead me back to wear I started. Home.
My parents greeted me with welcoming but sad arms, hugging me and inviting me in. They asked plenty of questions and were eager to learn about my travels. I told them as much as I could without giving away too many of my secrets.
My dad had a thing for grilling on special occasions and this one of them. He fired up the thing and made burgers. My mom invited my aunts and cousins over, all of them crowding around and suffocating me with hugs when they arrived.
I played along. I was happy but it wasn’t what I wanted. The family joked about the things that I had done and my favorite aunt bragged about her daughter getting some scholarships. The talking continued for quite some time until everyone realized it was getting dark outside. Goodbyes were said and I watched as the cars pulled away leaving the three of us waving at the door.
I sat them down and told them what had happened.
“The scholarship was taken away because I forgot to turn in this paper. It wasn’t my fault, I was drugged or something. But, it’s too late now. I’m done with that. I was actually thinking about opening up an arcade downtown. what do you guys think?” I told them, trying to get everything i wanted to say out before they had a chance to talk.
Unfortunately, my dad had a fit. Screaming and knocking over a couple of lamps, “You had it all!” He screamed, pacing. My mother tried to calm him down but instead he went out to the garage to blow off some steam.
“Don’t worry about him. I am proud of you no matter what. Your old bedroom is still there but we put some of your old stuff from storage in there. Don’t be afraid to spend some time here and let us know if you need anything.” She smiled, the kind that lets you know everything is okay.
I sighed and went up to my old bedroom, closing the door behind me and slamming onto the bed. I didn’t notice the box that was on it, causing it to fall over, spilling its contents onto the ground.
I picked up books and clothes way to small to fit me any more. I noticed an old teddy bear that bounced farther away than the other things.
“Well, will you look who it is.” I said, smiling and picking it up “I haven’t seen you in forever, Horace.” I placed him on my bed started to change. I looked in my closet to realize that a lot of these clothes were too small. I buffed up since high school so sleeping in these would just lead to an uncomfortable night. I shrugged and decided that sleeping naked would have to do, the door was locked so no one would come barging in.
I looked at Horace who had somehow moved to the bottom of the bed. I remember as a kid playing with him all the time, talking to him and he would always talk back, explaining how to get through some things.
“If only we could go back to those days. Sometimes, I wish I could just be a teddy bear with a kid best friend.” I poked his stomach. Behind the closed curtains, it got dark, and I relaxed on the bed, slowly drifting to sleep.
In the darkness of my room, Horace awoke. He tip-toed on top of my naked body and laid down on my lip cock. I woke up but I couldn’t move. He mumbled something and his eyes let out a bright white light and from them, a bluish smoke arose. At the same time, I could feel myself float. Higher and higher until I disappeared inside of Horace. The bluish smoke, which I watched with bear eyes, moved around freely. I could see him linger over my head, watching. After a few moments, he swooshed down and my body breathed him in. I couldn’t move and that was because I was a stuffed animal. He stretched inside of me and then stretched as me.
“Your wish has just come true.” I said, but it wasn’t me saying it. It was Horace. “I’ve missed you, old friend.” He curled up with me as the bear and went back to sleep.
An old friend missed company and got freedom from the dusty place I sent him. This is what I get for leaving him in a box.
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