A Friend Like Freddy

While looking through some old papers recently, I stumbled upon an essay written by my mother for a college English class in 1976.  Rather than writing about the essay, I’ve decided to copy it in its entirety below.

A FRIEND LIKE FREDDY

         This is the story of a friendship.  It all began one Christmas morning about five and a half years ago when Adrian, who was five years old at the time, was opening her gifts.  She picked up a strange shaped package and shook it, as people do, but it didn’t make a sound.  She squeezed it.  It was soft and squashy.  And since she couldn’t guess what was in it, she opened it quickly.  And there was Freddy –well, actually his name wasn’t Freddy yet.  It took Adrian about fifteen minutes to decide that!

         His fur was tan and white and he had brown ears and tail and big brown eyes.  He was about twelve inches long and had a little black nose and black belly button.  His ears stood up nicely and he seemed to be smiling sadly at Adrian and begging to be loved.  Adrian thanked her big brother Nick for the gift and then hugged Freddy.  And that was when it all began—the friendship of Adrian and Freddy that has lasted all these years.

         That Christmas night Freddy went to bed with his new friend, Adrian.  They cuddled up in bed and were soon fast asleep—it had been an exciting day—as Christmas days usually are.

         Freddy began going places with Adrian—rides in the car, visits to Grandma’s house, and shopping.  He usually ended up tucked in a shopping bag or in Mom’s big purse so he wouldn’t get lost.

         The following summer, Freddy went on his longest trip—all the way across the country to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It took three days of riding and staying at motels before they got there.  Freddy and Adrian traveled far that summer and had their first airplane ride on the way home.

         Through the years, Freddy has also gone on picnics and to slumber parties and has never gotten lost on these trips.  But he has gotten lost a few times—in, of all places, his own house!  One he was wedged down so tight between the bed and the wall he was hard to find.  Another time he got mixed up in a basket with some other animals and when bedtime came a frantic search by some members of the family finally uncovered him.  At bedtime, Freddy must be around.

         Freddy and Adrian have shared many good times but there was one bad time when Adrian got sick during night and Freddy didn’t get out of the way on time!  That meant a bath for Freddy at midnight and the next day he had to hang outside, by his ears, on the clothes line until he was dry.

         Freddy doesn’t look exactly like he did five and a half years ago.  But then everyone changes as they grow older.  His ears are drooping and his fur is squashed down.  His body is a little limp and flatter than it was—but maybe that’s what happens when you sleep with someone bigger that you are!

         But Adrian doesn’t mind the changes.  After all, she doesn’t look the same either.  She and Freddy are still friends.  Freddy is someone to talk to when no one else is around;  someone to hug when you’re alone in bed;  someone to cry on when you’re feeling sad and someone to play with when you feel like it.  Everyone should have a friend like Freddy.