Fred is not just a stuffed dog lying in the corner of my room as days go on.

Fred is not just a stuffed dog lying in the corner of my room as days go on. No, he has always been somewhat of a friend, someone that has always been around so that I could pour my dreams, fears, and secrets into and always know they would be safe. He represents my childhood companion, my childhood innocence, and my childhood memories. To me, he is the one possession I own that I could look at and see the same face I looked into eight years ago.

Fred actually belonged to my big brother Chris. He was given Fred when he was in the hospital (because of diabetes) by one of his friends. Chris always kept him on his bed and always took care of him, but as time aged so did my brother. He soon became interested in other things like, hanging out with friends and he then began to live life one step at a time. He told me to take good care of Fred while he was gone before moving to Reno, Nevada. I then began the task of bonding to Fred like a child does in order to hopefully preserve the innocent mind of childhood before the weight of worry and judgment is applied. Soon Fred was no longer a stuffed dog, he had become part of the family or like a little brother to me.

Unlike my brother, who was cast off into the world without help and support, I was still given the choice to keep my childhood companion. My brother didn’t forget Fred, he just grew up and might have grown weary to continue the task of holding on to that memory. Fred also served as a guardian when I had bad dreams by comforting me and letting me know I would be all right. Fred is a cherished memory and possession that makes me remember that everyone will always have a sensitive side to combat the hard, tough shell constructed to hide their fear of embarrassment and rejection by their friends or peers.

Memories are important to those who thrive on wanting to experience their lives to the full extent of what they believe. As George Washington once said “those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it,” in other words if you never have the knowledge that the past produces you can not reminisce about it in the future. Fred is my reminder of childhood memories that I will cherish and love forever and I hope that I can hold onto him even past the day I die. Even if you are unable to keep something that reminds you of your childhood you should never forget the memories they provide.