Beaver

My grandson has a stuffed beaver that we've played with most every night before bed for four years. The boy, Beaver and I go lay down and "wrestle", which really means rough house. Beaver usually starts the trouble with with provocative and whimsical comments. Then it's "on" for a half hour.

Beaver speaks in a silly, high voice that has stirred the boy's imagination for years. Lately the boy has taken to telling Beaver to be quiet because he's not real, and he can't talk. Grandad is talking. But he looks at Beaver while telling him the facts. So funny.

The boy is growing up and soon Beaver will pass into history. Kinda sad in a way. But Beaver will live forever in the boy's mind. Maybe I'll live in the man's mind long after I'm gone.