Swept Away

By Alyssa Casanova

A bright flash lit up the sky, followed immediately by a low, slow rumble. The rain pounded louder than the thunder. Lily's eyes quickly scanned her front yard with each flash of lightning.

It had to be there. She’d felt it fall, so why couldn't she see it? She should have picked it up as soon as it dropped. Instead, she’d run into the house, arms full of groceries.

Lily stood protected under the awning of her porch, with hands on her hips.

Another flash. Another scan. Nothing.

She knew it was stupid. She was much too old to care about a silly stuffed rabbit. She was sixteen after all, in high school. She’d even started driving. If you’re old enough to drive a car, you’re too old to cry over a ratty stuffed animal, right?

Another flash. Another rumble. Still nothing.

She spotted something else instead, and her stomach sank. A small river flowed down the side of her driveway. Was the tiny current strong enough to take Mr. Hoppers with it? As Lily stared at the stream, her heart was heavy. She wiped away a drop on her cheek, unsure if it was a tear or a raindrop.

In desperation, Lily sprinted to the driveway. Within seconds, her sweatshirt was soaked through. It was chilly, but Lily didn't notice. Instead, she felt heat creeping up her cheeks as she frantically searched around the car. Her eyes followed the flowing river along the driveway, through the street, then finally into the storm drain. Nothing. Now she was sure they were tears and not raindrops.

Lily shuffled back to the house. The blast of the AC sent a shiver down her wet spine. A trail of mud and water followed her to the couch, where she plopped and cried. It was a silly stuffed animal, and here she was crying like she was four. She hadn’t even had Mr. Hoppers for the last two weeks! She hadn’t batted an eye when her little cousin, Maisie, borrowed him when she had her tonsils out. Maisie looked adorable clutching Mr. Hoppers in the hospital bed. Lily didn’t have the heart to take him away and had let her borrow him for her whole recovery. She’d barely noticed her stuffed friend was gone, so why was this so upsetting?

Lily buried her face in the pillow and tried to regain control. She took a deep breath just as someone sat beside her.

"What happened?" Her mom gently swept away a strand of loose hair from Lily's wet cheek. Mom hadn’t sat with her like this in years.

"Mr. Hoppers is gone. Probably in a storm drain right now." Lily sobbed into the pillow.

“Oh, honey.” Mom sighed. “We’ll look for him when the storm stops. I’m sure he’s not lost forever.” She gently rubbed Lily’s back as she held her close, just like she used to do.

After a minute, Lily sat up, wiped her face, and puffed her chest. “No.” She straightened her back and met her mom’s eyes. “I’m too old now. I need to let Mr. Hoppers go.”

Her mom sighed again. “Wait right here.”

Mom stood and flitted to her bedroom. She returned holding a purple plaid teddy bear. It was the same bear that’d been in Lily’s parents’ room for as long as she could remember. For the life of her, Lily had never understood why Mom kept that thing. It was grungy, tattered, and generally unappealing.

Mom hugged the bear close. “You’re never too old for your first best friend.”

With that, Lily’s shoulders slumped, and her fake bravado shattered. Tears began to well again and Lily let them fall freely. Her best friend was lost forever. Mom pressed the purple bear into Lily’s cheek in a mock kiss.

“I used to think Violet Bear was good luck,” Mom said softly. “I’d squeeze her close and say a prayer. I’d only do it for the most important prayers, and somehow, they were always answered.” Mom raised her eyebrows in suggestion.

“Really?” Lily narrowed eyes. She shrugged her shoulders. “I might as well. I have nothing else to try.” Lily squeezed Violet Bear and whispered a desperate plea to God. “Please bring back Mr. Hoppers. I still need my best friend.”

The doorbell rang, and Lily and Mom jumped. The two glanced at each other, then moved to open the door. Mr. Reynolds, their gray-haired next-door neighbor, stood on the other side, holding a very wet, very dirty stuffed bunny.

“I found someone taking a swim at the end of my driveway. Seems, the storm took him for a ride.”

Lily practically ripped Mr. Hopper’s from the older gentleman’s arms.

“THANK YOU!” She squeezed the stuffed animal so hard, a puddle formed on the floor.

“That’s the quickest Violet Bear ever worked,” Mom mumbled as she watched her daughter.

“Excuse me?” Mr. Reynolds interrupted.

Mom shook her head. “Thank you for returning him. But how did you know it was Lily’s?”

“Oh, the whole neighborhood would know that bunny. Lily only carried it everywhere for ten years.” Mr. Reynolds laughed.

At that, Lily’s cheeks turned pink. She loosened her hold on her bunny and realized how wet her shirt was. She quickly thanked her neighbor again and rushed off to change.

After dinner, Lily placed Mr. Hoppers and Violet Bear on a shelf in her room. The two looked good together. A lightness filled her heart as she imagined these two sitting in her home one day, while a daughter of her own scoffed at how grungy they looked. Lily smiled. You’re never too old for your first best friend.

As a mom and teacher, Alyssa Casanova has always enjoyed a good kid's book. Now she has launched her own brand, Raffi Publishing, and is creating fun stories that kids and parents will love. Originally from New Jersey, she currently lives in Virginia with her husband, two girls and a grumpy old dog. She also works full time as a Special Education teacher and runs on coffee and chocolate. When she's not running around with the kids or writing, she likes to relax by doing handstands (what can she say, it helps the creative juices flow).