Writing Prompt

I’ve been away long I’ve been away

To scared to pick up Pick up a pen

Traveled a hundred miles Thought I’d escape This earth-crushing burden This life-sucking burnout

Let my mind wander And it came running back

Tried to lose my mind It followed from behind

And then in All the midst I lose you Baby Bear

The one only constant In my mess of a life

My green matted teddy I reach but only find air

"Trunky! Trunky!" I wail, thrashing on my bed. Tears stream down my cheeks, and my tangled auburn hair sticks to my wet face. My emerald eyes dart around the room, wide with horror. "I need my elephant!"

Daddy is on the floor, shining a flashlight everywhere. "Where is it, Hilda? Did you hide it somewhere?" he asks, his voice sounding tired.

Mommy stands in the corner, rubbing her head. "Connor, please God, find the freaking elephant before I lose it," she says. Her voice is all wobbly and she looks like she might cry. I’m not sure why. I’m the one who lost my darn elephant!

"Trunky!" I scream again, kicking my legs and pounding the bed with my fists. The room feels like it's spinning, and I just want my pink elephant.

My breath comes in gasps, and I start hiccuping from crying so hard. My legs kick the covers off the bed, and I fling my pillow onto the floor. I roll onto my stomach and pound my fists into the mattress. "I need Trunky now!" I shout, my voice hoarse and scratchy from screaming so much.

Daddy is now on his hands and knees, searching under the dresser. "Hilda, calm down, please," he pleads, his voice cracking. The flashlight beam wobbles as he searches frantically. "Where could it be?"

Mommy's hands are shaking as she massages her temples. She starts pacing back and forth, her eyes darting around the room. "Connor, we need to find it now. I can't take much more of this," she whispers, but I can still hear the panic in her voice.

"Trunky!" I scream, louder this time, my voice echoing off the walls. I sit up and throw my stuffed bunny across the room. "I don't want Bunny, I want Trunky!"

The door creaks open, and Ladybird, our beagle with floppy ears, trots into the room. She jumps on the bed and licks my face, her tail wagging. Her warm tongue tickles my cheeks, and I stop crying for a moment. I look at her, and she looks back with her big, brown eyes.

And then, out of her mouth drops... Trunky! My pink elephant!

"Trunky!" I scream, grabbing him and hugging him tight. My tears stop, and I smile so big my cheeks hurt.

Mommy and Daddy both sigh really loud. Mommy even laughs a little. "Thank God," she says, shaking her head and smiling at Daddy.

Daddy gets up and ruffles my hair. "Goodnight, Hilda," he says, giving me a kiss.

"Goodnight, sweetie," Mommy adds, kissing my forehead. They both pat Ladybird, who looks very proud of herself.

I snuggle under my covers with Trunky, feeling safe and happy again. "Goodnight, Trunky," I whisper.

As they turn off the light and close the door, I hear Daddy say, "Maybe we should get a backup Trunky."

Mommy laughs. "Or two."

And just like that, the chaos is over, and I fall asleep with Trunky right by my side.

Moral of the story? Dog is a girl’s best friend. Wait, did I say dog? I meant Trunky. 😊

“MOMMYYYYYYYY I LOST BEARYYYY,” I sob, tears trickling down my face as I try to stop the embers forming in my throat.

This was the 5th time Ive lost him.

“It's okay honey we’ll find it,” my mom says trying to comfort me.

We spent 2 hours lokkong for him.

”Im sorry honey i guess you with have to sleep without Beary.”

”Its okay,” I sniffle, “I have floppy.”

The following days everyone searched for my Beary.

And unfortunately, he was never seen again.

Happened when i was 9 🥹

Still got floppy and 49 other stuffed animals thou.

Bearys my profile btw 😎

“Can you turn the radio up? Just for this song? It’s good I promise,” I plead with mommy. Mommy turns the song up and I start singing along, and waving my hand outside the window to the guitar. We’re having the best day today, I love Saturdays! Sometimes I like staying home and watching cartoons, but today we went to the park and got ice cream. I watch out at the window as the song blares through the radio, and see myself riding a horse alongside the car. Then a guardrail props up, so I see myself roller blading on it, doing flips and jumps along with the beat. The song ends and mommy turns the radio back down, but I don’t care. I let my imagination run wild a little longer, humming along to a new song playing in my head as I opt for a skateboard along the guardrail now. Soon, the sun is starting to set on a perfect day as we pull into the driveway. I debate pretending to be asleep so mommy can carry me inside, but I think she saw me with my hand out the window just before. Instead, I skip from the car to our front door. “Now sweetheart, it’s almost bedtime. Maybe that ice cream was a bad idea! Time to settle down, okay?” “Okay mommy,” I beam at her. We go inside and I wash up, change into my pj’s. Mommy turns on my golden half moon nightlight and kisses my forehead as I get ready to climb into bed. I grab five or six toys that have been chosen for the Royal Sleepover tonight (those worthy enough to sleep beside my pillow), and start kissing each one good night. Each Royal Sleepover guest gets one kiss a night, but Spot gets nine kisses every night because that’s how old I am. And he is in regular attendance to the sleepover too, never just a guest. He’s basically my right hand! I lift the covers to grab Spot, but he’s not there. I check the toy bin, he’s not there either. “MOMMY” I wail desperately. Mommy comes running in the room, “What baby? What!” “Spot,” I say, already breathing heavily and sniffling full force, my boogies racing against the tears on my cheeks to see who can reach my chin faster. “He’s gone. I don’t know where he went and I haven’t kissed him good night. He’s not going to be able to sleep if we don’t find him!” Mommy seems to understand the severity of what’s going on and gets on the floor, checking under the bed. She takes my hand and we walk to the living room, but nothing. “Sweetheart,” my mommy says seriously… “did you leave Spot by the jungle gym when you were climbing? I told you it’s a bad idea to take your toys to the park.” Horror, fear, and devastation seize my nine year old body. The realization is cold and unforgiving - Spot is alone at the park. I let out another wail against my will, and mommy wraps me in a hug. “It’s okay baby. We can go to the park first thing in the morning and see if he’s still there.” “IF? Where else would he go?? Mommy he can’t be by himself all night, he CAN’T. I didn’t even get to kiss him good night or anything.” “Spot will stay strong for you honey, I promise. He knows how much you love him, okay? First thing tomorrow, I promise. We’ll go look.” We walk to my room and I fling myself onto my bed with a hearty sob, violently swiping the other toys onto the floor with my arm. I whisper “I love you Spotty” and fall asleep soon after, tuckered out by the powerful grief of loss and the mint chocolate chip cone that seems so long ago now. When I open my eyes, it’s light out. I sit up in flash, ready to scour the town with mommy. I look beside my pillow, and gasp in sudden disbelief. Spot… came back? All by himself?? I yell for mommy and tell her the good news. “You were right! Spot came! He is so strong and so smart and he made it home to me all by himself.” I wrap him in a massive hug and plant kisses up and down his ears, then leave a big one on his nose for good measure. Then I hug mommy tightly too. “He sure did. He must have felt how strong your love is and knew how worried you were.” Mommy looks tired, but she smiles at me. She tells me to come have breakfast, and I take Spot with me, following mommy in her sneakers as she walks to the kitchen, her car keys jingling from her hand.

Seven am stumbles down the stairs hurrying for the stop and go of the morning commute meeting dirty coffee mugs jostle protein shakes Bleary-eyed congealed grease frying pan discarded sneakers and every cabinet left open telling tales of midnight breakfasts and teen romance talking half the night away talking until you fall asleep

a moment ago you dreamt in my arms the weight of your head on my shoulder moist heat of your cheek cradled against my neck loose limbed sway sleep tight grip on your teddy bear loose limbed sway everything falls away carefully steps up to bedtime

The sun is going down Yet, I cannot sleep. I’m wearing my nighttime gown Yet I keep going “Meep!” “Meep! Meep!” I cry, and whine. Yet, I cannot sleep.

Earlier today I went to the zoo. I think that’s how I lost Mrs. Moo. Because, earlier on that sad, sad, day I ran, in hopes that the ticket to Disneyland wouldn’t delay. Of course Running had nothing to do with Disneyland. But I guess I just thought. Thought that it would work. But nothing did. My day turned out mid. Because Mrs. Moo was gone And I could not sleep. So, boom! My day was ruined. But I cannot think. Think what to do About Mrs Moo. Because she’s still gone And I don’t think I can fall asleep until long.

Whenever I slept I drifted gracefully into sleep. Now though? My sleepiness is weak.

I lost my best friend today Mr. Neigh. I was out at the Zoo I saw a cool game and said “Me wanna play Too!” So I raced to the stand And let go of Mr. Neigh. He blew away! Away.. Away..

So now? I cannot sleep. Because I have not one friend. I am alone now. Might as well sleep with the plow.

Mommy says it’s almost time for bedtime The rain and thunder scares me Daddy says it can’t get me inside Meowy will protect me I will just grab….where is she? Meowy? MEOWY! No, no, no! I played with her outside And now it’s pouring She must be so cold Tears rain down my face Daddy braves the pelting water To carry out a rescue mission Lightning flashes, thunder cracks I shudder and cower and yelp Mommy holds me while I wait Then the door opens Meowy! Daddy kneels down and hands her to me She’s soaked but she’s here I thank Daddy for saving her Mommy dries Meowy She lets me stay up until Meowy is done I snuggle up in bed, covers over my head With Meowy in my arms Now both of us are safe

Mommy, daddy where is my power ranger? Mom: well son I guess we forgot it at the shop, we will get it tomorrow But mommy I want it now!!! Turn around and go get it!! Mom: we can’t son we gotta go to the store I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t get my way, I thought as were going to the store, how am I going to sleep now? I’m just 5 years old, I need my power ranger!

Where is my stuffy? In bed when my arms reach- I hope they find him.