Ollie's Otter

For years the otter stood on a shelf in the toy store…stood up proud and strong… waiting for the right child to choose him…then Ollie came along. In his stroller while in the store…long before he had a voice…Ollie let his parents know…the otter was his choice. From that day forward they were inseparable…playing in the yard…the sand…the water…they did everything together…Ollie and his otter. When Ollie was a child…not yet grown up…still quite small…his hopes…his dreams…his wishes…the otter heard them all. There comes a time in a child’s life, however, a time all their favorite toys dread…when the toy spends less time with the child…and more time on the stand beside his bed. But Ollie’s otter didn’t mind…he knew they were still a team…that even though he didn’t play with him as much…Ollie still shared with him his his hopes, his wishes…his dreams. When Ollie went off to college…his otter stayed back…he didn’t roam… waiting proudly on that shelf…for Ollie to come home. Happy to welcome Ollie back…happy to visit for a while and then… proudly taking his place until Ollie returned again. When it came time for Ollie to move out…to start a life…more independently… “Mom!” He said as he was packing, “Otter comes with me.” Throughout their years together…their friendship would endear.. both of them glad just knowing the other one was near. Ollie’s otter got to meet Ollie’s wife and children…and they all cam to know… the meaning of a lifelong friendship formed so many years ago. And Ollie’s family loves to tell the story… of how once in a toy store this otter stood up proud and strong… and how both their lives would change forever…. the day that Ollie came along.