Maybe write something about autistic!john getting a Duffy the Disney Bear as a friend for Beary?
Despite what it looks like, John isn’t a stuffed animal guy. People see Beary and think that’s something he’s into. They misunderstand his and Beary’s relationship. He’s a one bear guy! He can pass by a stuffed animal aisle in a store without another glance.
And he doesn’t think Beary has feelings or wants or needs. The feelings he has towards Beary are hard to explain in words, but he’s not one to think, Oh, Beary must be so lonely right now.
People don’t get that though. So for Christmas and his birthday, he receives a lot of stuffed animals. It’s quite annoying, but whatever. He usually waits a month or two before donating the stuffies to shelters, orphanages, toy drives, etc. I guess it works out in the end because some poor kid will get a little friend at the end.
This is how John deals with this until one Christmas. It’s Brian who is the offender.
He stops by John’s house late Christmas day and hands him a package.
“I know it’s not your thing, but when I went to Disney Land with the kids, I could not let it go. I ended up buying it because I couldn’t stop thinking about how you might like it. It’s alright if you don’t like it though. Took a chance this year,” Brian says with a shrug.
John tentatively opens the package. Inside is a Duffy the Bear teddy dressed in a Steamboat Willy costume. John doesn’t know what he thinks. He lifts Duffy up and touches his outfit and then his fur and he looks at Brian.
“Like I said, it’s okay if he’s not your thing. The bear was just singing to me, although it might’ve been all the ice cream I was eating,” Brian says with a chuckle.
John laughs too and awkwardly pets Duffy. He feels weird.
That night he can’t sleep well. He’s snuggled up with Beary but thinking about Duffy. He was sure he’d get rid of the thing in a months time but...his little costume was adorable. John really loved Steamboat Willy. It was in black and white just like the original cartoon. How creative! And he was quite pleasant to touch. Maybe not like Beary was...but he was up there.
The next morning, with Beary tucked under his arm, he grabs Duffy and has breakfast with the two of them propped up on his table. He eyes the new bear carefully, thinking of what it is he might be feeling. Attachment? Or is he just surprised at the dated reference on his costume?
Is it possible he’s developing an affection for another comfort item?
No. He’s much older now. He’s had Beary for decades without an uproar. This can’t be happening.
And yet, he goes about his day with two bears following close behind him.
It takes him a long while to accept he likes Duffy too. He’s much fluffier than Beary and incredibly sturdy. Beary is in tatters after years of love. He feels as though he’s cheating on the older bear by switching between the two of them every so often. It feels wrong. But he’s smitten with the bear.
Some months after Christmas, John calls Brian.
“Hi, Bri. I’m calling to let you know I’ve kept Duffy.”
“Duffy?”
“The bear.”
“Oh. You like him?”
“Incredibly so. And I’d appreciate it if in your future trips to Disney parks, you refrained from buying me any more stuffed animals. This has caused a bit of a commotion in my house.”
Brian chuckles. “It has?”
“Yes. Thank you. Goodbye.”
John returns to his kitchen to finish his afternoon tea with Beary and Duffy, who is now stripped of his steamboat willy costume. He doesn’t fancy his friends being dressed up. The three of them are very serious folks.
Yes, the three of them.
