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A Christmas Tail — My Friend Max
By Annemarie Henny, Torrington
 | | Max gets ready to go to town! |
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Young children, older children and even adults love stuffed toys. There is something lovable, huggable and comforting about them. I recently met Max.
As most of you in the area know, Ames closed down—but before closing they ran continuous sales. I went looking for dish towels but didn't find what I wanted. So, as I'm apt to do, I wandered into to the toy department—not to buy, but to see what's new in the toy market.
I strolled down one aisle and suddenly heard a plaintive Woof, woof. Turning around I saw him—a huge stuffed St. Bernard puppy with a sorrowful face and pleading brown eyes. I walked over and stroked his fur—soft. Then I continued on my way, but that sorrowful face and big brown eyes haunted me. And I distinctly heard again a Woof, woof coming from the direction of the shelf he was lying on.
I walked back. "Good dog," I told him, and a huge pink tongue licked my face. That did it! "You belong to me, Max," I told him as I lifted him off the shelf. Wacky woman? Not at all—just one of those people who remain childlike at heart no matter what the age. Next thing I knew I was at the checkout counter with this huge, stuffed St. Bernard puppy under my arm. The cashier and ladies at the counter oohed and ahhed over him. And I swear his tail began to wag.
 | | Max gets a clipping from Bambi at the Platinum Salon. |
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My husband, who was waiting in the car, smiled. "Leave it to you to go in for dish towels and come out with a stuffed monster."
"He's not a stuffed monster," I told him indignantly. "This is Max and a gift for our great-grandchild, Rasia. And besides, he was half-price."
Needless to say, Max is very much at home in our house and quite content lying next to a fireside chair. Our Rasia will love him, cuddle him, sit on him and lie on him. A perfect companion. Stuffed toys have a way of becoming very real to a child.
Well, a few nights later I awakened with a great idea! (This happens often.) Why not make up a picture story book of Max with simple texts underneath? You know, Max at the Hairdresser, Max at the Supermarket, and so on. So, the next few days found me traveling around town with camera and Max securely tucked under my arm.
 | | Max at Burger King ordering a burger from Mary. |
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Where did we go? Just about everywhere. I took Max to the hairdresser where my friend, Bambi, was only to happy to give him a clipping. Next we visited Burger King, where he ordered himself a hamburger and made friends with the staff. At Torrington Library he selected some books (he's a great reader) to the delight of the three librarians. Next we went to Big Y Supermarket. He insisted upon sitting in a shopping cart, and the clerk putting out an onion display was only too happy to have his picture taken with him. And, of course, we visited at Forbes School, where the 2nd grade classes welcomed him with open arms.
Walking around with him tucked under my arm (he measures 40 inches from head to tail, girth about 27 inches) brought smiles to everyone's face. We were stopped often so Max could be petted and pampered. Smiling faces surrounded us, and that's what we need more of in this topsy-turvy world.
If you're looking for a different type of gift to share, think about selecting a stuffed toy and doing a bit of photography for a picture book. Your children or grandchildren will have a super memory to cherish, and so will you.
And, by the way, if you use your imagination, that stuffed toy may become very real. Max did! At Christmas anything can happen. God bless one and all.
 | | Max enjoys eating with friends. |
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 | | Max takes out books at the Torrington Library. |
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|  | | Max stops at Big Y to help at the vegetable counter. |
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 | | Max stops at Forbes School to do lessons with second graders. |
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|  | | Max gets lots of loving from the students. |
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