Boo: A Story of Loss and Betrayal

Boo

Not Boo

As I've mentioned here several times before, Arthur adores his stuffed rabbit, Boo.  My mother gave us Boo when Arthur was an infant and he takes it with him every place he goes.  A few months ago I had the presence of mind to buy a second rabbit and put it away in the closet in case the first Boo got lost.  Some parents recommend that you let your child play equally with both beloved toys or blankets so that they will be evenly worn but I never did that.  Perhaps I should have.

Yesterday Arthur left Boo at baby gym.  At nap time, he asked for Boo and I went and got the second rabbit from the back of the closet where it had been hiding, still in its original packaging.  I handed Arthur the rabbit and watched the rapid progression of his emotions: first the usual elation and relief at being handed Boo, then mounting suspicion, then slowly dawning comprehension and finally total outrage and disgust.

"Not Boo! Not Boo!" he shouted, holding the offending rabbit at arm's length.

As the afternoon wore on he tried valiantly to pretend that everything was okay with the new Boo, but by bedtime he was exhausted with all the self-deception and just lay in his bed weeping and asking for Boo.

Today I picked up the original Boo from the lost and found and he and Arthur were reunited.  Arthur was so overcome with emotion that he immediately fell asleep.  Meanwhile, he and the second rabbit have forged a tentative peace, though he continues to call it That Boo.

An amusing side note: Beatrice didn't seem to find anything amiss with the rabbit switch.  She noted that Boo was different than he used to be (she mentioned that he wasn't permanently damp, like the old Boo was) but as I've mentioned before, Beatrice doesn't question things.  If Boo is now a different, cleaner, drier rabbit, she's ready to accept that.