Bob and Larry resided on the next aisle over. Even back in high school, a new addition to the family would occasionally observe classes from the corner of my desk or from my lap. When I had been in Texas for a month, my friend Tom send me a care package with a small stuffed cow in it. Happily, he was just hiding in my closet. But he remained a legend in our room, and I considered him one of the best things sent to me all year.
Stuffed animals have practical uses, too.
When I was younger, PJ's pouch held clothes for a sleepover, and his stomach served as a pillow. Now, when away from home my glasses hang perfectly in the sleeping bag of a cat my brother gave me years ago. I still can't sleep well without a stuffed animal in my arms, and when I have back problems they provide the best support. When we have guests with young children, my stuffed friends often make the best ambassadors. Recently, one of my favorite companions' seams started to loosen.