23/10/2024
In the Final Moments of His Life, Calvin Has One Last Talk with Hobbes
12/6/2019
âCalvin? Calvin, sweetheart?â
In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired, and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, âDid⌠did youâŚ. find him?â
âYes dear,â Susie said smiling sadly, âHe was in the attic. â
Susie reached into her big purse and brought out a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.
âl washed him for you,â Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger next to her husband.
âThank you, Susie.â Calvin said. A few moments passed as Calvin just laid on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.
âDear,â Calvin said finally. âWould you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him.â
âAll right,â Susie said. âIâll get something to eat in the cafeteria. Iâll be back soon.â Susie kissed her husband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength Calvin stopped her. Lovingly he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. âl love you,â he said.
âAnd I love you,â said Susie. Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.
Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. âHello Hobbes. Itâs been a long time hasn't it old pal?â
Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. âIt sure has, Calvin.â said Hobbes. âYou⌠havenât changed a bit.â Calvin smiled.
âYou've changed a lot.â Hobbes said sadly.
Calvin laughed, âReally? I havenât noticed at all.â There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.
âSo⌠you married Susie Derkins.â Hobbes said, finally smiling. âl knew you always liked her.â
âShut up!â Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.
âTell me everything I missed. Iâd love to hear what youâve been up to!â Hobbes said, excited.
And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grand-kids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this there was another pregnant pause. âYou know⌠I visited you in the attic a bunch of times.â Calvin said.
âl know.â
âBut I couldnât see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal.â Calvinâs voice was breaking and tears of regret started welling up in his eyes.
âYou grew up old buddy.â said Hobbes.
âIâm so sorry! Iâm so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldnât grow up and that weâd be together forever!!â Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend.
Hobbes stroked Calvinâs hair, or what little was left of it. âBut you didnât.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âWe were always togetherâŚ. In our dreams.â
âWe were?â
âWe were.â
âHobbes?â
âYeah, old buddy?â
âIâm so glad I got to see you like this⌠one last timeâŚâ
âMe too, Calvin. Me too.â
âSweetheart?â Susie voice came from outside the door.
âYes dear?â Calvin replied.
âCan I come in?â Susie asked.
âJust a minute.â Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time.
âGoodbye Hobbes. Thanks⌠for everythingâŚâ
âNo, thank you Calvin.â Hobbes said.
Calvin turned back to the door and said, âYou can come in now.â
Susie came in and said, âLook whoâs come to visit you.â
Calvinâs children and grandchildren followed Susie into the room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged Calvin in a hard, excited hug. âGrandpa!!â screamed the child in delight.
âFrancis!â cried Calvinâs daughter, âBe gentle with your grandfather.â
Calvinâs daughter turned to her dad. âIâm sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories.â
Calvin laughed and said, âWell now! That sound just like me when I was his age.â
Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, âSorry, but visiting hours are almost up.â
Calvinâs beloved family said goodbye and promised to visit tomorrow. As they turned to leave Calvin said, âFrancis. Come here for a second.â
Francis came over to his grandfatherâs side, âWhat is it, Gramps?â
Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago.
âThis is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him.â
âHeâs just a stuffed tiger.â Francis said, eyebrows raised.
Calvin laughed, âWell, let me tell you a secret.â
Francis leaned closer to Calvin. Calvin whispered, âIf you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait, he will turn into a real tiger.â
Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, âNot only that he will be your best friend forever.â
âWow! Thanks grandpa!â Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.
âFrancis! We need to go now!â Calvinâs daughter called.
âOkay!â Francis shouted back.
âTake good care of him.â Calvin said.
âl will.â Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.
Calvin laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. His eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep, he heard Hobbes, as if he was right next to him at his bedside. âIâll take care of him, CalvinâŚâ
Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face.