The Interlude

When I think of rest, I think of Pattington. Pattington is a giant 5-foot-tall beige and fluffy stuffed bear that I’ve had since the end of my freshman year of college. My friend and I rescued Pattington from the trash rooms of a dorm where my friend used to live. We named them after the fictional and beloved Peruvian British bear Paddington, but we wanted a slight variation of the name to distinguish them from their famous counterpart. 

Stuffed toys have become a symbol of safety for kids and adults alike. Ever since teddy bears gained popularity in the early 1900s, people have taken stuffed forms of anything (i.e. Squishmallows) to bring them comfort whenever they needed.

Pattington has seen my every emotion. They’ve seen heartbreak, tiredness, love, and excitement every time a person walks through my door. The big bear has been with me through different dorms and apartments, but is a staple when it comes to my home’s living area. They greet you with such loving arms, one that will hug you no matter what kind of day it is. There were days after exhausting exams when I would immediately come home and crash on Pattington’s fluffy belly. When one of my roommates was going through a nasty breakup and debriefing me on the couch, Pattington comforted her with eternal support. There was even a time on Halloween when my friends were drunk and didn’t know what to do or where to go, so we all just partied around Pattington. 

Pattington once had their own Instagram, but it sadly got deleted from Instagram for unknown reasons. @pplwithpattington was an account where every visitor of my household got to take a photo with Pattington. My mom has a picture with Pattington, as does every single one of my close friends. Everyone’s pose and photo was different. Some embraced Pattington and others had wacky poses with whatever prop they had — whether it was lightsabers, cowboy hats, or headphones. However, everyone had the same tone of affection towards the inanimate bear. In every photo, you can see a comforting smile. They were absolutely safe with this bear.

Pattington is the rock hard symbol of our inner child. I would be shocked if anyone told me that this bear isn’t cute. After all, it’s almost every child’s dream to own a giant stuffie, and I’m the reliable friend who is in their twenties and has one on hand. My apartment is filled with an assortment of plushies like Porgs from Star Wars, my childhood stuffed bear Cheeky, and my BT21 collection. However, Pattington always comes out on top. 

Currently, Pattington sits on a throne (a foldable shopping cart) wearing three hats: a pink cowboy hat, a brown cowboy hat and an Indiana Jones Hat. Once I come home, they will greet me however I want them to, and that’s how everyone likes it. Here’s to you Pattington, I hope you stick with me forever!