Cheyenne and Cheeto: A Lifelong Friendship

[Mikayla Young 2]

In a cozy little home nestled amidst sprawling oak trees, trailer mobile homes, and a lively, growing backyard, there lived a young girl named Cheyenne. Her heart yearned for a loyal companion to share her laughter, her secrets, and the good and bad in life with, to go on adventures with, to have someone to hug, a shoulder to cry on, or simply someone there just to listen to her worries and joys. Her wish was granted one day when she was only 4 years old. Her parents, David and Jane, surprised her with a cuddly stuffed animal, a brown and white patched dog. Little did they know that this unassuming gift would embark on an extraordinary journey as Cheyenne’s lifelong friend. Cheeto, as she affectionately named him, quickly became Cheyenne’s cherished confidant. Through the sun-drenched days and starlit nights, they embarked on countless adventures together, creating a lifetime of memories.

They embarked on the adventure of the first school day with Cheeto there to listen to her after she got back home, as she told him about the kids she met, the teacher she had, and, of course, her favorite time at school, naptime. Cheeto was there when she cried and prayed for her dad to return safely from his time serving the country that they called home. They conquered the fears of storms while huddled together in a closet as a storm raged outside, rattling the windows and wind howling like mighty wolves when she was 6. They jumped on the trampoline on a bright sunny day in the backyard as the wind blew, causing the flowers to dance along with its calming breeze at age 8. Cheeto watched through her bedroom window as she fell and got back up numerous times when being taught how to ride a bike by her parents. Cheeto was there to witness many of her firsts in life, even her first whispered dreams. He was her constant companion, a furry embodiment of unconditional love.

As the years unfolded, Cheeto's and Cheyenne’s bond only grew stronger. He witnessed many of her childhood triumphs, like her first friendship, winning a soccer game with a team she nervously met through a summer program and soon grew to love, playing kickball in the front yard of her mother’s house with her family, and her growing love of animals. He was also there to lend a shoulder to cry on during her childhood as she said goodbye to beloved pets, fought with her older brother Dean, and listened to her worries about going from elementary school to middle school.

Cheeto grew with her, traveling through time and life as she grew from a young child to a young teenager. He saw and heard her struggles of figuring out who she wanted to be, the loss of friendships and the gain of new ones, the pressures of maintaining good grades, the loss and gain of so many hobbies that even Cheyenne lost count of them after ten, the heartbreaking loss of loved ones, the pressure of looming college education, and the nervousness of responsibility that would fall on her as she became a young adult.

It was not all sadness and struggles, though, as they continued to embark on adventures and create joyous memories together. She took Cheeto with her on family travels and vacations, experiencing places, things, and adventures with him for the first time and often for the second, third, and even sixth time. She was never embarrassed as she held tightly onto him on long, twelve-hour car rides or as she walked through hotel lobbies at nine at night with her sleep-ridden eyes and messy hair still holding him tightly to her so she didn't lose him. He was her companion and had helped her through so many hard times, so she felt it was only right that he got to experience the world right by her side.

They traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and saw the beautiful smokey mountains, the charm of small-town businesses, and, of course, the famous Dollywood with its speedy roller coasters, charming fauna, and a coziness that felt like home. They went on a cruise where Cheeto got a towel replica of himself made by the staff, and another cruise to the Bahamas where Cheeto made some swan friends that were created by the cruise staff out of towels. They traveled to the state of Florida, where Cheeto got to know Cheyenne’s adventures and awe of riding rides, eating park foods like ice cream sandwiches, and, of course, seeing some of her favorite characters like Stitch at Disney World. Cheeto even witnessed the bonding and repair of the relationship between Cheyenne and Dean as they played video games together during the long 12-hour car ride, watched TV in the hotels they stayed in, snored together in the backset of the car much to the amusement of their mom, and talked about the fun they had riding rides together and their favorite characters and things they had done at the parks that day. But more than that, he saw Cheyenne smile and laugh simply because Dean was, as he went on, in adoration about getting his own Harry Potter wand at Universal Studios, which he tried to use to cast spells on his sister, much to her own amusement and the dismay of their mother. Cheeto even got to hear the roars of race car engines going around the track at around 200mph and experienced nighttime storytelling around the tent at Talladega on three different occasions.

Cheeto also got to experience through Cheyenne the joys and beauty of activities in a small town, such as the strong unpleasant smell of worms and fish, after she came home from a day of fishing with her father and brother. The wonderous smell and mess of a funnel cake from the county fair, the funny and fun competition of bowling with family, staying inside wrapped in blankets on a rainy, cloudy day, the booming light show of fireworks exploding in the night sky, and the many movie nights well spent with family. Cheeto experienced all these things through her, whether by her side as it happened or through her telling it to him as if she were reading him a story of adventures.

Cheeto was there for it all, offering her silent support and unwavering loyalty through heartbreaks and milestones of life such as graduating high school and college. Cheeto remained a steadfast presence, reminding Cheyenne of the enduring power of friendship and love. One summer night, as Cheyenne sat outside on the back porch, staring at the stars in the sky, lost in thought, Cheeto hopped into her lap. His fur was a bit worn and faded, but still very clean and cuddly, thanks to various baths in the washing machine. Each stitch and reflection held within his brown marble eyes was a testament to their shared adventures. In that moment, Cheyenne reflected on their friendship and realized Cheeto was more than just a stuffed animal; he was an integral part of her life’s tapestry and family. As the stars and moon started to fade into the background, Cheeto closed his eyes, holding tightly to the little girl, now a young woman, who gave him as much happiness and life as he did her, relishing in the memories they created together and thanking her for all the love she gave him. Cheeto drew his last breath as Cheyenne’s heart sank with sorrow and gratitude. Though her childhood companion is gone, the memories they have woven together remain etched in her heart forever. And so, the stuffed animal, affectionately now known as Cheeto, became a symbol of the enduring bond between a young girl and her lifelong friend. In the years that followed, Cheyenne kept Cheeto in the family, passing down the tale of him and their extraordinary journey through life to her children, instilling in them the timeless value of friendship and the enduring power of love.

[DATo]

The ending of this story reminded me very much of the ending of the song, Puff The Magic Dragon. In the song the "death" (as-it-were) of Puff is a symbol of the eventual maturity of the child when the adult realizes, for the first time, that all of its memories were both chimerical and ephemeral.

Check it out, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg2RcXC8KSk and pay close attention at the end and you will find that Puff has a Lazarus soul.