Legacy

Hello there, my name is Willow  Williams, I’m eight years old and have outgrown my precious  Blanky, so I’m putting him away in my chest of memories.  I thought I heard him softly cry as I closed the lid.  It must have been my imagination.  He was a dear friend, but now its time to grow up and move on, or so my mother says.

My Blanky’s name was Bill, Bill Blanky.  He was a powder blue with pink edges. Magnificent in his day, but starting to age just like me.  These are some of the conversations I had with Bill over the years I had him, from age four on.

I told him I’d asked Santa Claus to bring me a pony for Christmas, a Pinto with a long silver mane and tail, and with a Silver saddle.  Bill said, did you ask him for a saddle blanket also. I said I’d forgotten to add that.  Bill said, oh! In that case can I be the saddle blanket and we can all ride together.  I said why sure Bill, that would be swell.  Togetherness was a big thing between Bill and I.

Well Christmas came and I got my pony, a plastic rocking horse version.  I was so disappointed.  I took Bill and ran to my room for a good cry.  Bill cried with me as he shared my disappointment.  Then Bill said, Willow, in your letter to Santa did you specify a “live” pony?  I said no. Bill said well there’s the problem, simple miscommunication.  Santa loves you, he just didn’t understand you wanted “live”.  Try again next year and be sure to specify “live”, and don’t ask for a saddle blanket, that’s my job.

I said thank you Bill, you are so smart, you have a way of always setting me straight, I love you.  With that I think Bill blushed so much he was almost all pink.

One night I was looking out my bedroom window at the stars and I said to Bill my Blanky, does it do any good to wish upon a star?  Bill said I’ve heard tell it does. What are you going to wish for?  I said that for someday a Prince Charming will come and carry me away to his castle.  Where I and you will live happily ever after Wow! Bill said give me the details.

I proceeded to tell Bill that Prince Charming would ride up on a big white horse.  He would be dressed like this.  Bright blue pants, with a dark blue and red striped waist coat. Also soft brown boots so long they almost go to his knees.  And lastly a hat that is maroon with a golden plume, that he doffs as he rides up and bows.

Then he will say, fair maiden come away with me to my castle and be my bride, and bring your Blanky friend with you and we will live happily ever after.  Bill then said, oh! That sounds so nice.  Do you suppose that Prince Charming also has a Blanky that I could get to be friend’s with.  I said I was sure he did, and with that we both smiled and went to sleep.

Every where I went Blanky went.  One evening in front of the fire place my father and I were playing checkers, and even though I’d just learned how I was beating my father most of the time.  He didn’t seem to like that a whole lot but he tried not to show it.  I guess I might have been cheating as I frequently consulted Blanky about what move I should make.

I think my father was developing a thing about Blanky because he said, Willow, do you have to drag that thing with you every where you go?  That hurt Blanky’s feelings and I spent half the night apologizing for my father and trying to sooth Blanky’s hurt feelings.

Well Bill Blanky and I had many a year and many shared moments together.  I will never forget Bill Blanky he was my steadfast friend now retired.