Calvin hadn't seen Hobbes in weeks. All he had seen was a simple, empty stuffed tiger, staring blankly at him from the other side of his bed. It hadn't been like that before his twenty-third birthday. Hobbes was the same, always there, funny but mischievous, kind but realistic. All that Calvin remembered was Hobbes, waving at him like a reflection through the river that they climbed over when calvin was little. Then he was gone. It turns out that was a dream, and when Calvin woke up on his birthday, all that was beside him was a stuffed tiger. Calvin had tried coaxing, yelling, and even kicking the tiger, but nothing brought Hobbes back. Calvin was beginning to grow fearful. When he woke up, three weeks after his birthday, he was beyond insanity. The tiger sat in the same position as it had been in when Calvin put it down yesterday. Calvin slowly got out of bed, put on a white shirt and tie, (a very loose one,) and grabbed his suitcase. He cast one sad look back at the tiger, and closed the door.
It was 9:30 PM. Calvin got back from work and threw off his tie and collapsed in his chair. It had been a long day at work. Moe was being a jerk again, Pat kept on piling up papers on his desk, Kate was looking over at him every five seconds, and his Boss sent him to five meetings. Calvin groaned and pushed his hair back. At least Susie had helped him out with one of his bigger papers.
He fell asleep thinking about Hobbes.
When Calvin woke up, he was wearing a red striped shirt, and a tall woman with long brown hair was busily stirring something and humming. It smelled awful. When she noticed him, her face perked up.
"Oh! Calvin! Perfect timing! Why don't you go and set the table? Be a dear?" Calvin was confused at first. He recognized the woman - his mother! But she looked so much younger than she did now. Calvin turned around, and, placed on the wall, noticed a small mirror. He walked over, slowly, is reflection getting more clear with every step. And then, he realized.
"I'm a kid!" He nearly shouted. His Mother turned around. "Well yes you are," she agreed. "Now why don't you help out your mother, by, you know, setting the table." Calvin was to distracted to notice his mother. He ran upstairs and pushed open his door. "Hey! Where are you-?" His mother's voice cut off, as Calvin slammed his door. Soft evening sunlight filtered in through a window, and, sitting on his bed, was Hobbes. He seemed older, with some grey hair, and almost transparent. "H-hobbes?" Calvin walked over slowly, trying to be as quiet as possible. Hobbes's ears perked up slightly. His head was turned towards the wall, and he mumbled "Don't forget. Don't ever forget. Please?" "Of course I won't forget," Calvin said softly. He was at the foot of his bed now. He reached out a hand - and Hobbes was gone. He was touching thin air and sunlight. "Please?" Calvin could almost hear the soft mumble. Calvin crumpled to the floor, in tears. "Please?" Even softer. "I won't forget… I'll never forget." Calvin managed in between quiet sobs. "Good." Silence. Calvin picked himself up, and rubbed the tears off his face, and tried to smile weakly. "I promise, Hobbes."