"Hobbes..." The twelve-year-old boy squeezed his best friend: a tiger named Hobbes. "Hobbes... Wherever you go, promise me that you'll come back and tell me..."
The tiger hugged the blonde boy back. "I promise. You're my best friend, and I can't wait to tell you what I am about to do."
Calvin and Hobbes: An extraordinary friendship between a wild, adventurous boy with high spirits; and a calm, yet equally adventurous tiger. Everyone was touched by this friendship when they heard about it, but now... It would have to take a turn.
Hobbes' stuffed-tiger body was about to fall apart. Hobbes would have to find a new body soon, shedding his old one so his spirit could find a better one. Hobbes would have to leave for a time.
The twelve-year-old finally broke down into tears. "Please... There has to be an easier way... You can't leave even for two minutes! Something might happen, and we might never see each other again!"
"I promise, whatever it takes, we will see each other again. I won't give up. It's a Tiger's Promise." Hobbes looked at the boy. "A Tiger's Promise, Calvin."
The boy nodded through watery tears. "Yeah... A Tiger's Promise... Reenforced with a Boy's Spirit For Adventure."
The duo smiled one last time.
Hobbes finally waved good-bye. "I'll do whatever it takes, Calvin. We'll celebrate by playing Calvin-Ball!"
The tiger faded away, leaving the blonde boy with an old, worn stuffed tiger. Calvin only stared at the body... And stared...
Then he broke down, crying out into the winter night.
30 Years Later—
A grown-up Calvin lay on his bed, his wife—Susie Derkins—sleeping soundly next to him. He was going over his childhood memories over and over in his head. It was a routine now, to make sure that he never forgotten anything about his past. Susie and his daughter thought that this was stupid, but he didn't care anymore. He never wanted to forget a single, blessed moment.
He finally got out of his bed and walked down stairs, sitting on his sofa and pulling out one of his hidden comic books from when he was a kid. Susie banned comic books from their house, but he kept a secret stash of his favorite issues of Captain Napalm. He read the words and enjoyed the pictures for a minute before continuing to the next...
He finally looked up, and gasped.
On top of the television, was a brand new stuffed tiger, clean and bright orange with intricate strips along its body. Its glass eyes twinkled nicely, showing mischief and happiness. Its mouth was in a large smile, a red bow around its neck.
I threw down my comic book and rushed over to the toy, carefully picking it up from its perch. "Is that... you...? Hobbes?"
The stuffed tiger shimmered, and grew bigger in size until it was just as tall as him, the fur turning real and soft underneath his fingertips. The tiger's eyes turned real, blinking and twinkling more and more. Finally, it stood on its paws, steadying itself on Calvin's shoulder.
Calvin squeezed the tiger. "Hobbes!" he said, tears threatening to spill out.
The tiger hugged him back. "A Tiger's Promise..." Hobbes rasped.
"...Reenforced with a Boy's Spirit For Adventure." Calvin continued.
Hobbes righted himself, standing on his own. He smiled, flashing white teeth. "I think we should talk about my travels over a tuna fish sandwich, yes?"