What Happened to the Eddie Dear Puppet?

Hello Internet,

My name is Julie Winters, my father Jacob Winters was the original puppeteer for Eddie Dear in the 1970's puppet show, "Welcome Home."

As a child, I always loved the character of Eddie and would even help my father rehearse with the puppet at home. At first it bugged me that the puppet had no legs until I learned about the bunraku style of puppetry.

One day in summer, Dad brought Eddie home and revealed that the puppet would be staying with us permanently due to the studio "taking the show in a new direction." Dad then got a job at the library, where he worked in the children's department and made frequent use of puppetry there. As for Eddie, my mom and I got to work converting him into what you kids call a "stuffie." Of course, I made sure he looked exactly like he did in the show thanks to some spinoff books I had at the time.

After that, Eddie was a frequent companion of mine whether it be navigating the house at night to use the bathroom or doing quiet activities. Rough activities and the like were forbidden lest I have the stuffie taken away. But even though I did everything right (save one time I beat him up out of anger) Eddie always seemed a little off, almost as if something horrible was after him.

At Christmas time that year, I watched the "Welcome Home: Housewarming Special" (the puppet's final appearance) and noticed my stuffed companion looking just as mortified as he did at the end of the show. I got scared and ran to my room, and when asked to put the plushie away, I hid him in my closet.

Eddie stayed in the closet without incident until Christmas Eve night when I had a dream that Eddie was crying for help from within! I woke up with a start, and quietly crept to the closet.

In the light of my flashlight, Eddie looked just as out of it as he did on TV, I was going to creep away and leave him, when I heard what sounded like crying. The toy wasn't shedding tears or anything, and nothing else in my closet could cry like that, but remembering my dream I cautiously asked the toy, "Are you sick?"

Upon me asking this, the toy suddenly doubled over! I gasped and jumped back, but when I heard crying again, I knew what I had to do.

Remembering what I would normally go through when I was sick, I escorted Eddie to my bed and got my doctor kit from my toy box. I then proceeded to take Eddie's temperature and claimed he had a fever. I used the other tools to listen to his heart, check his ears, etc. But as I did so, I couldn't help but notice the stuffie acting more like an interactive toy than a plushie during his checkup. For example, he would say things like, "My fever must be getting worse! I can see red!" or "I shouldn't have eaten that pea on a plate." Being a kid, I figured it was just the Christmas magic having brought him to life and proceeded to treat him.

I gave him a shot, followed by some pretend medicine and water. I even gave him a sticker for being a good patient! Finally, I rubbed his belly and sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to help him rest. In no time at all, he began to snore and for a moment he sounded like he was saying, "Beware of Home." Blowing that off I felt good having taken care of a sick toy, but now I had another problem, Eddie was using my bed!

To make a long story short I slept on the floor that night and on Christmas morning Eddie seemed happy again. And from that moment on, even as a grown up, I have always taken care of Eddie. And you can bet your boots he appreciates it.