hugging my childhood

in my arms
the canine glove puppet
his lumpy head and long black ears
his worried eyebrows
sewn inside, a squeak

this year, Dad bought me, on impulse, a new Sweep. My first love was Sweep, I believe. I don't remember being given a sweep, as a child, I just remember the little glove puppet, his fur hugged off, and how I took him everywhere with me.
When I unwrapped him on christmas day, all the love came back. I'm 34.