Did you have a favorite stuffed animal growing up?
Many of us had a collection, but there was always one we held especially dear.
For Vittoria Gallagher it was a stuffed dog she named “Crackers.”
In what Gallagher thought was an amazing turn of events, she “found” her long-lost stuffed bestie lying in the street one day. It had been 18 years since she had seen the toy, but the filthy plush dog on the road was the spitting image of “Crackers.”
She did what many people who were convinced they had just come across a childhood treasure would do – she picked it up and brought it home.
But after washing him and posting all about her magical find on social media, Gallagher found out Crackers wasn’t all he was cracked up to be.
Her Twitter thread began with the day she got Crackers from her grandmother about 30 years ago.
But in college, Crackers got lost and Gallager barely noticed at the time – she was an adult by then, after all.
But when she went for a walk to her sister’s house one day – 18 years later! – her route took her near her old student housing (the place where Crackers supposedly went missing). And the unthinkable happened – Crackers was lying in the middle of the road!
She snapped a photo and scooped him up, thinking she had magically found her lost childhood stuffed animal.
Assuming their reunion was a mid-December Christmas miracle, she texted her sister about her exciting find. After all, what were the chances of someone dropping the same 30-year-old stuffed animal in the street near to where she lost her’s 18 years prior?
Since Gallagher had just reconnected with her grandmother’s side of the family, it seemed even more likely that it was a sign from the universe to come across this particular toy.
Of course, Crackers was pretty gross at this point, so once she got home he got a good wash.
Who knows what Crackers had been through, especially being so near to student housing.
Gallager gave him a couple of extra washes for good measure.
Before the harsh truth came out, Gallagher proudly showed off the newly-washed Crackers, which she had displayed in her kitchen.
Alas, Gallagher’s sister made a shocking discovery a few weeks later on a trip back home.
She found the REAL Crackers!
Gallagher found the entire scenario hilarious. She did, indeed, come across a similar stuffed animal in the street – and it was all just a coincidence.
But at least it brought back some fond memories of her grandmother.
Now, Crackers and his double are displayed side-by-side in her home until someone claims Faux Crackers.
Gallagher has even put out a “found” message online in case whoever lost the stuffed animal wants it back (nice and clean!).
While the mystery of Crackers’ doppelganger has yet to be solved, the story has brought many smiles to those reading along – and it has encouraged folks to share photos of their own childhood toys as well.
For now, the lost dog will sit with his twin and Gallagher has solicited names for the animal.
The winner: Wensleydale, or “Dale” for short. You can tell them apart because Dale now wears glasses.
Social media may be ridiculous sometimes, but we have to admit that it’s stories like these that bring a smile to our face in the middle of the day.
Do you have a childhood stuffed animal that you miss (or have held onto into adulthood)?
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