So, while Philippe was busy creating a wonderful watercolor painting of Corsica, I was sitting next to him doodlewashing a stuffed duck. Meet Duckie. This is the good friend of our dog, Phineas, and you’ll always find him like this, unceremoniously plopped on the floor waiting to be grabbed in Phineas’ teeth at any moment.
Though this may seem like an odd way to treat your friend, Duckie doesn’t seem to mind as his expression stays pleasantly fixed in a blank stare. There’s a game that we’re meant to play with Duckie as Phineas brings him over to show us, but we’ve never been able to figure out exactly how to play it. It’s bits of tug-o-war and fetch, but the exact order is a mystery and, after a few minutes, he just looks at us sadly because he realizes we must be stupid.
If you’re wondering why anyone would doodlewash a dog toy, well there’s a secondary significance to Duckie. He’s the first toy Philippe ever bought for Phineas shortly after they met 3 years ago this month. This is a photo of them meeting for the very first time on Philippe’s first night in Kansas City. The initial scrutiny would lead to love at first sight and a bond that was unshakable over the next six weeks of Philippe’s visit.
After Philippe went back to Paris, Phineas was visibly shaken and sad. Duckie ceased to be a toy and became a stand-in for his newly lost friend. No matter where Duckie had landed in the house, you would find him mysteriously appear again next to Phineas on the couch. He would cuddle up next to him every second he could, occasionally licking him with affection. He did this for a two full months while he waited for Philippe to return.
Whenever I look at Duckie, it brings back all the memories of that time, which were both wonderful and bittersweet. It’s hard to know how to comfort your dog, when you’re also sad for the very same reason. When Philippe finally came back, Phineas was thrilled. He immediately ran off to grab Duckie by the neck and bring him to show Philippe. But Duckie was just a toy again now, their toy, and it was time for two best friends to play.
With the change in Duckie’s status, he soon burst seams and one day while he was once again laying unceremoniously on the floor, he was unceremoniously gutted by Phineas. A sad end for a once prominent member of the family to be sure, but we quickly replaced him with a new one. We’ve been doing this ever since. You’re actually looking at Duckie #10, and he is a spitting image of the first one, as this is the only duck they sell at our downtown grocery store.
When Phineas gets a little too overzealous with Duckie, up to and including attempting to give him a tracheotomy, we simply tell him that Duckie has to “go to the hospital and will be back soon.” This worked well at first, when we actually remembered to grab a duck at the store, but sometimes there is a long delay. Phineas just looks at us sadly assuming we must be poor and therefore do not have very good insurance.
But soon all is restored and we’re one small happy family again. And Duckie remains today a symbol of a time when life was uncertain, but love was never in doubt. Although you won’t find Phineas cuddled up with Duckie these days. And that’s just fine. Instead, he’ll be cuddled up next to Philippe, who went from stranger, to best friend, and eventually the best dad, who, for one little hopeful dog, finally came home.
Recommended3 recommendationsPublished in By Charlie
I enjoyed this sweet post Chatlie 😍. You three are so darn cute.
Awww thanks Jessica!! 😊😊❤️😃So happy you liked this post!!
I certainly hope that the grocery store doesn’t run out of Duckies.. Would be tragic for Phineas.. 😊 Even though the subjects were very different, it’s wonderful that you and Philippe were able to share the creative process together!
Thanks Kari! 😃😃Yeah it’s pretty fun being able to doodlewash together even when we’re doing really different kinds! Lol And yeah…So far the grocery store duck is standard though once we was a ginger.
Oh, how wonderfully sweet!! Best friends!! 🙂
Hehe…thanks so much Rosie!! Glad you liked it! 😊😃
I laughed; I cried…you are a natural born story-teller, Charlie! Love, love, love this story and the doodlewash of Duckie! <3 <3
Awww shucks!! You are too sweet my friend!! ❤️❤️😃Thanks so much Teresa! Glad you like the story of little Duckie! He’s due for another surgery soon, so we’re hoping for the best (meaning…must remember to buy new duck this week!! 😊hehe)
Shhhhh! Phineas will read this and find out the truth! 😉
No…he and Philippe never read my blog posts unless I read it to them! Lol 😊
Heehee…
Makes perfect sense ~ Duckie, Phin, you and Phil. Doodle doo! : ))) What Teresa said ~ great story and doodlewash
Aw, Charlie, what a moving and totally lovely story wrapped up in this fun drawing. Phineas is so very adorable!!!
He’s a cutie! Definitely worth the price of the bi-monthly duck “surgeries” hehe… thanks Jacob! Glad you liked the story and the doodlewash! 😃😃
Aren’t dogs just the best? And yes. I believe they often are much smarter than we are–at least my dogs always have been. 🙂
They’re truly amazing, Jill!! Such a rewarding experience to have them. And I’m pretty sure Phineas is always one step ahead of us! Lol 😊😉
Aw! Such a sweet story ❤️
Thanks Moni!! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 😃
Awwww-dorable! <3
Hehe….awwwww….thanks friend!! 😊😃
What a beautiful story and doodlewash. It’s amazing how a small stuffed duck can symbolize so much for your family. 😍
Thanks Sharon! ❤️😃Glad you liked this story…Duckie is a pretty special part of the family. (When he’s not just been gutted of course😊🐶)
Your story was just Ducky, Charlie! Hehe! Super fantastic Doodlewashed Duck! 🎨 And I enjoyed your story very much! Animals are so smart and it sounds like you have a very smart and lucky dog with 2 people to love him! 😊❤️🌟
Thanks Jill! ❤️😃He’s a rather spoiled dog…Philippe’s fault! Hehe…but he’s a sweetheart. (The dog…but Philippe is too actually! 😊) So happy you liked my little doodlewashed Duckie! It was an odd subject, but I saw him on the floor and thought…what the heck! 😉
How cute are you guys?! You keep replacing Duckie! That lucky Phineas! Beautiful doodlewash and even more beautiful story. <3
Awww thanks Jodi!! 😃❤️ Phineas is pretty lucky, but then again…so is your Charlie!! 😉👍🏻 So happy you liked this story!
Another great story and great sketch.
Thanks so much Kirk!! I’m glad you liked this story. It’s what happens when you see a duck laying there and think…oh hey…why not. 😊lol
A lovely story to accompany a lovely drawing of a not so lucky duckie 😀
Hehe…thanks so much Tori! 😃Yeah…Duckie sure isn’t lucky! Lol
Duckie looks resigned to his (serial) fate. Another wonderful story. (K)
He is! He’s used to his lot in life by now! Lol Thanks Kerfe! 😃❤️ Glad you liked it!
Dogs and gutting their toys… We have carnage around here too. Funny dog beds fall victims too! We are now all about antlers. Love this post and dear duckie and his endless replacements! Great painting too!
Oh yeah…antlers are the best. Phineas got a hold of one when he was visiting a friend’s house and loved it! Hehe Glad you liked the post Cathe!! Thanks so much!! ❤️😃
Ha ha, cute story & doodlewash! Those stuffed toys never last long with my parents’ dog!
They sure go fast now! Duckie #6 only lasted 48 hours sadly. 😥hehe So happy you liked the post!! Thanks friend!!
Heart warming and tear inducing…oh, and beautiful painting! Thank you for sharing….hugs to Phineas.
Thanks so much Haunani!! ❤️😃 I’m glad you enjoyed the story. Those two are still quite a pair! 😊
oooohhhh such a sweet story. So happy for the three of you! well four, counting duckie #10
Thanks so much Rachel!! 💕😃 Yeah well…Duckie #10 is not still in hospital as we have still forgotten to pick up Duckie #11 😊😊hehe
We had to do this with “bunny” for our older daughter, but the company stopped making them just when we realized if we lost it, we would have no backup. And toddlers can raise a ruckus when they are unhappy. Luckily two “cousin bunnies” arrived from Maine via ebay–slightly different colors –and we fortunately never had to use them.
That’s a great story! 😃Those little friends are pretty important. Glad you managed to get backups even if you never had to use them! Lol
The whole story is enchanting but that last paragraph has brought me to tears. A love story all around. And an adorable painting.
Awww thanks Sharon!! 💕Cool you found all the Phineas posts…tells the full story that way. This one was truly a love story inside a love story. Best little family one could hope for. 😊
This blog is adorably awesome. Thanks for your art.
Thanks so much! 😃💕 So happy you liked it!
So glad that Philippe came back and the your grocery store has continued to carry Duckies. There’s little worse in this world than watching your dog suffer!
So true! We we very lucky… in so many ways! 😉💕
I loved the story but I can’t stop wondering why a grocery store would carry stuffed duckies???
lol… in the tiny pet section… it was literally the only toy of its kind so it always had to be a duck. 😉
Charlie,
I’d like permission to post your Duckie and Phineas story on either CATNIPblog or CurioustotheMax with, of course, a shout-out to Doodlewash.
judy
Aww thanks, Judy! Glad you liked it! 😃💕 Definitely! Feel free to re-post as long as there a link back!
Thanks Charlie. I always link back.
Remember the good times Charlie. Our Yorkie, Zoe, does something very similar. I call it “Fetch-tug.” She gets a toy, brings it to me, I have to play tug a little bit to get it from her, and then I toss it for her to fetch. And repeat. And repeat.
Fetch tug sounds like an awesome game indeed! hehe Hours of fun! 😃💕
[…] us. Phineas has been wearing his lovely green Christmas sweater and enjoyed receiving his gift, Duckie #12, which he cuddled up next to each night. This is always how it starts, but we fully anticipate […]