Meet Hugo and his three bear-y special flat teddy bears – Goldie 1, Goldie 2 and Goldie 3.
Before Hugo was even born, his aunty gifted him his very first FLATOUTbear. She knew that Hugo’s mum had grown up with her own treasured piece of sheepskin, so she thought her little nephew might love one too. And she was right.
From the moment Hugo was born, his little flat bear rarely left his side. He was cuddled every day, snuggled every night and taken just about everywhere.
But when a little bear goes everywhere, he’s bound to get lost once or twice!
One cold winter evening, while walking home from crèche along Ponsonby Road, Goldie somehow slipped out of Hugo’s pram. His parents searched everywhere, even retracing their steps in the dark. Hugo’s dad, who was returning from Melbourne that night, asked his taxi driver to stop so he could search too.
But Goldie was nowhere to be found.
After several days, the family ordered a replacement. Then, a week later, they spotted the original Goldie tucked inside a magazine rack!
Just like that, Hugo had two flat bears.
Not long after, one of the Goldies went missing again during a family walk. Luckily, Hugo’s grandparents happened to walk the same route and spotted a familiar little bear by the roadside. They knew exactly who he belonged to and brought him safely home.
A year later, while the family was moving house, both Goldies disappeared. After searching every room, cupboard and moving box, the family eventually ordered a third bear.
Two months later, the missing Goldies were discovered wedged inside the wringer of an old mop bucket! Can you imagine the surprise?
And that’s how Hugo ended up with Goldie 1, Goldie 2 and Goldie 3.
Today, nine years later, Hugo still cuddles all three Goldies to sleep every night. His original Goldie looks very different from the little bear he was given as a newborn. After years of cuddles and adventures, there’s hardly much of him left. We think that’s the sweetest part of this story.
What started as one thoughtful gift has become three very special childhood companions, each with their own little story.
