ST. CLOUD, MN—Friends and family of Derek Owens, 4, have witnessed a change in him over the last few weeks as he grows further apart from his once-beloved security blanket. Feeling helpless from the sidelines, all they can do is offer emotional support to the inanimate, cotton-based comfort object.
"It's just so heartbreaking how fast these things can change," commented Patricia Owens, 34, Derek's mother. "It seems like just yesterday when they couldn't be separated. They did everything together."
Mrs. Owens is particularly heartbroken about the fizzling relationship between the young boy and his tattered blanket, which measures approximately 12 square feet in area, as she is the person who first introduced the two just over four years ago. "He was in a really fragile state back then: a different person, really. I just felt like he could use someone or something to cozy up with for a warm afternoon nap, to hold onto in times that got tough."
Although the dyad has grown distant in recent weeks, the boy and blanket seemed destined to be together forever in the early years. "That blanket would do anything for Derek," explains Mrs. Owens. "I remember times when it was the only thing he would let me change his diaper on. I never heard a word of complaint from the dear thing."
Derek's father, Charlie Owens, 35, recounts the darkest times between the pair. "He had the flu when he was 2, and the poor guy was so sick. He just clutched onto that blankie like it was a life preserver in the middle of the ocean. He got so much vomit on it over those 3 days."
Those in the inner circle with Derek and the blanket have struggled not to take sides, as Derek's aunt, Felicity Worton, 38, explained. "I see both sides, you know? We all knew that Derek would need to spread his wings a little as time wore on, but it's so hard to see how his blanket is taking this. Sometimes it will just stay in bed the whole day. It's not eating or drinking. I just try to be supportive. What else can you do?"
When asked to comment on the dwindling relationship, Derek stated, "It's nothing personal. Sure, we started out strong—a lot of these things start out that way. You figure you'll be together forever. But what can I say? I've matured a lot over the last few years, and what's important to me has changed. Now I'm more into plastic dinosaurs and my cars. I didn't plan for it to happen this way, it just sort of did."
The elephant-print blanket declined to comment.