We love a heart-wrenching story, especially when it includes a Christmas miracle.
The holiday season might be over, but Santa had time for one last gift before he flew back to the Northpole – or so it seemed.
A woman named Vittoria Gallagher has gone viral on Twitter after sharing the story of how she was reunited with her long-lost dog toy, given to her by her now late grandmother when Vittoria was a child.
She reveals that she lost the stuffed animal, which she named Crackers, 18 years ago while studying at university.
A few weeks ago, while walking down the street – not far from the university – she noticed the cute little creature on the side of the road.
Yes, Crackers was back… or was he? Unfortunately, all was not as it seems.
The thread, which has so far racked up nearly 8,000 likes, reads: ‘Literally over 30 years ago, I was a child (obvs) my grandma gave me a dog toy, I named him Crackers. I wasn’t good at naming things. I loved that dog. He was my favourite cuddly toy.
‘While I was moving from halls, in a terrible misunderstanding, the builders in my new student digs managed to fit my room. I lost a LOT of possessions, Crackers being among them. Anyway, I forgot about him because I was 19, a student and probably high or something. Bye Crackers.’
Vittoria explains to Metro.co.uk that she wasn’t quite sure where he had gone missing but always assumed it was when her room had been gutted.
She adds: ‘I lost boxes full of my life’s possessions to s skip. Including cuddly toys, and I assumed Crackers was in there… And like I said in the thread, I was 19 and I really don’t think I acknowledged it or cared that much.
‘At the time I was busy being devastated by the loss of my University of Southampton hoody and my new River Island jeans because as a student River Island didn’t come cheap!’
The thread then skips to 18 years later (now) where Vittoria is walking to her sister’s house.
She adds: Not far from where my old student house was. I mean, it’s a good walk but not FAR far, it’s the same town at least. And I look down and WHAT THE F***. CRACKERS is staring back at me. It’s uncanny. Can it be him?’
‘It can’t be but WHAT are the odds someone in Southampton has the exact same 30-year-old toy I got from my Nan? I’m not even from here. I text my sister RIGHT AWAY. We’re pretty sure it’s him. He must have gone to charity shops and found his way back to me. A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.’
Unfortunately, all was not as it seems.
‘(Ally is rational and never uses exclamation marks, so I knew this was big.) (Also I recently reconnected with my grandma’s side of the family so it was quite poignant, like a thanks from her)
‘Picked up soaking wet probably urine-infested Crackers. I decide “it’s time to come home, buddy. Let’s get you warmed up”.
‘I am on Cloud 9 being reunited with my best friend that I totally forgot about for two decades. As I said, we smoked a LOT in that student house.
‘Get him home. He stinks. I consider binning him because, well, it’s really disgusting, I don’t know where he’s been, I can’t check there’s no ANIMALS inside him, and he might infect my washing machine. But I am overcome by love and nostalgia. In he goes.’
Vittoria gives him a good three washes to get rid of all the germs, before happily putting him in pride of place in her kitchen, as a reminder of her grandmother.
So far, so lovely.
The thread continues: ‘I washed him thrice. Because like I said, he was just on the pavement, soaking wet, probably of piss.
‘He now has pride of place in my kitchen, and every time I see him I remember my Grandma, and I think of how Crackers found me again. After 18 years. It must have been a sign from her. A Christmas gift from heaven from my Grandma. Isn’t that a lovely Christmas story?
‘Anyway. He’s been there a couple of weeks. My sister has gone home to our childhood home for Christmas. And she’s just sent me this.’
‘Of COURSE Crackers didn’t f***ing find me and OF COURSE I’ve picked up a piss-infested toy off the street, and had it sat propped up in my KITCHEN, speaking to it like it’s my Dead Grandma.
‘I can not stop laughing.’
OK, so it wasn’t crackers – but the way we see it, she came away with two toys instead of one.
Vittoria says that the real Crackers had been hiding behind some old toys in her sister’s room this whole time but nobody had noticed.
She explains: ‘I think he just faded into the background and became part of the furniture. My own mother didn’t know he was there and she’s been living in that house with him for 20 years. He was just hidden in plain sight because nobody was looking for him. He is currently travelling home from Belgium as we speak.’
And surely Crackers needs a pal to hang out with, even if his twin is a bit smelly and gross?
Vittoria has tried a feel local groups in case he is a toy that someone is missing but she says if no one claims him, she will have to hang onto him.
She laughs: ‘Imposter Crackers is going to have to stay!
‘If nobody claims him, he has to stay, doesn’t he? He’ll need a new name (suggestions are Cheese, Jacob or Christmas) and I think we’ll have to get him a sinister moustache, evil twin style.’
Unfortunately, Vittoria has received some abuse after posting the story from people claiming she’s made it up. She’s repeatedly been tagged with the account @DHOTYA (Didn’t Happen of The Year Awards).
She says: ‘Unfortunately, to ruin the Christmas fun, the DHOYTA crowd did pick up on this story. And for reasons that I cannot fathom, they didn’t believe it. Since I posted the thread, I’ve been called names that I can’t repeat, I’ve been accused of lying for likes, and threatened.
‘All I can say is that if these men can’t believe a story about finding a cuddly toy, how boring must their own lives be? One of my follower’s mothers died. She posted about it, and received 320 messages from the DHOTYA followers, accusing her of lying and wishing her dad dead. That isn’t normal behaviour, and it wouldn’t be allowed offline. Why is it allowed online?’
Have you been reunited with a childhood toy after a long time? Let us know at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
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