The Friend Who Wasn't There

Summary
Muffy embarks on an epic quest to find her long lost imaginary friend. But she has to be careful-the Crosswire basement is full of bewitched boxes and gadgets and dolls...oh my!

Plot
The episode begins at a store where Bailey's picture is taken. Muffy likes it. Then she chooses a pair of matchng gloves. Then she sees D.W. talking to Nadine, which leaves her surprised because she can't see Nadine. At school, she discusses it with Arthur, Buster, and Francine. Arthur explains that Nadine is D.W.'s imagianry friend. Francine remembers her imaginary friend; Squinty McGee, and that he would tell her the best stories. Buster explains that he has five imaginary friends; Top-eye, Billy Snailgoat, Frumpus, Pudding Pal, and Buster's favorite, Junior. He remembers that they took a cruise to the Bermuda Triangle and vanished. Arthur explains that his bear Stanley is kind of his imaginary friend and asks Muffy if she has one. Muffy got confused.

Later, Muffy asked Bailey why she didn't have any imaginary friends when she was growing up and what was wrong with her imagination. Bailey told her that there's nothing wrong and that she always comes up with the most imaginative ways to spend money. He also says that she had an imaginary friend named Oswald. So he takes Muffy to the basement to find pictures of him. Then he gets a phone call, saying he is needed in the kitchen. Muffy tried to pull out a box, only to fall with the box. Suddenly, a stuffed elephant named Waldo jumped out of the pile. Muffy told him to get away because he smelled like sardines and old socks and asked him who he is. Waldo replied he's Muffy, but Muffy declined saying, she's Muffy. Waldo was disappointed hat Muffy was already taken and asked him what name he'll give him. Muffy replies he's not Oswald and that she'll never have a stinky imaginary friend. Waldo replies he's been living in a box for years and asks where they are going. Muffy says they're not going anywhere because she's looking for pictures of Oswald. Waldo says she's always talking about Oswald. Muffy asks him if there's anything to do besides following her. Waldo replies that he'll go run and hide. Muffy was going to ask him what he's hiding from. Waldo replies she doesn't wanna know and takes her to hide. Then a giant comes through the hall. Muffy asks who as that and Waldo replies that she's called Pretty Penny, because every time a toy gets out, she hunts it and puts it back in the box. So that begins Muffy and Waldo's adventure. Later, she approaches D.W. and her friends and thinks they're ridiculous. D.W. and the others make fun of Oswald, but Waldo defended Muffy. Then they continued their path. There, they find the great Oswald. Oswald scares Muffy, only for Muffy to be captured by Pretty Penny. Then she wakes up only for it to be a dream. Then Bailey approaches, then Muffy realizes it was Waldo, not Oswald.

Later, she told Arthur about Waldo. Arthur then gives her a game console, but Muffy wants to go for a walk. Muffy tells Waldo that he's getting a bath, but Waldo objects, saing it's pachyderme. D.W. and Nadine are looking out the window and D.W. could see no one. Nadine replies she's catching up with an old friend and waves to Waldo, ending the episode.

Characters

 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Waldo
 * Bailey
 * Arthur Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Nadine Flumberghast
 * Francine Frensky
 * Buster Baxter

Cultural references

 * The wagon with "Rosebud" on it is a reference to the 1941 American drama film .

Episode connections

 * Muffy's collection of Woogles from "Arthur Rides the Bandwagon" can be seen in one of the boxes.
 * Toy soldiers from when Grandma Thora was a child in "Clarissa is Cracked" are on a shelf.
 * A large doll covered in monetary symbols resembles Polly Locket from "Prunella Gets It Twice".