Caillou Says Goodbye To Gilbert

I wanted to tell you about an episode of Caillou that I saw once. My cat was put down, and I wanted to tell you an episode of this very unpopular and infamous kids show that was very simalar to what I experienced once.

I was in my room, playing on my DSi, not a 3DS because it was 2009. My cat was put down the other day, and it was summer vacation, and after summer, I would be in 7th grade. I was so fixated on my DSi, my mom told me it was almost midnight, and that I had to go to bed.

Since we only lived in a 2 bedroom house, my 4 year old brother had to sleep in my room, and I always used headphones playing quietly. We had to keep the TV on sprout, so he could sleep. He liked Caillou, and I loathed it. I saw the Caillou intro playing, and the title card was different.

This was a season 4 episode of Caillou, and he had more maturity than previous seasons. I remember everything, with even my thoughts revolving in my head.

Narrarator reading the title card: Caillou says goodbye to Gilbert.

The picture was gone, it was only words.

The screen faded to Caillou's house, the sky was green, like a tornado would hit. The house was different, it had no front porch, the windows were boarded up, like it had a fire. Also, The color of the house was purple and not blue. Last, the chimney was worn down, and had no top. I kept watching, I couldn't sleep anyway.

Narrarator: It was a very depressing day at Caillou's house. (sniff) I don't want to talk about it.

I never seen the narrarator this depressed. It cut to Caillou softly crying in the playroom. He never cried in season 4. (I did research)

Caillou: Gilbert, why do you have to go. "hic" we were best friends."hic"

I was surprised that this type of show was talking about pets dying. Anyway, Caillou's parents were talking in the kitchen about Gilbert.

Mommy: It's sad we have to put him down today, I just didn't want anything to happen to him when we're on vacation to New York.

Daddy: You've told me this so many times, I wanna scream. What about Caillou?

Mommy: Well, he will be sad. But we had to do this anyway, he does have a Kidney failure you know.

Daddy: What I hate is that he keeps going up into the bathroom.

Mommy: He's lost it Boris. He can't help it.

Daddy: I know Doris. I'm mostly concentrated on Caillou. I wonder how he's doing. I'll go check on him.

Boris walks into the playroom, where we see that Caillou is crying and Rosie is playing with her dolls. Daddy walks to Caillou.

Caillou: Daddy, "hic" why does Gilbert need to go to sleep?

Daddy: He is sick Caillou, when we go, Grandma will babysit you and Rosie.

Caillou: I'm not staying here, Gilbert is my friend, and he can't die without me there beside him!

I didn't beleive it. Caillou was never like this in these episodes.

Daddy: Do you really want to be there?

Caillou: Yes! I don't care if I get scared, I LOVE HIM!!!

Daddy: Okay Caillou, calm down, and stop screaming. I hope you know this is too grown up for you. Do you understand?

Caillou: Yes Daddy.

Daddy: Okay, let's get in the car.

I was speechless. I watched the rest anyway. It showed Grandma going into the house, and Caillou, Mommy, Daddy, and Gilbert in the car. Daddy drove. This was silent and boring. After 12 seconds of driving in the car, Caillou had a flashback. It showed Caillou as a 2 year old with the season 1 animation. He was with Gilbert, and Caillou looked happy.

Young Caillou: I love you Gilbert. You're the best!

Gilbert: Meow

As Caillou pets Gilbert, Gilbert licks Caillou in return for love.

The screen fades to white, and Caillou, his parents, and Gilbert were in a green room with a white couch. Gilbert has a band around one of his paws. As the doctor walked in, the camera cuts to the door.

Doctor: Hello you guys, I heard that Gilbert had a Kidney Failure. First, we will give Gilbert Saline. Then, we will give him the medicine that makes him pass away.

Caillou: NO!!! HE'S NOT DYING!!!

Daddy: Caillou, cut it out. I told you that we have to do this!

Caillou: I'M NOT LETTING HIM GO!!!

Mommy: Caillou, stop it now! Listen to your father!

Caillou: Okay, let him die, like I don't care. "sigh"

I watched in horror as the saline got injected.

Doctor: Here's the Shot that puts him to sleep.

The 2nd injection was worse. I was scared about this, cartoon or not.

Caillou lost it. He was crying uncontrollably at Gilbert's soon to be death.

The doctor checked him with her stethoscope.

Doctor: He's gone. That was quick.

Mommy, Daddy, and especially Caillou, were all crying.

Caillou: (sobbing heavily) YOU WERE MY BEST FRIEND, GILBERT!

The screen faded to white, and this wasn't a flashback. Caillou was with Gilbert in a white room with no walls. The room turned dark. Suddenly, Gilbert faded into nothing.

Caillou: Gilbert! "gasp" where is he?"hic" he's gone!"hic"

Caillou started to walk in a straight motion, becoming more decayed. This went on for a minute, with violin music playing in the background. This stopped when Caillou was pale, and was almost skeleton thin.

Caillou: (says raspy and dry) Gilbert...

The screen faded to Gilbert on a cloud, sleeping. A soft heavenly voice chuckled. The screen faded to black, with Caillou crying in the backround. It faded back with Caillou in a hospital. He was pale and looked like he was going to die.

Mommy: Caillou, You are too young to die, you're only 7.

Caillou was 7 now? Well, it looked like Gilbert died 3 years ago.

Daddy: We love you, no matter what.

Caillou: I know. I will see Gilbert soon.

Rosie: Caillou, I love you.

Caillou: I.."breathes heavily"

Mommy: Caillou?

Caillou: Yes Mom?

Mommy: You..were.....adopt-

Caillou: What Mom?!

Mommy: ADOPTED!!! "sobs"

Daddy: We adopted you from an orphanage. You were a baby born with cancer. We couldn't bear to see you suffer without parents, so we adopted you.

Caillou: Thank....you...

Caillou closed his eyes and stopped breathing. Mommy, Daddy, and Rosie were all crying extremely hard. I actually felt sorry for him. The screen faded to black, and the crying faded softer. The credits were white comic sans rolling on a black background. The copyright date was 2005. The year that season 4 came out. The screen turned to static. I watched the static until it stopped after 4 minutes. the regular scedule came on after the episode.

The next day, I woke up and heard my brother had strep throat. My Dad had to stay home from work that day. I spent the day (with my Dad's permission) to go on the computer and contact Sprout about it. Remember that it was 2009, so I contacted PBS kids and PBS as well. (NBCUniversal bought Sprout in 2013) All 3 didn't know what I was talking about sadly. I gave up and returned to my normal summer routine.

I still am scared of that Caillou episode, but not as much as before. I did some research on Caillou as well, but now I don't because I gave up.

Well, that about sums it up. If you've ever seen this episode before, let me know!