Nephews ruin uncle's $100 Sonic the Hedgehog collectibles with Sharpie marker, their mom refuses to take accountability or reimburse him: 'It's time to grow up anyway'

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Aug 21, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

When a Sonic fan returned home from work, he came to find that his prized decade-old Sonic the Hedgehog plush collection had been ruined by his nephews. They somehow got ahold of the toys and covered them in Sharpie marker. When he confronted his sister, their mother, about it, she brushed it off and even chastised him for leaving his belongings out, refusing to take any sort of responsibility for her kids' actions. To make it even worse, she dismissed the whole situation as childish and told him to "grow up."

Even if you're not a collector, the upset felt by this Sonic fan is totally understandable. It feels bad when something your treasure gets written off as unimportant. Whether it's Legos, comic books, or every figurine of Killua Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter that you can get your hands on, outsiders don't always understand why or how these things can matter so much. I myself collect bottle caps, making sure to save any interesting, unique, or particularly sentimental ones. They're literally worth nothing in terms of money, but the memories tied to them are incredibly dear to me. The Sonic plushies in question, though, carried sentimental value and are currently on the market for over a hundred bucks. Few things sting more than someone treating your passion like it's disposable – except maybe when it's expensive, too. 

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  • 01
    Sonic the Hedgehog toys covered in Sharpie stains
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 02
    Is there ANY way I can fix this? I'd even be willing to pay
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 03
    Im 20. I'm an avid collector of Sonic and marvel stuff. I got these when I was a kid around 2011 or so. While I was at work
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 04
    my sister came over and nephews got ahold of these and drew all over them with sharpies
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 05
    and different markers. I was genuinely so upset and when I explained to my sister what her kids did and how expensive the
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 06
    jazzwares stuff can be; she kinda just shrugged it off and said "well you shouldn't have had them out
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
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    or let them play with them" when one; I didn't. And two "playing" shouldn't be drawing on MY stuff.
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 08
    Young boy sticking his tongue out
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 09
    She refuses to replace them or offer to fix any damages and I've had these for over a decade.
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 10
    They are genuinely really important to me and I'm beyond upset that they just see it as "it's time grow up anyway who cares"
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 11
    I do. I care. What do I even do?
    via u/Weary-Butterscotch73
  • 12
    OhLookSatan Never let her back in your house unless she replaces them, sorry this happened to you man
    via u/OhLookSatan
  • 13
    DapperAdvisor228 I'm not sure if it will completely erase them, but soaking in cold water with detergent and oxi clean saved mine after a house fire!
    via u/DapperAdvisor228
  • 14
    CryptidFiles I was gonna suggest this, too! After washing, I'd try to spot clean the most visible stains left with a tide pen. I've used them on smaller marker stains with good results.
    via u/CryptidFiles
  • 15
    A sharpie marker on a white surface
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 16
    Opossum-parade Yeah. This is gonna require multiple layers of cleaning to maybe get it back to its original state. Once it's looking
    via u/Opossum-parade
  • 17
    lighter I'd try zote soap on it- when ive cleaned some horribly water-damaged plushies (dirty water and dyed
    via u/Opossum-parade
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    fabric that bled like h I on the white parts) and those are the steps I took to clean it. Oxi- clean, tide stain remover, and zote was my magic combo
    via u/Opossum-parade
  • 19
    MissWolfsbane77 I'm sorry this happened! I'm seconding recommendations to try a soak with oxyclean. I've had good results with vintage plush. I haven't done much with ink though.
    via u/MissWolfsbane77
  • 20
    Past Resort259 Your sister's logic is terrible. You didn't let them play with them, they did it while you were gone.
    via u/Past_Resort259
  • 21
    She needs to be a better parent and teach her children about boundaries and respect for things that not theirs.
    via u/Past_Resort259
  • 22
    Child being told to go to his room
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 23
    Move as soon as possible and don't allow them over.
    via u/Past_Resort259
  • 24
    As far as the plushies, I've seen success with rubbing alcol. Use a cotton swab dipped in it to try and work the sharpie out of
    via u/Past_Resort259
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    the fur. Don't soak it, just start with a small area and keep changing cotton swabs as they get dirty.
    via u/Past_Resort259
  • 26
    Q-tips on a blue background
    via y-studio from Getty Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story. 

  • 27
    Heretodistractmypain What an a hole and I hate that kids aren't taught to respect others' stuff
    via u/Heretodistractmypain
  • 28
    apparitionsGaze i don't know much about sonic but considering i plugged in "2011 jazwares sonic plush" and the same with tails and saw em
    via u/apparitionsGaze
  • 29
    running for 100-150 out the gate... let her know she'll be replacing them with options from the PROVIDED LINKS(do not let
    via u/apparitionsGaze
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    her fumble with cheap replacements, be specific and give her specific listings) or you will drag her a to small claims court. does not matter if you live with her.
    via u/apparitionsGaze
  • 31
    let her know you do not care if she is family, they are expensive collectors items, and they will be replaced or you will be financially
    via u/apparitionsGaze
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    compensated for their worth to replace them yourself. give her a week and if she doesn't show proof of payment for your provided links or cough up the
    via u/apparitionsGaze
  • 33
    money herself, you're going to set up an appointment with your local small claims court and it's an automatic win and mandatory payment from her if she tries to not show up.
    via u/apparitionsGaze
  • 34
    you can represent yourself. bring proof of the damages and printed pages for listings of the same dolls as proof of cost for replacement.
    via u/apparitionsGaze

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Tags

games brother childhood siblings gaming nostalgia sonic the hedgehog parenting entitled sister video games Parenting Fail parents entitled people sonic
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