This 3-Year-Old Spends Almost Every Day With His 89-Year-Old WWII Veteran Best Friend

3-Year-Old Spends Almost Every Day With His 89-Year-Old Best Friend

Friends come in all shapes and sizes.

But for a 3-year-old Minnesotan preschooler named Emmett Rychner, a best friend comes in the shape of his neighbor Erling Kindem -- an 89-year-old World War II veteran.

Though the Rychner family lived next door to Kindem and his wife for about a decade, they did not have a particularly close relationship with the elderly man, ABC News reported.

That is, until Emmett noticed Erling's tomato garden.

"They kind of bonded over the tomatoes in his garden," Emmett's mother, Anika, told KARE 11 News.

"Every time he saw me out there, he'd come running over," says Erling in the KARE 11 video above. "[Emmett would ask] 'Erling got any 'matoes?'"

It's been nearly a year since the two have bonded, and now they spend most days together riding bikes, mowers, drawing pictures and learning from each other.

But sadly, things are about to change for the two pals, as the Rychner family is moving into a bigger home, and Kindem is going to a senior home.

The two might not be neighbors anymore, but they hope to see each other frequently. ABC reports that Kindem may be headed to a senior home in Northfield, Minnesota, that is only a 5-minute drive from the Rychner family's new home.

"Erling grew up in Northfield and he goes there every week to meet up with other World War II veterans," Rychner told the outlet. "It won't be the same because we are not living next door to each other anymore, but we are definitely going to let the two reunite when we move."

Even with the upcoming changes, we hope the two will stay in touch and remain the best of friends.

"I love him," says Emmett in the clip above.

Before You Go

Best Friends Who

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot