Through Teddy's Eyes

Here I sit, at the edge of a bed. The boy has awoken and found me under his Christmas tree, and now here I am, getting acquainted with my new friend. There are other articles in the room to suggest this is a child's place. Here's a storybook, there's a popgun. The boy wants to take his popgun into the wood to shoot rabbits with. Before long, rabbits become foxes, then they become lions, and finally an elephant. The boy takes me along. The wood has become a jungle. I suspect I'm in for it, now. But it's all in a day's work for me!

Winter has become spring. The boy was sick for a week or so, but now he is much better. I was under his bed, listening to a most terrible coughing noise, and smelling something strong every so often. The doctor and trained nurse were very good in helping my young friend to get better. It's spring, and rain is falling. Oh my, here come a pair of grubby hands, reaching for me! And now I'm sitting on the window sill, watching the rain fall down.

We've had a glorious summer together. I'm a little dirtier and one of my ears is quite floppy. The seamstress has fixed my muzzle after an unfortunate encounter with a spaniel belonging to people across the street. The boy had a birthday party and several of his friends came to celebrate. There was lemonade and ice-cream, and plenty of sweets! Never in my days did this house ring with the laughter of boys!

I'm sitting on the bed, waiting for the boy to return from school. Lessons must be learned each day. The boy has been told that someday he will be going to a university to take a degree, so he must study and be ready for that day. Each evening the boy sits at his desk and writes a composition, or draws a picture, to take to school the next day, in the hopes of earning a merit certificate. I'm sort of the lost cause at this time, but it's all right with me.

Another winter, another Christmas. The boy has a dandy pocket-watch, and a carved wooden top, painted blue. He hasn't been sick this winter. He has settled down quite a bit since I knew him. Lessons take up his time, and I see less and less of him each day. One of the maids has already come to box up some of the boy's discarded play things. The old rocking-horse is still in the corner, but perhaps not for long. She has told me she expects to go to the attic very soon.

The rocking-horse went into the attic at the beginning of spring. I'm still a favourite with the boy, but how long this will last, I cannot say. He has taken to schooling and seems more interested in books and lessons. That pocket-watch keeps him occupied, too. Time is coming, that's all I ever hear. Where does time go, once it comes? If only I knew.

Here I am, in the dim and dark attic. It's summer, but I'm already in the attic. The boy is more interested in his painted wooden top and a pouch of fine marbles. I was sent to the attic when those marbles came into the scene. The old rocking-horse is my companion, now. She tells the greatest stories. It's hard to feel happy, once you're relegated to the attic, but I will never forget my duty.

I've lost track of the seasons. The window was stopped up with books a while ago. The servants come up very rarely, usually to search for a requested item, more often to bring up something that nobody is needing any longer. The rocking-horse has become pensive. So have I. It's a sad life here in the attic.

What's this that I hear downstairs? Someone is playing the piano. Some children are downstairs, I can hear them plainly. A little girl, all dressed up in red velvet, has come upstairs and discovered me! Oh, she's taking me to the parlour! Oh, is THAT the boy? But what has happened to him? He has grown tall, and is wearing a new suit. Standing next to him is a lady in a pretty white gown, with a lace curtain on her head. An old man stands with them, reading from a book. What can this mean?

The boy came over to the girl in the velvet dress, and saw me! He has changed so much. He smiled when he saw me, and asked the girl if she might like to take me to her house for company. The girl said yes, thank you, and so that was all settled! The boy and the lady got into a carriage and drove away, and the girl has taken me to her home.

Here I am, once again on the edge of a bed. The duty of a teddy bear is one that never ends. I have a new friend to look after, and comfort however I can. The boy wore me out, but the girl has stitched me up, cleaned and brushed my fur, and made me as good as new. I am happy to do my duty, wherever I am needed in the world.

Fin.