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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Family & Friends
- Subject: Character Based
- Published: 07/31/2015
The Teddy Bear
Born 1941, M, from Whitby, United KingdomThe Teddy Bear
The teddy bear was much worn. In some places the fur had disappeared and the black leather beneath was like a black boot toecap. The arms and legs joined the body so loosely that if one was lifted and released it would flop down. They seemed ready to drop off but they never would.
His cot was in the corner of the small bedroom, head to the end wall. The daylight made it a happy, friendly place, full of colour. That all changed for him at night when oft imagined figures stalked the moon glow blackness with their hint of doom. So then he would pull the little bear to him, turn on his left side and drift to sleep.
There was a time when he had a bad dose of flue and the high temperature fueled demons in his every dream. His mother tried hard to console him but only the little bear gave him any real comfort.
Now he lay in a different bed in middle age. Thoughts of teddy bears long since gone from his conscious mind. Work commitments had become so highly pressurized that he could not sleep without a couple of drinks. Tonight that calming effect had worn thin. Things at work were bad. His brain clicked into gear again. It was back in the world of work. Trying to resolve the never ending pile of problems.
He tried to concentrate in the dark, penetrate it and see the light fitting on the ceiling
He thought about his wife asleep beside him, softly snoring, and the children asleep elsewhere in the house. Had he been a success as a husband? Had he been a success as a father? He had plenty of shortcomings; he knew them well enough, even if he would never admit them publicly.
What of the future?
Suddenly in his brain a picture of his old teddy bear filled his wandering thoughts. It cleared all the crap away. He reached out towards it and gently lifted up one arm. Then he let it go and it gently dropped.
Should his work mates have access to these thoughts now he would never live it down!
The bear was doing his magic once again and calm was descending like a warm quiet fog out of the blackness. His mind knew that this feeling preceded sleep and happiness.
He turned onto his left side and put his back to the room. Then he gently drew close to his wife and closed his eyes.
High in the dusty loft created by the eaves where piles of cardboard boxes crammed with stuff that should really have been binned. Sat at the top of one of them was a small worn teddy bear.
Looking closely at him you could swear that he was smiling.
The Teddy Bear(Ossie Durrans)
The Teddy Bear
The teddy bear was much worn. In some places the fur had disappeared and the black leather beneath was like a black boot toecap. The arms and legs joined the body so loosely that if one was lifted and released it would flop down. They seemed ready to drop off but they never would.
His cot was in the corner of the small bedroom, head to the end wall. The daylight made it a happy, friendly place, full of colour. That all changed for him at night when oft imagined figures stalked the moon glow blackness with their hint of doom. So then he would pull the little bear to him, turn on his left side and drift to sleep.
There was a time when he had a bad dose of flue and the high temperature fueled demons in his every dream. His mother tried hard to console him but only the little bear gave him any real comfort.
Now he lay in a different bed in middle age. Thoughts of teddy bears long since gone from his conscious mind. Work commitments had become so highly pressurized that he could not sleep without a couple of drinks. Tonight that calming effect had worn thin. Things at work were bad. His brain clicked into gear again. It was back in the world of work. Trying to resolve the never ending pile of problems.
He tried to concentrate in the dark, penetrate it and see the light fitting on the ceiling
He thought about his wife asleep beside him, softly snoring, and the children asleep elsewhere in the house. Had he been a success as a husband? Had he been a success as a father? He had plenty of shortcomings; he knew them well enough, even if he would never admit them publicly.
What of the future?
Suddenly in his brain a picture of his old teddy bear filled his wandering thoughts. It cleared all the crap away. He reached out towards it and gently lifted up one arm. Then he let it go and it gently dropped.
Should his work mates have access to these thoughts now he would never live it down!
The bear was doing his magic once again and calm was descending like a warm quiet fog out of the blackness. His mind knew that this feeling preceded sleep and happiness.
He turned onto his left side and put his back to the room. Then he gently drew close to his wife and closed his eyes.
High in the dusty loft created by the eaves where piles of cardboard boxes crammed with stuff that should really have been binned. Sat at the top of one of them was a small worn teddy bear.
Looking closely at him you could swear that he was smiling.
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- 5
Shelly Garrod
08/17/2023Great story Ossie. Sometimes all we need is a soothing thought or object from our childhood to relax and calm us in adulthood. Even if it is a worn old teddy bear. Loved it. Nicely written.
Blessings Shelly
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