The Bravery of Teddy Bears

The Legend…

There can hardly be a child in all of existence that does not have a Teddy Bear. Or if not a bear, a dog perhaps or a monkey. But bears, it must be agreed, are the most popular.

I wonder, perhaps, if you know why Teddy Bears are called Teddy Bears. There is a reason. Let me explain.

A long time ago, in the year 1902, the President of the United States of America was on a hunting trip. On that trip, his guides had captured a bear and tied it to a tree for the President to shoot. Seeing the poor creature tied up and helpless, the President refused to shoot it, thereby sparing the bear’s life.

The name of the President was Theodore Roosevelt. Now, Theodore had a nickname. Like people called William can be called Bill. Or people called Charles might be called Chuck. Theodore’s nickname was ‘Teddy’. And so, in honour of the incident, toy bears were made and named Teddy Bears.

I am inclined to believe, after an act of kindness such as that, that all toy bears everywhere were imbued with a spark of magic from that point on. As the life of a real bear was spared, so it became the job of all toy bears to protect the lives of the children who care for them. What else would explain that feeling between a child and its bear? That feeling of comfort and love, that feeling of being safe and secure, as if wrapped in a warm hug.

Who knows how else a bear looks after their child. Maybe they come to life at night, protecting the sleeping babe who dreams their dreams under a soft blanket, from the nightmares that crawl from beneath their bed. Or maybe it is all in the imagination. But even so, imagination can be as strong as a shield of steel against the things that live in the shadows under the bed, and the darkness that lingers in the corners of the mind…

…

Tommy was very sad. His father was going away again. In his short life of seven years, Tommy felt like he had seen his father only a fraction of that short time, for you see, Tommy’s father was in the army.

There were always lots of stories in the news and in the papers about wars and conflicts, but Tommy’s mother always tried her best to keep her son away from those but, inevitably, some would creep through.

Before he went away this time, Tommy’s father took him to one side in the living room and sat him on the couch. Tommy always thought his father felt warm and comfortable to be with. He felt safe with him, and he missed those feelings every time his father went away. His father knew this, as all good fathers do, so he had tried to do something about it.

In the living room, there was a present. A brightly wrapped box with a red ribbon on it. His father asked him to open it, which he did, gleefully. After tearing away the paper, he opened the box. He let out a breathy gasp of joy when he saw what was inside.

A teddy bear.

The bear had wonderfully soft, creamy coloured fur, shiny button eyes that radiated kindness, and ears as soft as velvet. But what made this bear extra special, was the fact that he held in one paw a gleaming (plastic) silver sword, and in the other paw he held a silver shield, inlaid with a bright blue pattern.

‘To keep you safe and sound,’ said his father.

Tommy hugged his father tight and, even though he shed sad tears when his daddy went away, he had a feeling of strength and safety, coming from his magnificent bear.

Time passed.

Tommy slept with the bear beside him every night and every morning he woke secure in the thought that nothing bad had come to hurt him or his father, as far away as he may be.

Then one day, Tommy saw the news. There were lots of place names that he couldn’t quite understand, but there were also many things that he did recognise. The sounds of gunfire. Missiles firing. Tanks and jeeps cutting their way through the landscape. His mother had been watching the news and had no idea he was there behind her, watching it too. When she finally noticed him, he saw tears of worry in her eyes, and he knew then that his father was in danger.

That night, his sleep was not so peaceful. Or safe.

Underneath his bed, a slimy, creeping thing emerged from the shadows. It slithered a path through the toys and rumpled clothes that were left upon the ground, plucked at the bedclothes, tugged lightly upon his toes and breathed hot, sticky breath in his hair. 

This monstrous thing, whatever it was, was about to strike, when suddenly, a silver shield was held up between the monster and its prey, and a small, furry and very determined figure stood like stone, brandishing its sword high.

The monster looked at this small warrior, incredulous at the fact that anyone or anything would dare prevent it from its feast. The monster struck, harshly, wickedly, sliding and slithering its way around the little fighter.

The bear fought valiantly, like no bear had fought before. Every gnash of the monster’s jaws or flick of its terrible tail was met by the shield or the fierce sting of the bears mighty sword. The battle in the bedroom raged, and no matter what the monster tried to do, the courageous bear fought back. Eventually, the bear had beaten the creature to the edge of the bed, and the monster teetered there, as if it were about to fall from the top of a jagged cliff. With one final lunge, the teddy bear plunged its sword deep into the creature’s black heart. With a horrific cry that made little Tommy stir, the nightmare being fell from the bed and was engulfed by the dark, never to be seen again.

Tommy awoke from an awful nightmare. He reached out for his teddy, his fingers clasping against air. For a brief and terrible moment, he thought his teddy had gone, but then his fingers felt the soft, comforting fur, and he smiled, lying back with the bear in his arms.

The next morning, Tommy’s mother received a phone call. It was from the army.

When it finished, she turned to her son, tears once again in her eyes, but she was smiling, too.

Tommy’s father had been hurt in the fighting. But he was okay. He was in an army hospital now, getting treatment. But the best part was, when he was well enough, he was coming home.

Tommy and his mother ran to each other, in a hug that he hoped would last forever. And between them, soft and secure, was the teddy bear, button eyes shining bright.