Worldwide Teddy Bear Reunion
by Fred Shook
In the Teddy Bear hamlet by the sea, Barnsley laid the newspaper aside, a frown wrinkling his forehead.
“Bad news,” said Barnsley. “Nothing but bad news. You’d think nothing good ever happens on this earth. ”
“Well, of course, good things happen,” Edwina replied. “Lots of good things.”
“It’s just that good news doesn’t sell newspapers, I suppose,” Barnsley said as he stirred his hot cocoa with a peppermint stick. He took a sip and sighed in satisfaction.
“Speaking for myself, I quite like good news,” said Edwina, as she patted Barnsley’s paw. “Maybe some big thing has to happen. Then they’ll talk about it in the newspapers and on TV.”
Barnsley nodded. “It would have to be a huge good news story to make the newspapers,” he said. “Huge, colossal, stupendous, gargantuan, bigger than a truck load of marshmallows.” Barnsley took another sip of hot cocoa and stared out the window.
Edwina pondered for the next few hours, and then she exclaimed, “I know! Something that’s never been done. We could have a worldwide teddy bear reunion!”
“A reunion!” said Barnsley. “Good idea, but where would we hold such a reunion?” he asked.
“In a beautiful, peaceful place where there is no war, no ugliness, no mean spiritedness,” replied Edwina. “A place where the people are friendly and good to one another.”
“And I know just where you mean,” said Barnsley. He placed his empty cocoa cup in the kitchen sink and walked to a large map on the living room wall. “You’re speaking of Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. Your beautiful birthplace: New Zealand. ”
“I always knew you were quick,” said Edwina, smiling.
“Maybe not so quick,” observed Barnsley, deep in thought as he cradled his chin in his paw. “How would thousands of teddy bears find their way to New Zealand from every place on earth? The expenses would be outrageous. ” At that, all the bears’ ears flopped and pointed to 5 and 7 on an imaginary clock face.
Noel Bear listened from the sun porch, as he read a helicopter pilot’s manual. “Maybe I know a way to travel without spending lots of money,” he said. “Mother, would you pack a suitcase for my experiment, please?”
“I declare,” said Edwina, as she hurried off to pack a large bag. Once in her bedroom she began to fret. “Oh dear, whatever shall I take?” she wondered. Edwina knew she would need sensible shoes, a warm sweater, a nice hat or two, perhaps some gloves, her glasses, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a red ribbon to tie ‘round her neck. The first suitcase she chose was too small. She replaced it with a larger one, and soon it too overflowed with her things.
Noel jumped into his helicopter and flew it off the kitchen counter, out the door, and high into the sky. There, he lassoed a cloud and pulled it to the ground. The cloud bumped up and down, as if it were a balloon eager to soar.
Teddy Bears read
our
books from
Teddy Bear Hamlet
! 