Teddy Winked Back

What happens when a brother and sister want their Teddy Bear all for their own?

Poor Teddy was loved too much. David liked lying his head on Teddy like a pillow. He’d talk and talk, sharing what happened during his day. It made falling asleep easy. No monsters hid under the bed. No scary ghost shapes moved outside his window at night.

Jeanie played with Teddy every day. She knew right where to find him. He slept with her brother, but was hers during the day. She liked fluffing up his padding when she got up in the morning. She liked combing his fur, putting ribbons around his neck, and having him cuddle while she played with her friends.

They liked playing with Teddy so much that he began to wear out. Mom had to sew one bright black eye back where it belonged. It had been hanging by a thread down to his nose. She had to put new stuffing inside his tummy when he became unsewed.

The next time her two kids brought Teddy to be fixed up, she said, “I think it’s time to get a new Teddy Bear. This one is worn out.” Poor Teddy couldn’t help his other eye dangling loose, his tail coming unsewed, and his fur getting thin.

“I don’t want a new Teddy. I get to keep old Teddy.” Jeanie grabbed hold of Teddy’s left arm.

“I won’t be able to get to sleep with the new Teddy. You can have him. I’ll keep old Teddy.” David grabbed Teddy by his right arm.

They began to tug back and forth. Poor Teddy began coming apart at the seams.

“Stop it, you two.” Mom grabbed hold of Teddy’s head. Now three hands tugged and pulled at Teddy. Each wanted to have Teddy all by themselves.

Mom stopped tugging. “What Teddy? Quiet, you two. Hold still. Teddy wants to tell me something.”

Jeanie stopped tugging but held on tight. “Teddy can’t talk, Mom.”

David stopped tugging but held on tight. “Yeah. He just listens.”

Mom leaned down to Teddy’s mouth. She nodded. “Teddy has been with us for a long time. He watched while Jeanie played with her friends. He’s listened while David shared his day before going to sleep. One look into his good eye told me what he wants to say.”

Both Jeanie and David let go of Teddy. Each of them wanted to look in Teddy’s good eye. “I don’t see anything,” David said. He poked his face as close to Teddy as he could get.

“I don’t see anything, either, Mom.” Jeanie looked as hard as she could, but nothing happened.

“I guess Teddy told me and not you, because you two were fighting over him. Isn’t that right, Teddy?” Mom stroked Teddy’s back. Teddy’s head nodded up and down with a yes.

“I’ll tell you what Teddy said,” Mom picked up Teddy and gave him a cuddle. “He wants me to fix him up one last time. Then? He said he’s worn out from playing with you. He wants to retire.”

“Retire? What does that mean?” David started to pout.

“Yeah. Retire where? Will he stay in David’s room or mine?” Jeanie stomped her foot.

“You know Teddy loves you both. He wants to stay on the shelf above David’s bed at night so David can talk to him about his day. He wants to stay on Jeanie’s shelf so he can watch her play in her bedroom with her friends.”

“But Mom. We won’t be able to hug Teddy.” David said.

Jeanie took a deep breath. “What did Teddy have to say about that?”

“He likes being a teddy bear. He said each of you should bring a new one into the house. Teddy wants you to teach those bears how to listen and hug and play. Three bears are three times the fun as having one teddy bear.”

So now old Teddy will have a new teddy bear friend to be with in both rooms when he goes to visit.

“Thanks, Teddy. We solved it.” David grabbed Jeannie’s hand to shake on it. Jeanie grabbed David’s other hand and pulled him into a Teddy hug. “We did, huh Mom.”

“Thanks for helping. Fighting only ends in one winner. Taking time to listen and talk things out makes everyone a winner.” Mom joined the hug and winked at Teddy who winked back.

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