Teddy Bears Don’t Talk
On the morning of her fifth birthday, her Momma gave her the prettiest teddy bear. She had seen it many times before, because it was her Momma's pride and joy. It had been handed down for many years from Mother to daughter, and it was very old. Now Momma was giving it to her.
As she held it to her chest, Momma said to her, "Take very good care of this little bear honey, ‘cause it will give you the greatest advice when you are in trouble."
"Awwwwwwwww Momma," she laughed "Teddy bears don't talk!"
"This one does honey." Her Momma was so serious that she that she started to believe right then. "This precious little bear has been my friend and companion all my life, ever since my fifth birthday. It has guided me through all the difficult patches of my life. It has the magic in it."
She laughed gaily at the thought of magic, and as she looked again at her Momma, she saw the strangest thing. As Momma turned to walk out of the room, tears were streaming down her face. She went to run after her, to hold her, but suddenly a small voice whispered in her ear, "She’ll be all right. We’ve been friends for so long that it hurts to be parted. But we’re not really, I’m yours now. So I’m still with her in a way." The voice was so calming, so safe and secure that she never felt scared for a second, and strangely, she understood her Momma's tears now.
"I'm going to call you Leroy, little teddy bear." She whispered into its furry ear, "and I will give Momma that hug tomorrow.” Against her chest, Leroy smiled.
Leroy became more than just a teddy bear after that. At first he was a friend, and then she came to love the little bear, a deep love from the very depths of her soul. A love that grew with each time they talked.
Leroy was there for her when her Daddy passed away when she was six years old. And for all the times that her Momma cried in the night, when she thought she had gone to sleep. Because of Leroy she was able to make her Momma laugh again, and she always did things the first time she was asked. Not like before. Leroy was gently guiding her into becoming the sweetest, most caring girl and she was so proud of herself.
He was there when her heart was broken by her first boyfriend. He was there when he came back again, and their love began to grow into something wonderful.
On the day she married that same boy, he was in her hand as she stood at the altar. She had insisted he be with her, to her fiancé’s amazement. And as that little bear had always been so special to her, he had agreed with a laugh.
He was always there with his gentle voice when they had arguments in those early days that made her cry. And it was always his whispered words that told her to never let the night close on bad feelings. She always listened to his advice, he had always been right, and their marriage grew into the greatest love ever. Wherever they went, people would move closer to them, just to feel the love.
He was on her pillow when she had her first baby. A wonderful daughter and he whispered soothing words to her when the first tiny tear appeared at the thought of losing him.
And finally, he was with her on the morning of her daughter's fifth birthday. She never cried until she had given him away forever, and behind her she heard her lovely little girl gasp in surprise as Leroy whispered, for the first time, into her ear.
Behind her she heard her little girl say, “I think I’m going to call you Fluffy little bear, and you can sleep on my pillow.” as she held him tightly to her chest.
It was then that she knew he was not gone at all. His love would remain in her heart forever, because now that funny little bear would be an important part of her own daughter’s life.
