For my daughter - a story about teddy bears Once, during the time when you were away, your teddy bear told me a story. Oh, you didn’t know that your teddy bear talked to me? Well, she does. All the time actually. She tells me about her constant battles against your nightmares. You don’t believe me? Think about this then. Every night you fall asleep, you snuggle your teddy bear really close. You hug her, and sometimes you give her a kiss. But when you wake up, your teddy bear isn’t where she was when you fell asleep. You think that she is going to sleep along with you, but really, it is when you are sleeping that she comes awake. Remember that time you thought there was something hanging above your bed in the dark, and you were afraid to go to sleep. Your mother and I made you go to bed anyway. You thought we were being mean and uncaring. But I knew that you would be all right. You know why? Because you took your teddy bear with you. She told me what happened that night. You were afraid to go to sleep, but with your teddy bear close, you felt safe. Your teddy bear, all soft and loving, helped you fall asleep. After you closed your eyes, the nightmares came. Your teddy bear said it was the most fearsome creature she ever faced. It was large, and midnight blue. It had a red, red mouth and gleaming teeth. She said the teeth were as large as she was. Can you believe that? It breathed fire and had leathery wings. It had hard scales and a look like it really meant business. It was a nightmare, a bad one. And it wanted you. But your teddy bear was not having any of that. Even though the nightmare was larger, scarier and more powerful than anything she faced before, she was not going to let it have her girl. From your dreams, she drew a sword of truth. From your love, she made a shield of protection. When the nightmare reared back and spewed a terrible fountain of flame, she did not move. She stood in front of you and held her shield before her. The flames hit the shield and could not pass it. After the flames ended, your teddy bear leapt straight at the nightmare, with her sword out to her side. She swung at the nightmare with all her strength. One of the wings of the nightmare came off. Now the nightmare was truly upset. It lashed at your teddy bear, it breathed more fire. It clawed at her with sharp claws. It snapped at her with wicked fangs. Your teddy bear did not give in. Wherever the nightmare struck, your teddy bear was already somewhere else, swinging her sword. Eventually, she wore the nightmare down, and left it in pieces. She touched each piece with the sword of truth. When she did this, the piece would glow and then disappear. When it was all over, you giggled in your sleep. For real, I remember it. I didn’t know why you giggled, but I knew you must have been having a good dream. I thanked your teddy bear and went to sleep myself. You see? That is why you should always keep your teddy bear close. And you should never fear nightmares. The ones that you might have only come because they were so weak, that your teddy bear figured that you could handle them. She saves her strength for the truly terrible nightmares. As long as you have her by you, you do not have to fear. What? No, not all teddy bears fight nightmares. Only very special ones. Only the ones that dads bless and give to their little girls. Like yours.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 03:35:46 +0000