Me and My Teddy

9 December 2011Sarah M

Whether wooly, feathered, weather-beaten, or fluffy, they sit patiently every day while the clock on the wall ticks away, occasionally catching a glimpse of that special someone as he or she briefly brushes past the bed in the midst of grabbing a textbook, or runs in to the room to grab a sport bag. They know that patience has its rewards, and one of those rewards is the promise of their best friend crawling into bed after prep is over and the shenanigans in the hall have subsided, and giving them a big squeeze before drifting off to sleep. This pair of glass eyes which sits on our beds, with the stitched-on smile they are never without and the fuzzy arms that give the best hugs, are the same eyes that have watched us grow since they were first given that respected place on our bed, right in front of the pillow. They have been the best listeners, the most understanding friends, and the most gracious tea party guests anyone could ask for: our favourite teddy bear.

Though we have grown on the outside, there’s no outgrowing the sentimental attachment one has with a teddy bear. Just the tilt of his head brings back memories of running around the front yard pretending to fly high in the sky, or eating breakfast together on school days before the sun was even up, or that time your mom fried his fur in the washing machine when she found out you had lice, and how much you cried into that fur when you saw his tragic state, after already having slept your first night without him. Even if he possesses the most unoriginal name, or has lost that fancy red polka-dotted bow he used to wear on a wilderness hike, or refuses to play with the dog, you can’t help but love him, and it’s that love that ensured that you brought him with you to Brentwood. He’s been with you for every adventure you can remember, so why not this one?

Across campus, furry friends sit proudly upon their owners’ beds (be the owner male or female), each of them carrying special memories that are shared only with their best friend. Though they may not see as much of the action as they once did when they were the all-too-innocent partner in crime, they are still given that beloved spot on the bed, right in front of the pillow. Brentwood’s lifestyle may not exactly be accommodating to them: “What do you mean you have to go play soccer and you can’t bring me? I’m the best goalie you’ve ever had!” Silent protests are popular among the fuzzy bunch, and can be seen from room to room, but, in the end, the rigour of the Brentwood regime wins, and they have nothing to do but pout and make do with the pre-bedtime cuddle. But it’s not all that bad: that special teddy bear still gets to see his or her best friend take on this new adventure, even if only from the sidelines.

This situation proved a problem for even the idol of all bears: Winnie the Pooh. Christopher Robin eventually had to go to “skull”. Even though the well-loved characters of the Hundred Acre Wood didn’t want Christopher to go, they could not stop time. They, too, had to learn to accept and understand how life was going to be different without their best friend around to play with them. In your stuffed animal’s own way, he has silently come to accept this, a valiant, selfless action for which he should earn a big bear hug, or maybe a new bow tie. Growing from a cherished, happy childhood is one of the hardest things to do, and those halcyon days are what your teddy has had to sacrifice. As teenagers, life has taught us by that there is an end to everything, but if you can keep your teddy bear and the memories you share near and dear to your heart, your childhood will never be a thing of the past. Instead it will be a part of you that will, hopefully, be passed on to your own children, along with the stuffed toy you loved so dearly as a child.

As Christopher Robin once said, “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember: you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you.” Keep your childhood close, because that may be one of the only golden things that can truly stay, despite what Robert Frost may have written. That link to childhood is a lot more than just memories; it’s the best friend that has been with you through it all. So keep placing your teddy in that special place on your bed, right in front of the pillow.

Sarah M

Where Students Choose To Be