literature

The Wishing Bear

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"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"

The shouts echoed along the hall, waking the old woman from a drowse. My goodness, she thought. Whether for the shouts or for finding her head nodded to her chest, she wasn't sure.

In any case, she rose to see what the ruckus was about. The shouts that woke her had been replaced by the sounds of stomping and sobbing. She shuffled to the corner and peered into the neighboring waiting area, where she spotted a little girl vigorously stomping on a small teddy bear!

My goodness! She thought again, this time certain of the cause. As she shuffled closer, the girl picked up the bear and tried to pull it apart. Her face was flushed and wet.

"Little girl, what's the matter?" the old woman asked, a tentative hand reaching. "What could that poor little fellow have done to deserve that?"

At the sound of the voice the girl froze, then shot the old woman a guilty look.

"It's alright. You can tell me. What's the matter, dear?" The woman lowered herself into one of the stiff chairs (her legs had begun to tremble again) and gave the girl her warmest motherly smile. She patted the chair next to her lightly. "Come now. Tell Grandma Nell all about it."

The girl wiped at her face with one sleeve and sat in an empty chair—not the one by Grandma Nell. She looked suspiciously at the woman for a moment and then down at the bear.

"It's jinxed," she mumbled, sliding back into the chair. She slouched, seeming to sink into herself, and sniffed loudly. "It's evil. It's an evil bear!" her voice rose with that last.

"Now, dear, how can a teddy bear be evil?" Grandma Nell rose awkwardly and limped to a seat closer to the girl. "And this one is so adorable, too." The girl didn't see the admiring look the woman gave the little bear. "Why, he isn't even the worse for wear from your punishment."

The girl looked at the bear again and gave a little jump. She flung the bear away like it were some creepy crawly, and hugged herself tightly. Still avoiding the woman's eyes, she looked at her lap.

"I thought he was cute, too," she whispered. "I thought it was so good and so nice. I thought the angels had sent it to help me." She did look up then, and the woman drew back from the expression of anguish on the girls face. "But I was wrong."


                                                             * * *

Alyson didn't have many toys. "It makes the ones you have more special," her mother had always said. But the little bear she was holding was special—she had known the moment she spotted it. It had seemed to peek over the top of the barrel, begging her with its eyes to come get it. She stood just holding it, looking into those eyes.

"What'cha got there, honey?" Her mother came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, sweetie, it is very cute, but we just can't afford it."

Alyson had known that was coming, but the lump still grew in her throat. She never got to have things. Her toys weren't special! They were all dumb and old and most of them were broken! If Andrew didn't need so much stuff…

"Come on, sweetie. We're just here for some clothes, and we really need to get going." Her mom was reaching for the bear and Alyson pulled it away.

"But mom! I need this bear! It'll help me sleep." This last was said in such a pleading tone that Alyson's mother paused. "Please, mom!" Tiny tears flashed as they dropped from Alyson's eyelashes.

"I'm really sorry sweetie, but we just don't have the money. Maybe for your birthday—"

"But that's ages away." Alyson voice was softer, though. She knew she wasn't going to win. She clutched the bear to her chest and lowered her head. "I wish I could have him now…"

"Now what's all this fuss?" The sudden deep voice made Alyson jump. Mr. Conway, who ran the thrift store, had come out from behind the counter. "Can't afford this cute little guy, eh? Well, there now. He's yours! My gift to you! Goodness knows I've seen you both in here enough. Call it 'customer appreciation'." His smile was the greatest thing Alyson had ever seen—she was sure of it!

"Well, thank you, Mr. Conway," her mother was saying. "We really appreciate it. Say 'thank you,' Alyson."

Before she could say anything, though, Mr. Conway went on. "In fact, why don't you take everything you have here," he gestured to the small pile of clothing on the counter, "as gifts from me, for one of my best customers!" His smile was so big now that Alyson was sure it must hurt!

"I…I don't know what to say, Mr. Conway—"

"Then just say 'Thank you and a good day to you' and we'll call it even." He had put the clothes in a bag and was handing it to Alyson's mother.

"Well, ok… Um, thank you, Mr. Conway," he raised an eyebrow and she added "and good day to you." Taking Alyson's hand, she led her out of the store. Mr. Conway turned his attention to a woman at counter.

"Mrs. Winston!" he beamed, "one of my most loyal customers! No, put that away…" The door closed and she didn't hear the rest.




"Did you decide what you're giving to Andrew yet?" Alyson's mom called to her from the kitchen.

"Yeah, I'm wrapping it," she called back. The apartment was small enough that you could talk to anyone from anywhere without even yelling much. At least her mom let her pick her own gifts now. Since they couldn't afford stuff from the store, she always gave him something she made at the art station in school. She always picked one she hated anyway, since it would just get torn up, and Andrew didn't know the difference.

She supposed she did actually love her little brother, but he sure did make things hard for everyone. She never said that out loud anymore, though, since her mom would just look sad and tell her that it wasn't his fault he was 'special'.

But today was the party, and she would get to see her friends (Andrew didn't have any so they always invited Alyson's).

"Is Aunt René coming, mom?" She hoped so. Her aunt somehow made things seem better.

"No, dear, she has to work," her mom called back.

Alyson felt the lump again and suddenly didn't want to finish wrapping. She picked up her little bear, who was always with her now, and hugged it tight.

"I wish she didn't have to work so she could be here," she whispered.

The phone rang. "Oh, I hope that's not a cancellation," Alyson's mom said as she reached for the receiver. As she talked, though, it sounded more like she was hearing good news.

"Well, what do you know about that," she said as she hung up. "And you were just asking about her, too. It turns out that René can come after all. She just heard from her boss that he doesn't need her today."




The park where they were having the party was a block away from the apartment, so it wasn't so hard to carry all the stuff there. Alyson brought her wagon (it used to belong to her cousin and one wheel was very wobbly) and had it filled up with all the food. She carried the little bear in the crook of her arm.

Her mom was walking behind her with the neighbor lady who sometimes watched Andrew when they had to go out. Alyson thought she must be the nicest person there was since she could spend so much time with Andrew.

"Did you hear about poor Mr. Conway?" she was saying. "I heard it from Marion. And I saw his son at the shop today, locking it up. He wouldn't say anything, of course, but Marion knows his daughter and she said that he went crazy! He started giving away everything in the store! He was helping some guy push a display case out to his pickup when the son arrived. Seems another customer called him and…"

Alyson stopped listening. They were almost at the park and she saw that her friend Ravi was there! He was already playing on the monkey bars—he liked to climb all the way to the top. Ravi had dark skin and black hair, and he was the cutest boy in school!

She didn't know when she had started thinking of boys as cute (though her mother did). But she thought Ravi was pretty special, and not just because he was the only one Andrew paid any attention to.

Andrew was there, too—Aunt René had brought him from the special school. He was running in circles laughing wildly at nothing. Alyson suddenly felt like hiding. She always felt that way when Andrew did these things, and it never got easier.

She pulled her little bear up to hide her blush and closed her eyes tight. "I wish he would get better," she sobbed. "I really wish Andrew would get better."

A scream made her look up. She had to blink to clear her eyes before she could see what was happening. Her mom and the neighbor lady ran past her into the park, and Aunt René was rushing to the monkey bars. It was a couple moments before Alyson could make out the figure lying still under the monkey bars. Ravi! She dropped the wagon's handle and started forward.

Then she noticed Andrew. He had stopped his ridiculous running and was standing near Ravi, looking upset.

"Mommy? Mommy? Is he alright, mommy? Will Ravi be alright?"

Alyson's mother froze, then slowly turned to Andrew. The first time he ever talks, and it has to be now! Alyson thought. Then she remembered her wish and suddenly the whole world shattered and fell down on top of her.

No, not Ravi. That isn't fair! She felt frantic. What should she do? The bear! My wish! I need to undo my wish!

"I don't wish he was better! I don't wish it!" she was holding her bear at eye level, talking to it like a little person. "I take it back!"

Nothing was happening. Ravi was so still and everyone was shouting and crying. She heard a siren in the distance. No, it has to be another wish—a new wish.

"I wish he wasn't better!" she blurted, then slapped her hands over her mouth, the bear falling to the ground. She tried to run to Andrew but her legs were so rubbery.

"Mommy? What's wrong with Ravi?"

"Shut up, dufus!" a boy yelled at Andrew. Alyson thought he was one of Ravi's friends. The boy put a hand on Andrew's chest and pushed. Andrew stumbled back, then fell, his head hitting a cement curb with a loud Tok.

Alyson could only watch as Andrew started to shiver, his arms and legs shaking like the people on TV getting electric shocks. Then she felt weird. everything seemed to be tilting and turning gray…




"… I think she's at this hospital, too"

It was Aunt René's voice. Alyson found herself sitting in a hard plastic chair, in a bright room with a shiny floor.

"What an awful way to get a day off," that was her mom. She sounds so tired.

Alyson looked around, taking in the TV mounted high on one wall, and the counter across the room with a nurse behind it. She was busy writing on something that Alyson couldn't see.

"Ahh, she seems to be with us again," René was looking at her and smiling, but her eyes were red and puffy. "We can go in and see Andrew any time, dear."

Alyson didn't move. For just a moment, she had hoped it had all been a dream. Her mom and Aunt René stood up to go, turning to her expectantly. She shook her head.

"Well, dear, you can stay here if you promise not to run around. We found your little friend, your bear. He'll keep you company. Maybe you'll feel up to visiting later."

They went to the counter and said something to the nurse, who looked over at Alyson and nodded. Then they went off down the hall—René with her arm around Alyson's mom.

Alyson forced herself to look down at her lap. The little bear seemed to look up at her with its so cute 'I'm such a good bear' face.

"This is all your fault," she whispered.

There was a buzz at the counter and the nurse got up and left. This was her chance. Alyson threw the bear on the ground and stomped on it.

"I hate you," she whispered. Then something burst in her and she started shouting as she stomped.

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"


                                                             * * *

"Oh, I can't believe this little fellow is so bad," the old woman had picked up the bear and was admiring it. "Why, I wish I had one just like this."

Alyson's head jerked up, her eyes wide. Oh, no! Something brushed her arm—something invisible. It felt like cobwebs were settling over her, into her. Everywhere they touched her she froze.

"In fact, if you don't want him, would you mind if I kept him? He's so cute!"

Alyson tried to talk. No, she said silently, you don't understand! But the words wouldn't come out. She tried snatch the bear back, but her arms wouldn't move. She felt like clay. All she could do was sit and watch as 'Grandma Nell' admired that stupid bear.

"There you are, Mrs. Murray," a nurse said as she came around the corner. "Your husband is awake now. You can see him."

Mrs. Murray seemed to forget all about Alyson, but she still held the bear. "How does he feel, dear? Is he still…"

"We're giving him all we can for the pain, Mrs. Murray." The nurse said as she helped the old woman stand. They started back the way they had come, Mrs. Murray holding the bear to her chest.

She sighed, "I just wish he didn't have to suffer so."

Alyson watched them go through burning eyes. Blink. I need to blink. Even as she strained to move her eyelids, her body withered, and she seemed to see her old life blow away like fluttering paper. The last things she saw before tears made the whole world blurry were the hard, black eyes of that bear, peering over the old woman's shoulder.


                                                             * * *

Maggie didn't know why her daddy was so sad. Or grandma, either. Grandma said that grandpa was in a better place, so she should be happy. Unless she was sad that she didn't get to go too.

That made sense. Maggie hated it when her sister got to do fun things that she couldn't, just because she was little. But today Maggie got to do the fun things! She loved the beach, and loved coming with her daddy best of all. And today he took her to a magic place! Under the wooden walkway! It was just like a long tunnel in a fairy castle.

"So how do you like it, punkin?" her daddy asked. "Is it as great as I said?"

Maggie hugged the little teddy bear that grandma had brought from the hospital. "I love it, daddy!" she smiled.

"I wish we could stay here forever!"

END
:phew: Wow, this one was intense! I'm sorry for the length, and I realize that only the hardiest of readers will want to tackle it. (MS Word tells me it's 2,563 words! :O_o:)

Anyway, this is yet another piece for #fotoFRIDAY: [link] There were two pictures this week and I managed to cover both of them - at each end of the story! (But in reverse order ;)).


So, it was a challenge trying to stay in the voice of an eight year old girl for most of the story... hopefully I didn't slip out of it too much. ^^;

And also - mind the category... Horror! Don't read this if you want to stay friends with your stuffed animals... :paranoid:

Edit Aug 6, '07
I found some time to take a second pass at the story, and tightened it up a bit more. I also completely rewrote a paragraph that I thought was problematic from the start... ^^;

Edit Aug 8, '07
Rewrote that problematic section again. :roll: Hopefully this time it'll stick. :aww:

Edit Aug 13, '07
Made one last change to the end of Alyson's part of the story. The last version was too... um... frufy (yeah, I made that word up just now :paranoid:)

Edit Nov 15, '10
Fixed a couple of word omissions - thank you, Jade, for the heads up! :hug:

:new: Edit Nov 16, '10
One last word omission, a minor tweak, and I rewrote the last paragraph with Alyson (the end of the penultimate section), trying to stay more in her voice, while still conveying the implications of what was happening... :phew:
© 2007 - 2024 RetroZombie
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readergirl065's avatar
Oh my gosh!!!! I am now totally creeped out!! But, I still loved this story. It shows that you can't have everything you wish for. And if you do then something bad must take its place. Good job.