Teddy Temptations

Ever seen a symphony in satin and artificial fur- embedded with softest cotton with black or brown beady eyes and triangular nose… its called a teddy bear.. The essence of childhood and its ephemeral spirit can be captured by this one object and preserved for time immemorial in its satin folds…

For the uninitiated, a teddy bear is a stuffed toy with two semi-circular ears without padding, a soft oblong head with close-set shiny eyes that seem to peer into your soul with the innocence often reflected in the smiles of infants- a genial expression of innocuous curiosity coupled with pinchable furry cheeks… a triangular nose set below the eyes with a sewed-on smile.. A bow in the head or at the neck might not be an uncommon sight- mostly colored red.. A well-rounded stomach extension follows the head in a pear shaped arrangement with paws attached for forearms and legs (normally in sitting position).. Open armed with enough space to squeeze in a hug from any creature..

All my childhood I’ve hankered (rather unsuccessfully, I may add) for a teddy.. a nice plump big teddy.. My mothers chief gripe, in those days, was that it would get dirty and she would be the one who had to clean it.. I finally had to settle with a white stuffed animal which bore close resemblance to a sheep.. it was hard but furry- white fur; but somehow it missed on the essential huggability quotient that all teddy’s adhere to and thus was never played with much… (This became yet another reason for why I was refused any more stuffed animals L )…

Finally at the age of 18 (no kidding!!) I found my true love… a brown tiny teddy with a green cap and green vest… hazel eyes and cupid like grin.. My father, after 11 long years of pleading finally relented… :D).. I hugged it, kissed it, squeezed the stuffing out of it.. It lay by my pillow with its contented expression- my salve for a ruinous day and my close confidant.. the feel of a soft plump furry cheek against my skin, a paw to hold at night while analyzing my unfulfilled wishes, a serene companion to my often wavering moods, a listener who would not judge me for my actions but accept me for what I was.. He was all this and more, but alas.. The picture wasn’t quite complete.. my mother, being the stickler to cleanliness that she is, threw him (it was a him.. all my teddies are “he’s” without exception..) into the washing machine… and he came out smelling like detergent with his insides still wet.. his stitches gave way too and cotton balefully glared at me from the gaps… he has now been relegated to a post at the top of the refrigerator to gaze upon me with those liquid brown eyes and watch me grow…

What makes teddies so incurably attractive?? The fact that look for no more than you can give, even a simple look at one will dispel your qualms and fears.. They ask for nothing but that you be yourself- treat them as you’d like (in all my life I’ve never come across a being who would willfully hurt a teddy bear!!).. love them or not they still treat you all the same- the same patient eyes peer out, the same sweet smile greets you, the very same paws draw around you for the hug.. What more can one ask??? No secret is too small; no matter is too tall- they’ll listen till you have nothing more to say and still they’ll stick around to make sure you’re okay; a hug or two just to be sure.. A better friend is rather hard to find..

I’ve had loads of teddies- a pink one from engineering, a panda during my MBA, a huge puppy for my birthday, another brown one form dad, a Garfield one for my birthday… they’re all sitting in a cardboard box- waiting for me.. To reclaim my childhood.. Every time I dust them it takes nearly all of my will power to put them away.. Or rather I have not yet found in me the strength to do as I please (I have found enough to buy teddy bears without parental supervision though J ).. Perhaps someday on a rainy night, I’d take these silent soul mates of mine and hold a tea party; warding away the chilliness and warming the heart and soul.. Perchance in my next birth, at least, I’d be fashioned as a hand crafted teddy with almond eyes and creamy skin with a blue bow around my neck… the perfect companion for a girl with plenty of imagination, oodles lots of heartaches and a ready hug…