Short Stories Volume 2

Teddy's Fight

1902 was very special to kids all over the world.

It was the year that the teddy bear was invented. Now obviously, children have used many other kinds of toys and stuffed objects as sources of comfort and joy. There are signs of figurines made of straw, sticks and leaves that were made for a child in many cultures that are now long gone.

The point being made here iis that in 1902, a new little warrior joined the fight. From the moment the last stitch was sewn in, oblivious to the human world, the new little warrior came to life.

And so he waited. His charge had yet to give him a name. He had yet to meet her as well. All he could do at the time was wait in the small bag he was in as they placed it on the table.

Amelia was her name. Her birthday was today. She was turning six years old. I was her gift.

I waited patiently, sitting still in the bag as I heard the world going on. Mom was busy in the kitchen, counting off the snacks for the kids with some other adults. Dad would occasionally come in from outside, building something called a treehouse.

Unknown memories tell me that that'll be oour fort, our home base. I can already see all the adventures we will have.

Finally the time had come. If I could sweat, then this bag would be flooded.

"Open your present Amelia, go on sweetheart!"

Be calm, be calm. Know your purpose, you've got a sacred task.

It was a little bright at first as the light of the sun hit the darkness of the bag. However the sun had nothing on those beautifully bright those big brown eyes. But then came that smile.

She was perfect.

"I love him! Thank you Mommy!!" she squeaked out.

She looked back at me, tilting her little head to the side until another great big smile showed. "I'm gonna call you Plio, Sir Plio."

My name... Sir Plio, I love it!

Her birthday came and went. She smiled, she laughed, ate her cake and played with other kids. She showed me off to the others and held my paws as we went down the slide.

I was so happy to see her this joyful. I enjoyed every minute of it.

But I knew it was not to last. Come nightfall, my watch would begin.

Once the party was over and Amelia was getting ready for bed, I sat on the bed. I formed strategies, plans on how I would keep Amelia safe from whatever horrors await in the dark.

"Good night Mommy, good night Daddy," she smiled as she snuggled me tighter.

"Good night, sweetheart," her mother replied.

"Sweet dreams darling," her father whispered.

As the lights turned off and the door shut, I tried to steel my nerves. Looking up, I could see that Amelia was already fast asleep. Gently, I stood up and crawled to the center of the bed.

I waited.

I looked around the room. There was nothing. Yet.

Still, I waited diligently.

The faint sound of whimpering disrupted my surveylance of the room. I turned my head towards Amelia and saw that her face was beginning to scrunch up in fear.

For a few seconds, I debated on going to her to give her comfort until I had to fight.

When she whimpered a second time, I could not wait. I crawled back over to her. Gently patting her head, I gave her a small kiss on her temple. I wished I could stay here longer but the growl coming from the corner pulled me back to my duty.

Making my way back to the foot of the bed, I stood firm as the beast emerged from the shadow in the corner.

Its eyes had a dead look to them, but it easily caught the faintest of movements. All twenty three of them. The pale pink skin looked like it had never seen any form of light.

But the thing that made me nervous were its claws. One scratch from them could easily tear me in half.

However, I was just gifted to my Amelia. I wasn't about to let her little heart be broken by losing another warrior on the first night.

I set myself in a readying stance, firm but still nimble.

All I have to do is avoid its claws, get some light on him and above all else, NEVER ever let him touch Amelia.

*****

"Wake up sweetheart, it's time for school" her mother called as she entered the room.

Amelia awoke with a smile to her mother and jumped out of bed, "Good morning Mommy. Where's Sir Plio?"

"He's right here sweetie, you must've rolled him off the bed in the night. Whoops, looks like you had a lot of fun with him yesterday at the party..."

Amelia looked at her mother in confusion as she brushed her teeth.

"Don't worry just finish getting ready and Sir Plio would be good as new before you leave alright."

"Ok Mommy!"

I winced as Mother put another stitch in my arm. I had defeated the beast but I didn't account for the hand-tail. It had pinned my arm as its two claws reached for Amelia's sleeping form.

With no other choice, I ripped myself free and grabbed her flower flashlight, quickly aiming it at the monster.

Shrieking back in pain, it shrunk back to the corner until it reached the walls. With the light taking away the shadows, it had nowhere to hide. Its skin cracked and cracked until it shattered.

My first night and I already have a wound. I had to do better but I felt immense pride for successfully defending my charge. I looked at Mother as she placed the last stitch and carried me back to Amelia's room.

Amelia said goodbye to me and told me when she got back from school the great tea party we would have.

After a long night, tea sounded wonderful. Perfect for a healing warrior.

Amelia was eleven now. She handled me with great care like it was the first day she had held me.  I could only see her out of one eye but her smile was still the brightest I've ever seen. Second to her big brown eyes.

But right now, those big brown eyes had tears in them. Mother had just told Amelia that no amount of stitch work ccould patch me up this time.

My fur was no longerr soft and fluffy, nor did it have the same color. I was missing one eye and an arm. The one that I had injured the first night was finally falling off.

But the greatest one yet was the big tear on my back.

Over the years, I had Mother patch me up. But with that tear, all those threads came loose. I lost too much stuffing.

So my time has come. For five years I have fulfilled my sacred task. My duty. I took care of my Amelia.

Now, I must rest.

If she chose so, another would come to be her brave little warrior. To fight the beasts that came from the shadows.

But now it's time for me to rest.

"Good bye Sir Plio," she whispered into my ear.

Good bye, my sweet Amelia.