Ollie's Bear

Owen the Bear

After giving his bear a name, Ollie felt closer to the bear, if that was even possible. Ollie told Owen the bear his secrets and stories. He confided in the bear like someone would a friend. 

One day Ollie was sharing his concern for his mommy with the bear.  "Owen why does mommy cry when I say your name? Do you make her sad?" he asked the black teddy bear with plaid lined ears. When Olivia heard these questions come from the mouth of her young son, while bring him a snack, she turned and fled to her room to let out the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. She knew Ollie wouldn't fully comprehend what had happened to his father, but she also knew that he was smart enough to listen and ask questions if he doesn't understand. She knew she was going to have to explain soon why the name of his bear made her cry.

The following afternoon she had brought Ollie into her bedroom, pulled him onto her bed and held him to her while he clutched the ever-present teddy bear. She sighed loudly into the room. She had to get this over with, but didn't want to cause her son pain. So, she began with a question.

"Ollie,do you wonder why your bear's name makes me cry?" she asked the smallthree-year-old. He looks so much like his father now that his features arefinally developing fully. With his moss green eyes and shock of dark brown hairand perfectly shaped rosy lips. She was glad he looked like Owen instead of her.
"Mmmhmmm" he replied looking her full in the face.
"Well, Ollie you once had a daddy and his name was Owen." She told him gently.
"Where is my daddy now, mommy?" He asked in his small Angelic voice.
"Baby, your daddy got sick and went to heaven when you were a tinybaby." "And your daddy bought you that bear before he went toheaven." She replied while trying not to let out the growing sob that left a knot in her chest.
"Is that why you are sad mommy?" he asks her. She knows Ollie doesn't fully understand that the bear makes her sad but also happy, that he unintentionally named him after the man that she loved , the man that loved them both, at least she let him know what the name Owen meant to her.
"It makes me sad but also makes me happy that you love the bear that your daddy got you, so much, a lot of my crying is because mommy is happy." She explains to him. He looked a little hesitant still, so she added. " Your daddy loved us both so much , he wanted you to have something from him to keep. He would be very happy that you love what he got you. That makes me very happy." She said letting a tear drip down the side of her face.