Hello Mr. Teddy

‘Hi, are you okay?’

‘Yeah, just got some things for my daughter’s birthday. She’ll be turning 10 this Friday,’ Emily smiled as she brought her daughter’s birthday present to the only checkout counter at the charity shop.

‘Excellent choice. I’m sure she’ll have a good time with this one. That’ll be 1 pound please,’ the lean bespectacled old woman tapped the cash machine with her shaking and rigid fingers.

‘Here you go…well, thank you. I’m sure she will. No bag please.’ The beady-eyed purple nosed teddy bear was dropped into her shopping bag – squashed between the groceries, solid and static just like any other objects. They should be stationary, weren’t they?

Emily drove her navy blue Ford Fiesta into the empty street and made a sharp turn to her house in Sheriff Avenue. Being a single mother to a daughter had taught her many things. Up until today, she still couldn’t let go of the memory of his late husband.

‘Jack, why did you have to go?’ her guilt for giving up on her husband always crushed her into a concoction of guilt and frustration.

‘I shouldn’t have pulled the plug…I am a bad wife…I am sorry.’

It was a decision that she had regretted the most. When she learned that the man she loved couldn’t bear the pain and completely comatose due to an accident, she was bound to make a decision. Euthanasia or surrendered to years of looking at your husband who would look no less like a living corpse.

‘I have too…’ her hands on the steering were trembling and drenched wet for the continuous pelting tears. Pain was contagious and she couldn’t continue wearing this fake smile and pretended that she’s okay.

‘Mama, mama! You’re back!’ her little fairy, the apple of her eyes flung into her arms.

‘Owh, Anna. How I miss you,’ quickly she dried her tears. The suffering must be kept silent. Not today. She must be strong. She didn’t want her sweet little Anna to feel the same pain that she’s experiencing. ‘How’s your school today, Anna?’

Anna continued with her elongated speech. Sometimes she blushed. Sometimes she chuckled. Emily knew she should be grateful to have her in her life – who had coloured her dark and misty life. Who made her laugh and finally to let go of Jack. Emily put away her shopping bag and immaculately hid the teddy bear in one of the compartments of her kitchen cabinet.

‘There…that should do it…’

‘MAWWW!!!’

‘Brownie, hush…’ her orange-ginger tabby cat was acting weird and kept staring at the teddy bear.

‘Ouch! Brownie! Bad girl! No food for you tonight’ Brownie had scratched Emily’s hand  before darted off the scene frantically as if it had seen a ghost.

‘Owh boy. Now look what you’ve done Brownie! You got its eye off its socket. So much for spoiling a birthday surprise. I bet you’ll do the same for everyone’s wedding too!’ she put the teddy bear back into its proper place, ‘I’ll fix that tomorrow. Sorry for that but welcome to the family,’ Emily smiled and closed the compartment’s door.

‘Mama, are you okay?’

‘Owh, it’s just Brownie. Why don’t we just go upstairs? Tomorrow is your big day. Come here, you…cute little princess.’

That night Emily couldn’t even have proper sleep. She kept on having mysterious visions and also some intervals of Jack still stuck in limbo. Clearly he was seeking for vengeance. He wanted his life back and blamed Emily for giving up on him.

‘Noooo!!!’ Emily realized it was just a dream. She went into the kitchen to get some milk. Maybe the milk can ease her painful head. What a strange dream. She couldn’t recount when was the last time she had this kind of misery-loving dreams. She had stopped having nightmares ever since she started her therapy with the local shrink. Maybe it was due to the endless heavy workload that she had to yield in order to cover her one day break tomorrow for the sake of Anna’s birthday.

‘Brownie…here Brownie. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be so harsh towards you. Come. I’ll get you some of those biscuits that you like. Brownie?’ Emily sought for her cat. ‘Brownie? Okay, quit playing hide-and-seek. I have no time for this. Erghhh what’s this pungent smell?’

Emily accidentally stepped into a pool of sticky liquid and her feet struck a hard surface, crushing the cushion-like thing into loud bone-crushing effect. Emily turned on the kitchen light and saw that the fur like thing was actually Brownie -- now crushed and limped with one of its eyes was missing from its socket.

‘I’m gonna be sick.’

***

It was a great birthday. She had her pocketful of friends coming to her birthday party and even had a clown performing on her birthday.

Emily ran and got the present for Anna only to discover that the teddy bear was still intact and its eyes were still at their place. ‘Well, that’s surprising…that’s great.’

‘Anna, come and get your presents!’

‘Mama…’ she ran towards Emily and hugged her.

‘This is for your birthday.’

‘Thank you mama. I love you.’

‘I love you too,’ Emily patted a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. She will take care of her and protect her little Anna from any danger. She will even though it meant her life.

***

‘Mama, mama say goodnight to Mr. Teddy.’

‘Goodnight Mr. Teddy. Eh, wait a minute what happen to Mr. Teddy’s hand?’

‘I’m sorry, Mama. I accidentally cut its hand with scissors when I was trying to put a ribbon on its head,’ Anna started to sob and her eyes turned glassy.

‘It’s alright Anna. We’ll fix that tomorrow. I promise,’ Emily stroked Anna to comfort her. Children, they were so innocent.

Anna clutched her new Mr. Teddy and she was very excited to tell her friends of her birthday presents, including Mr. Teddy. She loved it because it’s from her mother. It was already three in the morning and the bright moon lit the room with temperament. Anna slept cozily and was oblivious when the door creaked open. Anna was woken up as she heard somebody tip toed into the room. She tried to find Mr. Teddy but couldn’t find it on her bed.

‘Mama?...’

‘Yes, Anna. Mama is here!!’ And Emily shoved the sharp knife into the mattress.

‘Mama, what…happens to you?’ Anna was lucky to survive the first blow. She saw Mr. Teddy in her mother’s hand. ‘Mama…’

‘I just want your hand. That’s all. Mr. Teddy needs a hand. Don’t you, Mr. Teddy? Look, it says yes.’ The static teddy bear lolled lazily in her hand.

‘Mama…’ Anna tried to escape and she sprinted as fast as she could past her mother and ran for the main door.

‘Anna, you can’t run away from me. You stole my Jack. He would have been here if it’s not because of your reckless toys. Why can’t you just understand? Toys should be put back into their appropriate places when you’re done playing…owh Anna…you shouldn’t be scared…this is just a painless prick.’

‘I’m sorry Mama! I will not do it again. I will put my toys back into their boxes. I promise. Mama, I love you…mama, please! Help!’

***

‘A mad woman in late twenties was arrested for attempting to murder her 10 year-old-daughter. The woman, who was known as Emily was found with a knife and was soaked with blood, believed to be deranged due to an unknown reason. Further investigation will be done. Meanwhile, the daughter, Anna will be sent to her nearest sibling. She who was still traumatized kept on chanting indescribable words but it was believed to be the name of the teddy bear that was found next to her mother.’—ZA news.