Friday, March 19, 2021

Bear Bear, The Brother

Marco has a brown teddy bear, given by my first helper. She gave him when he turned one if I am not wrong or even before he turned one. It is just a simple brown teddy bear with a marroon ribbon on its neck, tied as if it has bow tie. 

It was quite stuffed when it was new. It had been as it was sold at the beginning. Then then we put Marco's small clothes to it. Initially he was wearing a green singlet and Marco's white underwear. Then we washed the bear as it was quite smelly once a while when Marco went overseas.

It has been accompanying Marco to sleep for years since it was given to him. I do understand this "smelly blanket" thing to a child as I still have mine till now.

Marco told me that this teddy bear is his brother and he refers it as Bear Bear. Let's refer this teddy bear as a "he" or BB in short. BB also got birthday based on Marco's decision. It was just a month after Marco's birthday and he is 1 year younger than Marco. 

The obsession of the brotherhood thing with bear plush toys grew as now from one brother, he had 3 brothers. The second brother is a white small bear. The third brother is a Pikachu plush toy which he got from our current helper. These three brothers accompany him everyday to sleep. There is a big headed dog plus toy beside him also. This dog is called Pippo. 

Recently I cleaned up my house and found out a big bag full of plush toys. He took out additional three bear plush toys and made them his fourth, fifth and sixth brothers. Although he had many brothers, he has only one the most important to him. He is Bear Bear, his first brother.

There was a day when I wanted to dress bear bear with Marco's baby romper. He didn't like it because he wanted to touch BB's tail occassionally. By wearing BB a romper, he cannot reach the tail. So there was drama and argument about BB's clothing. Damn tiring to waste energy just to argue about plush toy's clothing. We ended up settling with Marco's colouful baby romper from mother care. 

BB body also now is much flatter as the cotton or what ever filling inside BB has been worn out. He looks old and the face is not as fresh as when he was a new bear. His ribbon on the neck is now curled and looked like a rope than a ribbon as Marco bites and sucks the ribbon. After 6 years, BB doesn't look great at all but we still ask him to take pictures with us in special occassions like Christmas or CNY.

Only less than six month ago, Marco started to make funny high pitch voice while pretending to talk to BB. He said he talked bearish language to BB. Actually it was damn annoying to hear him making a high pitch voice and it happens every day. Since last month, Marco put BB somewhere before he went to school and told us not to move BB as he was attending school.

Yesterday night Marco told me that BB told him that one of BB's school friend got zero in exam. I became worry because suddenly BB got story in his school and it's like he got his own life in other dimension. I asked Marco whether BB really told Marco. He said yes. I asked Marco whether BB was possessed by some ghost because it is just a teddy bear, he couldn't talk and tell Marco's things. Marco was looked upset after I said so. He tried to say something but changed his mind.

Marco finally said it after I asked many times. He said it while crying that he made BB to be his brother because he was so lonely and no sibbling to talk to. I heard this, I also cried. 

I couldn't imagine how meaningful this teddy bear for Marco. At the same time, I feel sad on myself because I was not aware of his feeling. We had a long talk and he felt better he said. Marco is a very sensitive boy.

After he slept, I still could not sleep. I was browsing to find a copy of this teddy bear toy. I worry this bear will break and he will be very sad. I made him a promise this day that if BB is broken, we will fix him no matter what. Sadly there isn't any thing like BB in Carousell, Shoppee and Lazada.

BB, I thank you for being a good companion for Marco. I never tot how valuable you are till yesterday. Thank you Bear Bear.



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