Sunday 4 March 2012

Storytelling Sunday 2: The Words The Pictures

It's Storytelling Sunday! And after last month's record breaking 52 entries I'm looking forward to seeing what you've got for us this time round. Words? Pictures? A bit of both? Let's hear it!

 By last Wednesday I had decided on my story for today. I had even promised a couple of you a story about a car. But,when I thought really hard, I realised that there was another story which needed to come first. And here it is:

Fred, Ned and an Aunt Called Ed

Once upon a time I had an Auntie Ed. We all loved Auntie Ed, though she lived far away and we didn't see her very often. To visit Auntie Ed you had to go on an aeroplane; and the first time we did this I was five years old.

I packed carefully. I knew the score. I'd studied the sunshine-filled brochures snaffled from the Travel Agents. Though everyone had been keen to impress upon me the fact that there weren't a lot of wild koalas in the greater Keynsham area. Shame, I'd liked the look of them in the poster. I watched my Mum load up the suitcase with my new t shirts and shorts and then I placed my trusty Teddy Bear gently on the top. Auntie Ed herself had brought me Ted Fred when I was only a baby and I never went anywhere without him.


Here I am with my Mum, my bear (in his cardigan) and my big hair bows


We had a good flight; and at the other end Auntie Ed's Spare Room looked like the kind of place I might be persuaded to stay, so I thought I'd settle in. I opened my case. I stared. I screamed. You know what I'm going to say, don't you? Ted Fred. Wasn't. There.

I was distraught. I was overcome. This was outrageous. This was epic-ally, Titanic-ally bad. I couldn't go to bed without Fred! It was impossible! My parents eyed each other nervously. They'd never had to deal with a no-Fred situation before. They weren't sure they knew what to do.

Ed knew. Because Ed had a dog. A Pekinese with a fierce bark and a red bow on the top of her head. I hadn't been impressed the first time I'd met Bonnie. She was too loud. But I did admire her red bow. I had a bit of a thing for hair bows myself. I was a hair bow aficionado. Anyway, more importantly, Bonnie was the owner of a  Teddy Bear. When Ed had bought my bear, she had bought one for Bonnie too.

Ed in her triumph was a wonderful sight. She produced the second bear with a flourish and I eyed him from the bed, where I had arranged myself as a small, tragic heroine.

"This is - aah, um, Ned," she said. "That's right - Ted Ned. Ted Fred's twin."

"I think he might be his brother," I sniffed. "Not actually his twin." Because it was clear to me that he hadn't been showered with love, affection and cardigans as a bear should. But the deal was done when my poor Mum offered to sit up into the night, knitting the cardigan Ned so obviously needed.

And Ned kept me company all week. I'd got to know him so well by the end it was agreed that he really needed to be reunited with his brother and so he flew home with us. Fred was waiting, though he seemed unable to explain his last minute bail out. Maybe he didn't like Bonnie either. The boys got along famously and they still enjoy each other's company today: they are living out their long and happy retirement in my t-shirt drawer. If you look very closely, you might find a couple of faded hair ribbons tucked away safely in there too..

And that is my story for today. If you'd like to join Storytelling Sunday, create your post with an introduction (so your readers know what's going on - simply "linking to" isn't going to cut it!) and a link back here and come on over! A short story, a longer story, just words, mainly pictures - we love them all. One photo and a few words is all you need to get started...

The small print - which I'm not making small because I would like you to read it. I firmly believe we are telling stories in the round here. One person starts and then turns to the next. You can't do it in isolation.So I'm asking everyone who adds a link to say hello to at least a couple of the other storytellers. To make this even easier, how about turning off word verification just for today? Please think about it! Now, let's read..

52 comments:

Susanne said...

Oh I love this story, there are so many great details, wonderful characters - human and bear - and a happy ending. Nicely told, Sian.

Amy said...

Well, it is true, Ned and Fred do come before any story of you and cars!

I turned off word verification last week - as soon as Blogger bought in the double whammy I decided to take my chances!

Jimjams said...

Ggggrrreat story - how lovely that the bears were reunited and that your Mum had access to her needles!

Mary B said...

Aww that is so cool that Auntie Ed had a brother for Fred and his name was Ned truly they must have been twins

Unknown said...

I wonder what would have happened if there hadn't been a brother?????? Good thing there was!
I have linked in my story but am running crazily late so I will be back to read them later. Happy Sunday everyone!

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Awesome story! I think fear of being caught lovey-less is one of the reasons my parents always rotated mine. This meant I had almost a dozen of them by the time I was 4, but I never complained.

Ginger said...

You look so adorable with those big bows in your hair and it's so nice to see Ted Fred! Lucky for you Bonnie had no issues with Ned's newest owner ;)
Wonderful story Sian :)

Maria Ontiveros said...

Lovely story, and that picture of you is too adorable! My kids both had special blankets, but we chose ones which were fairly commonplace so they could be replaced. They did have a few lovies, as well. Thanks for reminding me of that.
rinda

Ruth said...

Good old Auntie Ed! Such a lovely story and one that we can all recognise.

Lynn said...

Another great story and so well told. I wonder what Ted did whilst you were away for the week. My youngest has a bunny that has to come - I actually have a spare which also travels on holiday just in case.

Alison said...

Hooray for quick-thinking Aunties and mum's who could rustle up cardies overnight!! Lovely story Sian!
Alison xx

scrappyjacky said...

Good thing indeed that there was a brother.....I still have my very first teddy as well.....who goes by the name of Smithy.....and I no longer have any idea why!!

Ladkyis said...

an excellent tale! Excellently told, Thank you for sharing. Now I am off to see everyone else's stories.

debs14 said...

Anyone who has ever had the experience of a child's favourite toy going missing will know how your mum must have felt! How lucky to have an Aunt who was clever enough to buy 2 teddies at the same time (and I'm sure the dog loved hers in her own little doggie way!). Great story!

Jane said...

a lovely story, so glad it ended well x

Miss Smith said...

Oh this is lovely! After a very busy weekend, I've had an extremely lazy morning, staying in bed until half past nine (!!!), the kettle is boiling and I get to indulge in this wonderfully told story.

Perfect :D

alexa said...

Just delightful! So beautifully painted in words, I was right there. You are a storyteller supreme, Sian.

Amanda said...

I so enjoyed your story this morning Sian. What a clever Auntie.

Irene said...

Another great story and photograph, Sian. I could really picture you as a small, tragic heroine. Thank goodness for mums with knitting needles and the patience of Saints, and an Aunt with good foresight!

Scattychick said...

Lovely story Sian :) I have added mine again this month but it is a little long sorry :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely story Sian. Gracia's Sammy Seal went for a sleep over in our local Tesco store once when she put him in the wrong shopping trolly - disaster until we could go and get him back the next day.

Miriam said...

Beautiful story Sian, we had and still have a blue bear. I love that your mother knit the brother a cardigan overnight! mothers, truly amazing x

Wnda said...

Your aunt sounds like a compassionate genius and your mother sounds like an angel in disguise. This is truly a heartwarming story.

Anonymous said...

Lovely story, Sian, and so well told (as always)! Had to laugh because my brother's had a Fred Ted!

Kelli said...

Sian, what a sweet story and full of 5 year ol' spunk, I love it.

Anonymous said...

Very sweet story. Have your parents ever fessed up to moving your precious bear at the last minute and why?

Sabbyscrap said...

Hi,
Nice story!
I'll think about mine and come back with a story soon!
Cheers from France.
Sabrina S
http://writingforabetterlife.blogspot.com/

Linda said...

What a sweet story, and beautifully written Sian! Funnily enough my story is quite similar:)

Gem's Crafts said...

Oh what a fab story, I can see this making it's way onto a LO! Have you a picture of the two Ted's together?

Lou said...

wonderful story Sian - fantastic photo and there must be a follow up layout about Fred, Ned and an Aunt Called Ed.

AM Zafaran said...

The story was cute and well written. My nephew clutches his teddy at night for reassurance whenever he has a nightmare. The Teddy is so very important to the child.

Becky said...

Another great story Sian!

laurie said...

love your story, the photo, your mom's glasses!, and the validation you give to aunts everywhere for being fun and resourceful!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

An adorable story and photo today, Sian! Thanks {as always} for encouraging us all to tell stories, and to also support each other in that path. I really appreciate you! ♥

Julie Kirk said...

We have a certain Thomas Ted living in our loft who [so J's family lore has it] vanished while on one caravanning holiday ... only to miraculously reappear in bed, beside him, on the next caravanning holiday.

[Even today, 35-odd years later, he won't entertain the idea that his grandparents found it somewhere in the caravan during the intervening year ... and returned it to him in his sleep.]

Sharing stories makes them multiply doesn't it?

Thanks Sian. x

Missus Wookie said...

One of the worries of my parenting was 'what to do if we lost winnie the pooh' thankfully we never did forever... :phew:

furrypig said...

love the ted story I also have my 'bear' from when I was little. thanks for being a wonderful host as usual Sian and I suspect you may beat 52 this month!! xxx

Jennifer Grace said...

Aw, don't you look cute with the bows in your hair?! Great tale of two bears, how brilliant that the 'brothers' were re-united. I lost my childhood bears at some point during one of my house moves, it still makes me sad. I still hope they'll turn up in one of my parents lofts even though they've all been thoroughly searched! X

Jo said...

A lovely story and a great picture. Aunt Ed sounds marvelous and I'm so glad the brothers were reunited. I hope you're feeling better now x

Sandra said...

I smiled my way through your story :)

Clare said...

I like a story with a happy ending! I've taken the plunge with my first story, lost toys seem to be a theme this month!

Unknown said...

Great story! So glad that Ted Fred and Ted Ned were reunited in the end. :) Thanks for putting together another great Storytelling Sunday!

Melissa said...

What a lovely story Sian, and a wonderful memory to have preserved. I'm so glad to hear the bears are enjoying a nice retirement together.

I've just gotten my story (in photos this month) up - it's been a crazy busy weekend, but I'll be around tomorrow to read the other stories!

Ifa said...

That was a week's holiday very well saved by Ed or was it Ted or Ned...oh Sian, I am so confused.

Sian said...

Ifa - lol!

I'm glad you all liked the sound of Auntie Ed becasue I suspect she is going to make an appearance next month too

Margie - no! Definitely not. There is no way my parents would have lifted my bear out of the case. They simply weren't those kind of parents. My Mum walked for miles once to try to find an elephant I had thrown out of my pram. I'm quite sure I took him out myself for an extra hug and then forgot..

Sian said...

Oh, and no I don't have a photo of the brothers together. I gusee I could take one now. But that would mean revealing the state of my t-shirt drawer..

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

Beautifully told as always and how cute were you with those bows:)
Sorry I'm a little late. That's what comes of leaving my husband in charge for the weekend!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful story and so great that your Aunt Ed had thought to Bonnie a bear too. Love the pic of you.

Mel said...

Great story Sian! I am linking up a day late. I agree about the word verification - I find it so annoying and time consumming and it totally puts me off commenting!

Amy said...

Wow! So many great entries again this month! And you started us off on the right foot as always. Loved the story of Ted Fred and and his long lost twin :)

Unknown said...

I finally got back to read the stories this month but blogger and my antiquated computer are NOT getting along. There are wonderful stories here and I read them all, but I couldn't post comments on all of them as blogger didn't always give me the option of commenting. I am not sure if it is because it is now so long after or (more likely) my computer being difficult! Looking forward to the next round in April :-)

Scattychick said...

Sian I wanted to make sure my stories were recorded for the future and thought you might like to see the box and book I made for this purpose x

http://scattychick.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/creative-craft-world-march-mini-kit.html

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