PADDY: “This looks like a nice one, Rosie. Do you think Peter might like this one?”
ROSIE: “Ooooh! That looks lovely Paddy. Yes please. I’m sure Peter will love any chocolates that I send him for Valentine’s Day.”
PADDY: “Oh I’m sure he will too. I hope he shares them with Oleg and all the other bears and dogs and foxes at Mummy Marian’s house.”
ROSIE: “Oh I’m sure minj prins will do that. He’s very kind and lovely you know.”
PADDY: “I know, Rosie. I also know he has a very grumbly tummy.”
ROSIE: “Not as grumbly as Benny’s though!”
PADDY and ROSIE: *Giggle.*
SCOUT: “Hullo Paddy! Hullo Rosie!”
PADDY and ROSIE: “Hullo Scout!”
SCOUT: “Ooooh! What are you doing with those yummy chocolates?” *Looks longingly at chocolates.*
ROSIE: “We are picking some out to send to mijn prins Peter, and all the bears at Mummy Marian’s house for Valentine’s Day, Scout.”
PADDY: “Daddy gave us the chocolates and the box, and said we could fill it up with our choices and he will send it to Mummy Marian.”
SCOUT: “Ooooh! That’s so lovely of you!” *Picks out a chocolate and eats it.*
ROSIE: “Well, I want mijn prins Peter to know how much I love him!”
PADDY: “And we want all the bears, and foxes, and dogs at Mummy Marian’s to know that we love them.”
SCOUT: “That’s a very good idea!” *Picks out another chocolate and eats it.*
ROSIE: “I love mijn prins Peter so much!”
SCOUT: “I know you do, Rosie! I love mijn beste vriend Peter, too!” *Picks out another chocolate and eats it.*
PADDY: “Scout!”
SCOUT: “What?!?”
PADDY: “Don’t eat all those chocolates!”
SCOUT: “But why not, Paddy? I have a grumbly tummy! Grumbly tummy, Paddy! Grumbly tummy, Rosie!” *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
ROSIE: “You always have a grumbly tummy, Scout!” *Giggles.*
SCOUT: “You said that Daddy gave us the chocolates, Paddy.”
PADDY: “Yes, to select from to fill this box to give to Peter, Oleg and all the bears at Mummy Marian’s house, not to gobble up!”
SCOUT: “But Paddy, there are plenty there to choose from.”
PADDY: “There won’t be if you scoff them all, Scout.”
SCOUT: “As if I would scoff them all, Paddy!” *Shocked.* “I would at least have the decency to leave one.”
ROSIE: “Why would you leave one behind, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Because whoever eats the last chocolate has to throw the box away, and it’s such a long walk to the kitchen tidy!”
PADDY: “No it isn’t, Scout. It’s just out there.” *Points to kitchen with paw.*
SCOUT: “That’s easy for you to say, Paddy. You are taller than me, and have much longer legs. It takes you less time and less energy to get there!”
PADDY: “I’m not that much taller, Scout!”
SCOUT: “It’s enough of a difference, Paddy!”
ROSIE: “Oh, I wish I could share some of these chocolates in person with mijn prins Peter on Valentine’s Day!” *Sighs.*
SCOUT: “Oh yes! That would be wonderful, Rosie!” *Sighs.*
PADDY: “Well, why don’t you ask him to come over to our house, Rosie.”
ROSIE: “But what if mijn prins invites me and Scout over to his house for Valentine’s Day?”
PADDY: “It’s really quite simple, Rosie. If you invite Peter over for morning tea, you and can share some chocolates with him, and then if he invites you to his house, which I am sure he will, you and Scout can take the box of chocolates over to Mummy Marian’s house in the afternoon, and deliver them in person.”
ROSIE: “Oh Paddy!” *Claps paws in delight.* “You are so clever!”
SCOUT: “Oh yes you are, Paddy!”
PADDY: “Thank you, Scout and Rosie.” *Blushes pink beneath plush fur.*
ROSIE: “Did you here that mijn prins? Paddy has had a wonderful idea! Why don’t you come over to our house on Valentine’s Day? We can have a morning tea with yummy chocolates, and you Scout and I can play hide-and seek. Then I can give you 10,000 soft snuffly kisses as a special gift for Valentine’s Day. Then we can go to your house in the afternoon and we can have more treats and you can give me 10,000 soft snuffly kisses for Valentine’s Day! Can you come?” *Hopeful.*
SCOUT: *Picks out another chocolate and eats it.*
PADDY: “Before Scout eats all the chocolates.”
SCOUT: “Grumbly tummy, Paddy! Grumbly tummy!” *Rubs tummy vigorously.*
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Rosie is Scout's cousin, because like Scout, she is a free trade knitted bear from Africa. She was made in Kenya by one of the Kenana Knitters, Martha Wanjira. She is made from home spun and dyed wool. She was a gift to me from two very dear friends, including the one who gave Scout to Paddy.
