PADDY: *Reading.* “On and on the Prince went until he came to a bower, where lying on a golden couch he saw a maiden fairer than the day. A smile...”
SCOUT: “Paddy? Paddy!”
PADDY: “Yes, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, is it my birthday yet?”
PADDY: “Not quite. Just a few more sleeps now.”
SCOUT: “Oh.” *Closes eyes.*
PADDY: *Reading.* “A smile parted her rosy lips, and she looked so sweet and lovely that the Prince was unable to resist temptation and he stooped and kissed her.”
SCOUT: “Paddy? Paddy!”
PADDY: “Yes, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, is it my birthday now?”
PADDY: “What?”
SCOUT: “Is it my birthday now, Paddy?”
PADDY: “I just told you, Scout, not quite yet. There are just a few more sleeps now.”
SCOUT: “Oh.”
PADDY: *Reading.* “The moment he kissed her the spell was broken. The Princess sat up and held out her hand to the Prince, for she had been dreaming of him all the long, long years she had been asleep, so he was no stranger to her.”
SCOUT: “Paddy? Paddy!”
PADDY: “What is it now, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, are you sure is isn’t my birthday yet?”
PADDY: “Yes, I’m quite sure, Scout. It really is only a few more sleeps now.”
SCOUT: “But Paddy, I’ve already had one sleep, so it must only be closer now.”
PADDY: “When did you have a sleep, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Just then, Paddy. I closed my eyes. That’s a sleep.”
PADDY: “Oh no it isn’t, Scout. You need to have a few proper sleeps, well, like Sleeping Beauty, Scout.”
SCOUT: “What?!?!” *Alarmed.* “Like Sleeping Beauty?”
PADDY: “Yes, Scout. She had a proper sleep.”
SCOUT: “Yes, but Paddy, if I have to have two sleeps like Sleeping Beauty, then it will be two hundred years before it is my birthday! She went to sleep for one hundred years!” *Concerned.*
PADDY: “Well, maybe that was a bad suggestion, Scout. I didn’t mean that you should sleep for one hundred years like Sleeping Beauty, but that you should have a proper sleep. Just a few more proper sleeps and it will be your birthday. I promise.”
SCOUT: “You do, Paddy?”
PADDY: “Of course, Scout! Have I ever lied to you?”
SCOUT: “No Paddy!” *Shakes head seriously.*
PADDY: “Well then, you just have to trust me and be patient, Scout.”
SCOUT: "Alright, Paddy."
PADDY: *Reading.* “With the Princess awake, all the other inhabitants of the castle awakened, and oh, what a commotion there was, to be sure! Everyone talked at once, the King and Queen embraced their daughter, and the ladies-in-waiting and the courtiers begged to be allowed to kiss her hand.”
SCOUT: “Paddy? Paddy!”
PADDY: “Now what, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy, when is my birthday, exactly?”
PADDY: “It’s on Wednesday, Scout. So, just a few more sleeps. Just be patient. There will be plenty to occupy you between here and there, like me finishing this faerie tale, which might take one hundred years to read if you keep interrupting, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Well, at least it would pass the time until Wednesday, when it’s my birthday, Paddy.”
PADDY: “That’s true, but you wouldn’t want the Prince and Sleeping Beauty, the King and Queen, the ladies-in-waiting and all the courtiers to have grumbly tummies, would you?”
SCOUT: “Oh no, Paddy! Why would I do that?”
PADDY: “Well, I’m just up to where the cook serves the dinner, and if I don’t read that bit, then the Prince and Sleeping Beauty, the King and Queen, the ladies-in-waiting and all the courtiers will have to wait with grumbly tummies.”
SCOUT: “Oh well, I don’t want that, Paddy, Grumbly tummies are bad! Keep reading, Paddy!”
PADDY: *Reading.* “It was a fortunate thing the cook announced that the meal had begun to cook a hundred years previously was just served up, for all the folk remembered then that they were very hungry, and trooped away to the dining hall.”
SCOUT: *Quietly.* “Grumbly tummy, Sleeping Beauty. Grumbly tummy.” *Rubs tummy vigorously under the bedcovers.*
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.