PADDY: “I am still not convinced that this pink camper van you found on the side of the road was supplied by the faeries, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Of course it’s the faeries, Paddy! They brought it for me! The faeries took pity on me because you couldn’t turn that pumpkin into a Scoutarella coach, Paddy...”
PADDY: “Well, I never actually said I had any magic, Scout.”
SCOUT: “So they magicked up this wonderful pink camper van, just for us. It was just sitting here under the tree, waiting to be driven.”
PADDY: “I’m really not convinced. I think it belongs to someone else, like some Barbies who have gone to get provisions.”
ROSIE: “But there are plenty of provisions in the refrigerator, Paddy.” *Points to refrigerator with paw.*
SCOUT: “Oh pooh, Paddy! I’m going to keep exploring!” *Walks around to the other side of the camper van.*
BOGART: “I’m sure there are no Barbies about to lay claim to this camper van, Paddy.”
ROSIE: “I agree with Bogart, Paddy.”
PADDY: *Shakes head.*
SCOUT: *Squeals with excitement.* “Paddy! Bogart! Rosie! Come! Come quickly!”
BOGART: “What is it, Scout?” *Hurries around the other side of the camper van to where Scout’s squeal comes from.*
ROSIE: “What did you find, Scout?” *Follow Bogart.*
PADDY: “What is it, Scout? Are you alright?” *Follows Bogart and Rosie.*
SCOUT: “Of course I’m alright, Paddy! Why is it that every time I squeal, you think something is wrong?”
PADDY: “Usually because something is wrong, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Oh!” *Puts paw to mouth thoughtfully.* “Well this time I am excited!”
ROSIE: “Why Scout?”
SCOUT: “Because this camper van has everything! It even has a…” *Lowers voice.* “A Lady Louisa for when we have to go…”
PADDY: “Ahem!” *Clears throat.* “Yes, we know what everybear does in the Lady Louisa, Scout.”
SCOUT: “And even better, the Lady Louisa has a pink seat!” *Lifts toilet seat.*
ROSIE: “Look there is even a roll of loo paper! How kind the faeries are to think of our every comfort: food, drink and loo paper!”
BOGART: “And there is a vanity basin too! It has taps!”
SCOUT: “Oh! And pictures on the wall! Look!” *Points to pictures of Barbies.*
PADDY: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders seriously.*
BOGART: “Well I don’t think that is in the best of taste for the bathroom.” *Tuts and shakes head.* “A nice painting of a landscape, but not photographs! They’d be looking at you whilst you are doing your… err… your business! That’s creepy!”
PADDY: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders more seriously.*
ROSIE: “I agree, Bogart! I don’t want to sit on the Lady Louisa and have Barbies watching me!”
PADDY: “Hhhmmm…” *Ponders more seriously still.*
SCOUT: “Don’t worry, Bogart and Rosie! We can just take them down as part of the camper van redecoration we will do to it! We need to put our paw stamp on the interiors.” *Nods seriously.* “So long as we don’t remove too much pink. I like pink. But the photographs can go.”
PADDY: “But Scout, why are there photographs hanging up in the bathroom in the first place?”
SCOUT: “What do you mean, Paddy?”
PADDY: “If what you say is right and the faeries left this camper van for us to find, why are there photographs of Barbies on the wall?”
VOICE FROM A NEARBY GARDEN: “Hey! Hey that’s my camper van! What are you bears doing in it?”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and ROSIE: *All turn to where the voice comes from and sees a grumpy little girl with a red and ugly face clutching several Barbies.*
PADDY: “Oh-oh!”
LITTLE GIRL: *Gasps.* “Bear invaders!”
ROSIE: “Oh dear!” *Puts paws to mouth.*
LITTLE GIRL: “Come on Barbies! Let’s get ‘em!”
SCOUT: “Time to go, I think!”
LITTLE GIRL: *Runs towards Paddy, Scout, Bogart, Rosie and the camper van.*
PADDY: “Run!!!!!”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and ROSIE: *All run as fast as their little paws will carry them, into the safety of Daddy’s arms.*
SCOUT: “I guess you were right, Paddy,” *Looks from the security of Daddy’s arms at the scowling little girl who eyes Scout with hostile eyes.* “The faeries didn’t bring the camer van for us.” *Disappointed.*
PADDY: “I told you so, Scout!” *Snuggles against daddy’s chest for further protection from the scowling little girl.*
ROSIE: “That is sooooo disappointing!” *Sad.*
BOGART: “And it was an American model too, just like me!” *Sighs.*
DADDY: “Don’t worry everybear. Let’s go home and leave the little girl and her Barbies to their camper van. We have something at home that they don’t.”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and ROSIE: “What Daddy?”
DADDY: “Afternoon tea!”
PADDY, SCOUT, BOGART and ROSIE: “Afternoon tea! Hoorah! Grumbly tummies Daddy! Grumbly tummies!” *Rub tummies vigorously.*
Imagine the delight of Paddy, Scout, Bogart and Rosie when, whilst on a walk with me the other day, they came across a Barbie Dream Camper Van from 2017, left out on the footpath along with some other toys for anyone… or anybear to take! Recycling at its best… or so they thought!
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.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.
