Tiny Bear's Christmas Adventure

Author's note. I had to write a short fictional piece for my creative writing class. I remembered when my niece Katelin was little; she had a tiny white bear that Santa brought her for Christmas. She named him Tiny Bear. So my story is based on Tiny Bear and my imaginary tale of his Christmas Adventure. Its a bit corny. Buts its written for the three and four year old age group. So please bear with me (oh, sorry for the pun) as I tell you about...

Tiny Bear's Christmas Adventure

A small white polar bear peered over the edge of a cliff at a red cottage dripping with snow. The cottage windows were cloudy so you could not see inside. And they were made of clear plastic. The little house was made from ceramic. The bear was stitched from a soft cotton cloth and stuffed with beans. And the cliff was just a pile of red and green throw pillows.

The bear belonged to Corey and Corey belonged to Mom and Dad. God brought Corey to Mom and Dad over three years ago. But now that she was almost four, Corey always took time to remind Mom and Dad that she was not a little kid. “I’m a big girl” she squeaked in her high pitched voice. Then, just to prove it, she stood tall on her tip toes, threw back her shoulders and lifted her chin high in the air.

As for the little bear, he had arrived in Corey’s stocking the year before. Corey loved the little bear and named him Tiny. Corey slept with Tiny every night until the end of January. Then, after the Christmas decorations were put away and the novelty of the Holidays had worn out, she forgot about the white bear the way Spring forgets about Winter. So Tiny spent the remainder of the year sleeping with a pile of ducks, bears, dogs and cats in a small blue basket at the foot of Corey’s bed.

But when Mom pulled out the decorations in November, just after Thanksgiving, Corey remembered Tiny and how happy he made her feel. So she fished him out of the pile of toys and brought him downstairs to play under the tree among the little cottages in the miniature village that Mom had placed there on a bed of white cotton. Now, on the day before Christmas, Corey and Tiny were playing their favorite game – hide and seek.

When Corey closed her eyes and counted to ten, Tiny snuck in and out among the pretty pink, blue and red cottages and churches, being extra careful when crossing the train tracks, and looking for the perfect hiding spot. Last round, Corey found Tiny nestled in the lowest branches of the Christmas tree. This time, he was sitting behind the large white and green church, the one with the bell, tower while Corey closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she finally located him at the church, Corey shrieked with glee, plucked him up and cuddled him close to her heart.

Corey had just placed the small bear behind the legs on the tan leather chair and was getting ready to count again when Mom came into the room. “What are you doing Corey-bell” she smiled. Corey laughed and hopped into her mother’s arm. “I was playing hide and seek!” she giggled. Mom giggled back, scooped Corey off the floor and carried her upstairs for her bath.

Tiny looked around. He wondered whether Corey would be back to finish their game. From upstairs, he could hear her chattering with Mom and splashing in the tub. After that, he heard the sound of the tub draining and little girl feet pattering down the hallway. And finally, the sound of Mom's feet walking into Corey’s room to read good night stories. Then all was dark and the night grew quieter and quieter.

Tiny sighed and settled himself against the leg of the chair. I guess Mouse will get to sleep with Corey tonight, he thought. Tiny didn’t mind sharing Corey with Mouse. After all, Mouse had known Corey since they were babies and even spent summer vacation with her last year when the family went to the beach. But even if he couldn’t sleep with Corey, Tiny still missed the warm spot in the basket with his other friends and the soft sounds of Corey breathing while she dreamed.

A few hours later, when the house was still and cold, Tiny was feeling lonelier than ever. Maybe Corey would forget about him and leave him under the chair for a hundred years. Or maybe the cat would catch him and toss him around, tear a hole in his ear and then drop him behind the couch where he would be lost forever.

Peeking out from behind the chair, Tiny made a bold decision. He would make his own way back to Corey and the soft, warm bed. It was a long way to the stairs but Tiny felt encouraged and set off on the trek.

Tiny was only half way to the stairs when he heard a soft padding. It was the cat. Tiny made a dash for the dining room table and hid behind a thick brown leg. Soon, the gigantic orange striped tabby slinked into the room, rubbing its back against the furniture and sniffing at the air. Tiny tried to make himself as small as possible and held his breath until the cat pattered out of the room.

A few minutes later, Tiny started off again. This time he made it all the way to the stairs. But when he looked up the long dark passage, he suddenly realized that he was too small to scale the mountain in front of him. Tired, lonely, and certain the cat would return, Tiny sat down to cry.

Just then Tiny heard another noise. But this time, it wasn’t the purr of the cat. Instead, it was a soft tinkling sound, like a miniature bell ringing. Then, out of nowhere, a chubby hand wearing a soft red mitten reached down, plucked Tiny off the floor and carried him up the stairs.

A few moments later, the soft red glove gently laid Tiny in Corey’s arms where he neslted close to her heart. Before Tiny settled in to sleep he looked up to see who had rescued him. The white bearded face winking back at him was familiar and Tiny recalled a similar night just one year ago when a red gloved hand had placed him in a green Christmas stocking and brought him to live with Corey. Before the cheerful man disappeared through the door, Tiny waved his paw and whispered “Merry Christmas, Santa.” The tinkling of a miniature bell told Tiny that Santa had heard him.