Teddy Bears from theKingdomofLight:

A Christmas Story of a Father’s Love

By Kelly Paries

 

The window glistened with a million crystal droplets of water sprinkled on a background of inky black. Etta pressed her nose against the window to see the brightly decorated store windows rushing past. Her breath slowly clouded the view, and all that was visible were the store lights kaleidoscoped into many colors in each little droplet of water. It was a pretty sight, despite the wet, dark background of the city streets. Etta sat back down in her seat, carefully folded her hands into her lap, and sighed with a heavy heart. The city bus hummed along up a small incline, and the engine chocked with the strain of the effort. They were getting closer now, and anticipation settled over little Etta like a cold, wet blanket. She did not want to be here. And she did not want to go there….

The day had started out cold and crisp. A fresh blanket of snow had fallen during the night, and all was quiet and white. The smoke from the chimney crawled toward the light blue sky. The sweet smell of cookies baking drifted from the kitchen. It was the most wonderful time of the year for little Etta. She loved the holidays. With Christmas on its way, she could hardly wait for all the festivities to start. Mother was humming, as she piped holly leaves and three red berries of icing on the corner of each cookie she was taking over to Aunt May’s later that afternoon.

A loud, jolly laugh filled the tiny apartment. Etta smiled and darted out into the hall that ran from one end of the apartment to the other. Etta’s father stood adorned in a bathrobe and brightly colored Christmas socks. The socks were red and green and had eight little brown reindeer encircling each leg. On the neck of each reindeer a gold bell was fastened to the collar. The little bells made a soft tinkling sound with each step her father took.

“Do you think all the people at work are going to enjoy my bells today?” he asked Etta. He reached down and pulled her into his arms.

“Oh, Daddy, you are so funny. I think they will love your bells. Everyone loves Christmas bells. They are the sound of happiness,” Etta explained.

“Oh, I see,” Father answered. “I don’t think there can ever be too much happiness. Do you?”

“Never too much happiness,” Etta agreed.

The two danced down the hall to the tiny apartment kitchen where Mother was putting the final touches on the Christmas cookies. Father quickly grabbed one and started to share it with little Etta, much to Mother’s dismay.

“Not before breakfast, you two,” Mother scolded, shaking her finger at them and laughing.

“Oh, life is too short to not have Christmas cookies for breakfast!” Father said as he kissed Mother on the cheek.

They all ate another warm, chewy cookie.

The memory made a big lump in Etta’s throat. The big city bus came to a screeching halt. Etta’s mother stood up, took Etta’s small, gloved hand in her own, and started to make her way down the aisle. Mother moved with slow, heavy steps as she descended the steps to the muddy slush on the street below. The bus pulled away from the curb in a plume of diesel fumes. Etta and her mother walked toward the entrance to the hospital. They were swept into the circular carousel that separated the outside world from the reality of their future and made their way through the lobby and up to the information desk.

Mother seemed very quiet. Etta understood the phone call they received after returning from Aunt May’s house was not a happy one. Mother had explained that Father had been hurt in an accident and was at the hospital.

The lady at the desk was round and had a kind face. Her glasses were perched on the end of a button nose. She smiled at Etta and pointed to the bank of elevators in response to Etta’s mother’s request for directions. The elevator ascended to the third floor and deposited them in front of the nurses’ station. A kindly nurse with a light pink sweater covering her white uniform took them to a room. Mother pulled back a striped curtain and entered the dimly lighted area. Father lay in the bed, breathing very loudly. There were tubes and machines and flashing lights dancing on little monitor screens.

Mother walked up to the bed and leaned over and touched Father’s hand. His eyes fluttered open, and a small smile appeared on his face as he recognized Mother. He saw Etta standing at the entrance to the room and beckoned with a hand. Etta walked over very slowly and put her tiny, five-year-old hand in his large one. He closed his fingers and gave her hand a little squeeze. He smiled at Mother and asked her to set Etta on the bed.

Etta perched on the bed and looked down at her best friend, her playmate, and her hero. She did not like the sound of Father’s breathing. In a small voice, Etta asked, “Daddy, what has happened to you? You sound very bad. Your voice is very bad! When can you come home?”

“Well, little Etta,” Father whispered. He stopped to swallow and a look of pain swept across his face. “A pipe at work broke at the factory, and some hot chemicals got in my lungs and hurt them very badly,” he explained in a quiet, raspy whisper. He stopped and closed his eyes. He tried to take deep breaths. He could barely suck in the lifesaving air. “I want you to be a big, brave girl. Watch out and help Mommy for me, okay? I have to go away for a while. I have some work to do. I need you to understand that we will see each other again, and Etta, I love you so very much.” Tears filled his eyes as he reached up and stroked her cheek.

“Please, Daddy, I don’t want you to go away. I need you. I want to go with you!” Etta cried.

“Well,” Father sighed. “I have to go by myself. My work is finished, but yours is not. There are many things you must do and learn. It will not be that long before we are together again. I promise. I will be watching over you. I need to go home.”

Etta curled up beside him and put her little arm around him as far as she could reach.

“I would like to give you a special Christmas present, okay? I want to tell you a story,” Father said. Etta nodded, and Mother pulled up a chair for herself.

And the story began…

Once upon a time, not so long ago, in a place not so far away, was a beautiful kingdom, a kingdom of light. This kingdom was more beautiful than anything anyone could ever imagine. Light came from every surface. The trees and flowers glittered like gems sparkling in the sun. The streets were paved with amber gold that looked like liquid fire. The sky was iridescent with all the colors of the rainbow. All of the flowers and plants were joyful and had beautiful music radiating from them. There were gardens, fountains, and palaces. It was a very happy, wonderful place.

In the kingdom of light lived a very wise and loving king. Of all the treasures in his kingdom, there was one treasure that the king loved more than all the riches and beauty possessed in all the land. It was his children. They were his rarest gems. He would whisper in their ears and tell them so as they sat perched on his knee, his big, loving arms encircling them.

The king would play and chase his children through the royal gardens. He would show them all the wonders of his kingdom. They loved to explore and learn everything he taught. They would play hide-and-seek in the great halls. He would tickle them and make flower crowns to adorn their heads as they sprawled out on the grass and flowers. Laughter would ring out throughout the palace. The king’s love for his children grew and grew.

Time passed in the kingdom, and the children grew older and liked to play more serious games or to just sit and talk with their father in the gardens. Each child started to develop wonderful talents of music, art, and wisdom. They were growing up.

One day, the king realized that the time was approaching when his children would need to have kingdoms of their own to continue to grow and be happy. He wanted more than anything to give his children all that he had. He wanted them to understand the pure joy and happiness that he enjoyed. The king’s children needed to understand their divine, royal heritage and all that they could attain. In order to do so, he would have to send them away to learn many of the lessons they would need to take their rightful place in their eternal kingdoms.

The king felt sad as he thought of his children not being with him. He would miss their laughter. He would miss those shining, noble faces smiling at him and warming his soul. He was greatly troubled at the dangers they would encounter. He spent many hours walking in the royal gardens, troubling over this problem. The king’s oldest son came to him to inquire what was troubling the king. The king turned slowly around with tears in his kind, wise eyes. He explained the plan that would help his children progress.

“How can I give my children all that I want them to have? The danger seems too great. Will they ever be able to find the path back to me and the kingdom of light?” the king lamented.

The wise prince understood the king’s love for his children, for he loved his brothers and sisters. “I will help them, Father. I will go and do anything necessary to help find the path back to you.”

The king knew the incredible danger this would cause for his eldest son, but no other solution could ensure the return of his beloved children.

“Father, I will do whatever you require of me,” the prince promised. The king wrapped his big, gentle arms around his son and held him close as he wept bittersweet tears, for he was so grateful for his son’s willingness. He had great confidence in the noble ability of this first son.

The king called all of his children together to tell them of his plans. The children were very excited for the new adventure and shouted for joy. The king told them that he would send them away, and they would not remember him or this place. They would need to experience many things to gain wisdom and knowledge. The king explained that to understand joy, they would have to experience sadness. To understand each new experience, they would also need to encounter its opposition. In this way, they could have the opportunity to inherit kingdoms of their own along with him and share all that he had.

The exciting time came when each child prepared to leave on a journey. The king gave each of them a bag. Each bag contained a few problems that were carefully selected together by the child and the king, in order to help the child grow, learn, and develop into a well-rounded individual. The bags were full of many different things, problems, and special talents to help in each child’s quest. The king carefully explained each problem contained in the bag and the strength that could be gained from each one. The children were eager to start their adventures.

The king and the children walked to the gate to leave the kingdom of light. The king thought his heart would break, and tears fell on his cheeks. He tenderly held each one of his precious children in his arms, kissed their royal foreheads, and told them how much he loved them. He knew that some of his children would choose not to return to live in the palace, but he also knew that the freedom of choice was a gift that he could give them. He would prepare a place for them. He wished time could stand still, as he remembered the funny things they said and the hurt and frustrations that came with youth. He remembered their first steps, their first words, and all the cherished memories of childhood. He gave them all long hugs and told them he would send a comforter with them on their journey, as he tucked a small teddy bear under each child’s arm. He explained he could not take this journey with them; they had to learn this by themselves. But he would always be watching over them. The teddy bear represented a hug from a father that loved them very much. If they ever needed comfort, he would send a hug. They would recognize it by the warm feeling in their heart, and they would know that the hug was from him.

The king’s children had many adventures and grew strong and wise. They accomplished many great things. It would thrill the king when the children would help each other in times of need. Some of the king’s children did not make good choices. The king would watch from his window and cry and agonize with them in their sorrow, yet he would also laugh and silently celebrate their successes.

One by one, the king’s children completed their journeys. Some of his children returned, bruised and battered. Each child who returned would rush into the king’s open, waiting arms. There would commence a grand celebration for the return of that child. Many of the children earned great rewards for their deeds and delighted in sharing all that the king had. They became kings and queens, with kingdoms of their own and children of their own whom they loved very much. And they lived happily ever after.

 

Father finished the story and gave Etta a big hug. He told them he was very tired now and Mother should take Etta to stay with Aunt May for a few days. Etta leaned over and kissed her father on the cheek. He closed his eyes and was asleep.

Etta and Mother walked down the hall. Both had a warm feeling inside as they remembered the story. Mother stopped to make a phone call for a cab and to talk to the nurse. The nurse regarded Etta with soft, kind eyes. She assured them that she would do everything possible to make Father comfortable. Mother and Etta took the elevator down and left through the large circular doors to the street. A yellow taxi was waiting at the curb. They crawled in and headed off to Aunt May’s.

The next few days were very confusing for Etta. Everyone regarded Etta sadly. Mother stayed at the hospital with Father. One evening, she came to Aunt May’s with tears on her cheeks. She sat in the chair and pulled little Etta onto her lap. As she buried her face in Etta’s soft, silver curls, she sobbed softly. She cried as if her heart would break. Etta put her arms gently around her mother and hugged her close.

Mother pulled a small teddy bear from her coat and put it in Etta’s arms. “This is from your father,” she said in a small voice.

A tear trickled down Etta’s cheek, as she looked at her mother with a light in her eyes that reflected the wisdom of eternities. “It will be okay, Mommy,” she whispered, as a warm liquid feeling blanketed them. “Daddy is in the kingdom of light.”

 

The End