Mumpy the Bear: A Book for All Ages

By Rolf Papsdorf

How a brave Teddy bear saved the children of the world from child abuse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Oct 7, 2009
• ISBN: 9781426986345

Book preview

THE TOY SHOP

My name is Mumpy, I do not know why I was given this name. I thought it was dry clean, as it read in my label in the back of my neck: DO NOT DRY CLEAN!

In any case, every one called me Mumpy and I was happy with that name.

I had been sitting on the shelf in this toy shop for weeks now. I saw many people coming and going, wondering when it would be my time to be chosen to make the life of a child happy.

Yes, I had studied hard and long to become an exceptional and compassionate teddy bear. I had learned everything that was required and much more, to make children happy.

It was after my training and passing of my examinations that I got dispatched to South Africa in order to be ready for my calling.

Here I sat now, day in day out, wondering when my time would come. It was really a bit frustrating as I was charged up and full of energy to start my destiny.

It was on a cold and rainy day in October, that the doorbell of the shop rang and a lady with blond hair walked in.

It was as if I knew that this was my day! My heart started to pound and I got terribly excited. Please, please, take me, is all what I could think off.

The lady walked over to the teddy bear section and studied with big eyes all the teddy bears. I was not large, in fact much smaller then most other bears in the shop, but I had a beautiful golden fur and large eyes full of gentle expression.

The lady looked at me and I knew that her look confirmed my hope. I would be the one to-day to leave the shop with a new destiny!

The lady picked me up, held me by my leg, so I saw everything upside down and went to the pay station.

This is the teddy I will buy she said to the shop assistant, how much is he?

Well, lady that one comes not cheap, but then he is very special or not?

Oh yes he is, I can feel it she said and the price is really not that important.

After paying she took me under her arm and I could smell her from close by. She smelled good and I was happy.

After leaving the shop we went to her car that was parked not far away.

By the way, my name is Erica, what is yours? She introduced herself to me.

My name is Mumpy, I answered proudly.

Erica put me on the back seat, strapped me into a seat belt and said: well Mumpy, to day is a new beginning for you. I hope we will have lots of fun.

I hoped so too.

Driving through the darkened streets with neon lights in the shops, it was the first time that I really had a chance to take the world and its human inhabitation in.

As we stopped at a traffic light, I saw a poster reading: baby, 2 years old, raped!!

It made me very sad to get such an introduction into the human society. Erica stopped in the drive way of a small house. It had a nice garden and picket fence. I was wondering how her children looked as I was supposed to make children happy.

Once inside the house, I got put into an arm chair and Erica left the room.

I looked around, waiting for a child or children to appear, but there was only a cat stretched out on a sofa, eying me suspiciously. I saw some nice pictures on the wall, some art stuff in the corner, some yoga books in a shelf and a big vase with flowers.

Where was the child or the children? Went through my head.

As I thought about that, Erica returned to the living room. Well Mumpy let me tell you what we are going to do now. As I love children but have none of my own, we will visit a shelter for children that have no mother or father to look after them.

I go there at least twice a week and read them stories. I also take cookies along so that they have a treat. I will take you along so that you can be their friend.

Wow, that sounded exciting! I would be able to look after many children and make lots of friends. That was better then just looking after one or two!

The drive to the home were the children lived went quick and uneventful.

Erica lifted me out of the car, put me under her arm, picked up some books and a cookie tin and went inside.

It was damp and cold in the hallway as we made our way to a big room from were I heard many small and excited voices. The children must have seen us arriving.

Hello aunt Erica, all the children cried in unison, what are you reading us to-day?

Well, Erica said, let us all sit down for a moment. I brought a friend with me to-day that I would like to introduce you to. His name is Mumpy and he is a special little teddy bear. If you are all very good, and Mumpy agrees, he can stay with one of you in turn every day.

Oh yes, please, the children shouted.

I was at first taken aback. At first I get bought by a pretty lady hoping to look after her children and now I was supposed to stay in the shelter for children and on top of it with a different child every day. This was not what I had in mind or had been expecting. But then I thought, well this could really be a big challenge and honor as it gives me the opportunity to get to know many children, make many friends and make them all happy. So I agreed.

We all set in a circle and Erica read wonderful stories to the children. They sat with large eyes, not able to take their eyes of Erica and me. I felt very proud.

Shuffling feet in the hall way interrupted the reading and a large matron walked into the room. She did not look friendly and I sensed that the children were afraid of her.

Look at the mess on the floor, all the crumbs of cookies, if that mess does not get cleaned up fast, no more visits for you shouted the matron.

The children cringed back in fear.

Erica got up, faced the matron and said: Matron, I will make sure the room is clean when I leave and please let the children have some good time and happiness for at least a short time. They all deserve it!

The matron turned away mumbling and left the room.

We were not able to get into the same happy mood again as before the interruption by the matron.