Thomas the Teddy Bear and the Nightingale Family

By Nan McFadyen

Edna and Richard were now getting a little old, their eye sight was not as good as it used to be, and so they wanted to retire. They had been making Teddy Bears for many years. They had almost completed their last Teddy, and decided to give it to their grand daughter Hannah. Edna felt this last Teddy was very special, and she decided to call him Thomas. This was the beginning of a very exciting life for Thomas, from his first night sleeping in Hannah and James' bedroom, to being left behind in a Tea Shop, and spending the night in a smelly cupboard, by mistake of course. The stories in this little book are all true events that happened to our children, and know that most parents with children of their own, will have lots of stories, happy, sad, funny, that they can also remember when their children were young and growing up. I hope the little tales will bring a smile to your face and help you to remember some of your own personal family stories.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781643006161

Book preview

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Thomas the Teddy Bear and the Nightingale Family

Nan McFadyen

Written by

ISBN 978-1-64559-129-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64300-615-4 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64300-616-1 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Nan McFadyen

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

To Iain, Jane and Gavin

Thank you for all the exciting years

Chapter 1

Thomas Leaves Edna and Richard

Saturday

There was a small workroom in a small house in Winchester where an old lady was making her very last Teddy bear. She and her husband Richard had been making Teddies for thirty years. Their children had grown up, married, and now they had children of their own.

But alas, Edna and Richard were growing old. Their eyesight was not as good as it used to be, and sadly, their fingers were not as nimble as they were when they were younger, so it was becoming more and more difficult sewing and stuffing the Teddy bears.

This was the last day they would be working in their little workroom, and of course, they felt very sad as they had loved every Teddy bear they had made. They used to talk to the Teddies while they were being made, telling each and everyone how they would soon one day have a little girl or boy who would love them and cuddle them, and not to feel sad about leaving their brother and sister Teddies behind.

As the evening was drawing to a close and the sun was going down, Edna rubbed her eyes and sighed very deeply. Well, Richard, there we are. All finished. I think we will give this last Teddy to Hannah. Hannah was the youngest and the most beautiful granddaughter they had. She was only four years old, and had the most enchanting smile Edna and Richard had ever seen. Not only was she beautiful to look at, but she also had a way of making everyone who met her fall instantly in love with her.

Edna was just finishing tying Teddy’s bow on when she felt a strange sensation. Oh, said she, I must be very tired. But as she looked at the Teddy, she knew that he was different from all the other Teddies they had made. Richard, she said, I believe this last Teddy has something very special about him. I can feel it. He seems to have such a gleam in his eyes; I’m sure he is almost alive. I have decided to call him Thomas.

As Edna and Richard tidied up their little workroom for the last time and were about to leave, they looked back at their worktable where they had left Thomas. He looked a bit lonely lying there, as being the last Teddy to be made, the little workroom was quite empty.

Edna turned back, picked up Thomas, and said, Come on, Teddy, you can sleep in our room until Hannah comes to visit us, and then you can go home with her.

As it happened, it was nearly one week before Hannah and her elder brother James, who was almost seven, paid their grandparents a visit, and by this time, Thomas the Teddy had become very comfortable and attached to the elderly couple. So it was with great sorrow when he was taken down to the sitting room, and presented to Hannah.

She certainly was very beautiful, and gave him such a loving kiss and cuddle, but he wasn’t quite so sure about James, Hannah’s brother, who had looked at him in a very peculiar way. They all had afternoon tea together, and even Thomas was given his own little cup and saucer listening to the chatter and fun.

It was nearly five o’clock, and almost time for the children to leave their grandparents before it became dark outside. More kisses and cuddles and farewells then promises of returning soon for more afternoon tea parties.

I had been sitting on Richard’s lovely big soft chair, and had nearly fallen asleep when I was abruptly picked up by my right ear and pushed into Hannah’s arms. Oh, James, please don’t do that to Thomas, you might have pulled his ear off. Hannah immediately began to kiss my ear better and I felt quite good again, but still, I had my eye on James, who seemed, I thought, to be a bit jealous of perhaps not being given a Teddy of his own.

I was carried outside, and there, parked in front of Edna and Richard’s little house, was a pretty little yellow car. There was a most pretty lady sitting in the front seat, and I guessed she was going to drive us away as I had heard all the telephone calls from Edna and Richard while I had been staying with them, so I was quite excited about my forthcoming journey.

Hannah and James were seated in the back of the car with what appeared to be belts over their shoulders. I was instantly tucked into Hannah’s belt, and I was feeling quite secure and happy until I looked into Edna’s and Richard’s eyes when the children were waving