December 11th
The Friendship Teddy Bear
They'd been friends for ages now. There was a six year age gap, but that didn't matter. Beatrix clung to Lady Penelope like a limpet, whenever she was back home from boarding school.
This changed, however, when the Global Conflict went full throttle and all children were sent home permanently for their own safety. That's when Bee, as Penny now called her, and herself forged a strong, unbreakable friendship.
She didn't care that the child broke things the minute she stepped through the door. That she was so clumsy she was covered in bruises.
When things turned really bad in Bee's home, Penny was there to distract and comfort her. She thought the world of Bee, and she assumed, by the enthusiastic welcomes she received, Bee reciprocated.
Bee never asked for anything but hugs, kisses and the occasional chocolate milk. So, it was one day that Penny was sorting through her toys, that she found a teddy bear. It was an expensive Steiff and had never been played with. In fact, it was still boxed.
Penny was never going to play with it, so she carefully wrapped a wide pink velvet ribbon around its neck, placed it back in the box, and covered it with a shiny pink wrapping paper. Her governess at the time, a stern but kindly woman, taught her how to curl the ribbons to make them look pretty. She even made a little gift tag from recycled Christmas cards and decorated them with glitter.
Her fingers were covered with the stuff, and there were pieces of sticky tape scrunched up all over the place. But … she'd actually MADE something, instead of having it made for her.
She tucked that into the back of her mind for later on, when Bee was much older and could handle scissors, glue and glitter. Effectively, resurrecting the old 'make do and mend' era of long ago.
Placing it gently under the tree, it stayed there until Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was reserved for families only, but Penny always protested that Bee WAS family. Nevertheless, her father stressed quite strongly that only the Creighton Wards dined together on Christmas Day.
Plus, it was also Lady Penelope's birthday on Christmas Eve. So she made it even more special. Besides, she insisted that she open only ONE present, and the rest the next day.
Penny handed the box over to Bee and waited. She didn't know what Bee liked, the teddy bear was simply guesswork. Quickly, Bee ripped the wrapping open and tore the box apart.
She stared at the bear, her hands hovering over the plush mohair fur. Her fingers smoothed over the top of its head. Then ever so gently, she scooped up the toy and pulled it out of the destroyed box, tears forming in her eyes. Hugging it tightly, she launched straight at Penny and put her into a strangle hold, sobbing and kissing her with gratitude.
She never stopped carrying it around after that.
As far as Penny is aware, even now, many years later, that bear is still in Bee's possession. A little worn around the edges, ears hanging off, an eye missing and the stuffing hanging out in places.