Paddington, Scout and What to do After Bad Dreams

PADDY: *Mumbles.* "Oh Oleg!" *Tosses and turns in bed.* "Nooo Oleg..."

 

SCOUT: *Grunts and wakes up.*

 

PADDY: *Mumbles more loudly.* "Oleg..." *Tosses and turns more.* "Oleg mijn beste vriend!"

 

SCOUT: "Paddy? Paddy? Paddy are you alright?" *Looks at Paddy.* "Oh! Paddy is sleeping."

 

PADDY: *Cries out.* "Oleg I must save you!"

 

SCOUT: *Gasps and puts paws to mouth.* "Oh, poor Paddy! He must be having a bad dream!"

 

PADDY: "Oh Oleg! Oleg mijn beste vriend! No!!!!!"

 

SCOUT: "Paddy! Paddy! Paddy wake up!" *Shakes Paddy awake.* "Please wake up!"

 

PADDY: "Wh... what?" *Startled.*

 

SCOUT: "Paddy! You were dreaming. You were thrashing about and calling for Oleg!" *Concerned.* "You must have been having a very, very bad dream, Paddy! I was worried!"

 

PADDY: "It was only a dream!" *Wipes forehead with paw.* "Oh thank goodness!" *Looks at Scout.* "Oh thank you, dear Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Are you alright, Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "Yes, yes I'm fine, Scout. But oh!" *Puts paw to mouth. "Oh in my dream, Oleg was bearknapped by a clown!"

 

SCOUT: "A clown, Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "Yes, a nasty and scary clown, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Oh! All clowns are scary, Paddy!" *Trembles.* "What a yucky dream!"

 

PADDY: "At least that was all that it was, Scout! A dream!"

 

SCOUT: "Are you sure, Paddy? Is Oleg alright?" *Concerned.*

 

PADDY: "Oh I'm sure he is, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Hadn't you better telephone him on Daddy's bearphone?" *Still concerned.*

 

PADDY: "Well, Daddy is asleep, and he doesn't sleep very well, so I don't want to wake him up."

 

SCOUT: *Listens and hears Daddy snoring.* "What can you do?"

 

PADDY: "Don't worry, Scout. I'll ring Oleg when Daddy wakes up."

 

SCOUT: "What shall we do in the meantime, Paddy? I'm awake now, and I think you need soothing, so that you don't have a bad dream again."

 

PADDY: "Yes, you are right, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "What can you do to soothe yourself after a bad dream, Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "I know!" *Switches on lamp.* "We'll read, until we feel sleepy again."

 

SCOUT: "Oh! What a good idea, Paddy! Just no books with clowns in them, alright?"

 

PADDY: "Oh absolutely not, Scout! I know! How about we read a book about a bear at the seaside?"

 

SCOUT: "Oh that sounds perfect, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "Good Scout." *Goes and fetches Paddington at the Seaside.

 

SCOUT: "Look Paddy! That's you! At the seaside!" *Claps paws in delight.*

 

PADDY: "Yes it is, Scout!"

 

SCOUT: "Will you read the story to me, Paddy?"

 

PADDY: "Yes of course I will, Scout."

 

SCOUT: "Thank you, Paddy!"

 

PADDY: "Oleg, Oleg mijn allerbeste vriend, please tell me that you are alright. I know it was just a dream, but it seemed so real!

 

My bears Paddy and Scout have made very good friends with two bears in Holland called Peter and Oleg (www.flickr.com/photos/40262251@N03/galleries/721577154558...) and their Mummy (www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/) . Peter and Scout are very similar and have become best friends. Paddy and Oleg are very similar too and have become best friends as well. Paddy had a dream that Oleg was bearknapped by Pennywise the evil clown out of Stephen King's IT. You can see here www.flickr.com/photos/66094586@N06/54093732967/in/faves-4... or in the first comment below.

 

Paddy and Scout are reading my first edition copy of "Paddington at the Seaside" - a Paddington picture book for young readers - written by Michael Bond and illustrated by Fred Banbery, published by Collins books in 1975. This book is very special to me, for it is also autographed by Michael Bond, the author of all the Paddington books whom I met. Paddy met him too and he shook Paddy's paw as well as my hand, and we had a lovely chat!

 

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

 

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

 

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

Done