Teddy Bear

Fiction by Ann Zimmerman

Sitting in the corner of Kristin's crib, the frayed teddy bear hummed a lullaby. He loved the sound of babies' breathing, the smell of their skin. Kristin was smaller than her brothers had been at eight months. Teddy worried about that.

Kristin wriggled in her sleep. Teddy stroked her back with his soft paw.

She sighed.

Kristin's mother entered the room and Teddy stiffened. Just yesterday Mother nearly dropped Kristin lifting her out of the crib. And last week she'd transported Kristin without a protective helmet in the hovercraft. Teddy growled softly as Mother crooned to Kristin.

Don't wake her, thought Teddy.

But Mother paid no attention. She picked up the baby and began kissing her. Kristin's eyes flew open and she started to cry. She squirmed and turned her head. Teddy reached up with both paws.

"Oh, all right," said Mother. "You love that ragged Guardian more than me." She sat Kristin in her carrier and bent over to grab Teddy's paw. With contact, Teddy tingled and a surge raced through his body.

Mother jumped back, dropped Teddy, and yelled, "Damn it." Narrowing her

eyes and tightening her lips together, she stared at the bear. Teddy glared back.

Later that night, Teddy eavesdropped on Mother and Father whispering in the bedroom.

"We need to get rid of it," Mother said. "It's worn out. It short-circuited today and I'm afraid it'll hurt our Kristin."

"I know," answered Father. "But he's been with me since I was born. Couldn't we just power him down and store him in the attic?"

"I think it's dangerous," Mother responded.

"OK, I'll look for a new one this week."

Teddy moaned softly. A new Guardian would not understand Mother's neglect. A new Guardian would not protect Kristin properly. By morning Teddy had made a decision.

When Kristin awoke, Teddy fed her, changed her diaper, and entertained her. By the time Mother entered the bedroom, the sun was already warming the crib. The crystal in the window scattered rainbows over the carpet.

When Mother approached the crib, Teddy reached up. He tilted his head and lowered his eyes. He looked lost and forlorn.

"You don't fool me," Mother said. "You're out of here."

Teddy waited, controlling himself. Mother bent over and roughly grabbed a paw. Teddy remained rigid as Mother lifted him to face level and held him with both her hands. Then he attacked with every kilowatt of stored energy.

He tumbled back into the crib as Mother screamed and fell to the floor

with a thud. She lay on her back, arms and legs twisted in unnatural

angles. Flecks of spittle formed at the corner of her mouth as her body

convulsed. After a minute, Teddy could see only the whites of her eyes.Finally, she lay still.

Teddy stared lovingly at Kristin.

Safe at last, he thought.