Strange Tales

Some children loved toy animals but Agatha loved a real bear – she was enamoured by the huge grizzly when she first set eyes on him. Bruno had once been the star attraction at the zoological gardens. Visitors flocked to his enclosure and when he died he was preserved in all his fearsome glory.

Agatha never knew him when he was alive – he died before she was born. She always remembered when she first set eyes on him. Agatha was about six when she visited Uncle Henry’s house in Faulkner Square. Bruno stood in the entrance hall on his hind legs, his jaws open in a fierce grimace.

He held a tray in his huge paws for visitors’ cards, letters and other items of ephemera. Despite Bruno’s massive bulk and intimidating presence, Agatha was never frightened. While the other children played, she often sat staring at Bruno imagining he was alive and prowling through the forests. Toys took second place in her life and her bond with Bruno grew as she got older.

A ritual, that started when she was very young, was to leave notes on Bruno’s tray. They were modest wishes and she was delighted when they sometimes came true. “Agatha is so fond of Bruno,” her amused mama told some friends. “Other children have toys or pets - it’s nice that Agatha has … a bear.” They laughed and moved on to the latest topics in the newspapers.

by Anton Valdemart

The years went by and Agatha grew into a beautiful young woman. Her devotion to Bruno continued, even to the notes she left in his paws. “I wish Count Boris would go away,” said one in her neat handwriting, sealed in an envelope so no one else could see it. Count Boris, son of the Bulgarian consul, was frankly becoming tiresome. He would glance languidly at Agatha during regular soirees at Uncle Henry’s. Boris was irritated when Agatha’s eyes drifted over to Bruno, who as always stood sentinel in the hall. “She only has eyes for that wretched bear!” fumed Boris to his friend Mapleton. Agatha suspected nothing when she saw the two men in deep conversation. Some days later she was surprised to see Boris coming out of a shop in Bold Street carrying a large brown paper parcel. Her next visit to Uncle Henry’s started routinely, although she thought Bruno looked different in some way. Agatha had tea with her aunts but became restless with a growing sense of inquisitiveness. Surely she hadn’t seen Bruno’s arms move? This was very strange. Agatha walked over to Bruno – his eyes, normally so glassy, met her gaze! Before she knew it, she was in a stifling bear hug. Bruno was chuckling … then his head fell off. “Let me be your very own bear,” said Boris as they laughed hysterically. The next day the bear costume went back to the shop. Agatha never looked at Bruno the same way again.

read my next Strange Tale in the Link: Boys will be Boys.