Image: Aranda Dill@Deviant Art
When Will was born I thought he would be the one to give Jasper to.
Jasper is my teddy, the one I had as a child, the one I have carried with me all these years.
When I was three I contracted Rheumatic Fever and my father came to the hospital one night with Jasper in a brown paper bag. He placed it in my bed to keep me company during the night.
The next day he came by the see me and saw that Jasper was still in my bed. I told him that I had woken up and found him in my bed, snuggled up against me.
‘He does that,’ my father said.
Jasper and I became inseparable. I carried him everywhere, slept with him and cared for him, as I am sure he did for me.
One day I noticed one of his eyes had fallen out. We searched everywhere but never found the lost eye. Mum offered to sew in two new ones but I said no, it would change his character and so Jasper became my one eyed teddy.
A few years later one of his arms was partially dislodged when my brother and I had a dispute over possession. Thankfully mum could sew a few stitches into his arm so it looked like he still had two, but I felt the repaired arm was more decoration than real.
I carried him with me through life and when we last moved my wife did remark about my penchant for hanging on to the past. I did point out that we were moving back to my family home purchased from my brothers and sister and she was more than happy for that to happen.
So today Will is also ill. Laid low by another of the bugs that’s appear to haunt small boys, high temp, cough, croaky voice, generally feeling very miserable and my heart goes out to him lying there in his bed looking for forlorn.
I place Jasper beside him as his drifts off into sleep hoping he will stay that way until morning.
I awaken to the sounds of not only the myriad of birds chirping in the trees outside but the sounds of my son chatting in his bed.
Venturing down the hallway I listen to his animated voice, interspersed with that long forgotten nasally twang I remember from so long ago.
I go to the room of Will’s room and look in at my son lying on his back with Jasper on his chest, the two looking intently at each other.
‘I see you’ve met jasper,’ I say as I enter
‘Yes daddy, he was here when I woke up. His arm was around my neck.’
‘Yes Will he does that.’
‘I love him daddy. What happened to his eye?’
And so I begin the tale of Jasper and how I came to have him.
I told my son that Jasper was his to love and care for as I had done.
Will listened and then breathed in deeply and said ‘Thanks Daddy, I’ll love and care for him.’
I smiled down at my son as he looked loving at his newly acquired teddy, the one eyed Jasper. I hope he would have the fun and adventures I did.
I somehow felt he would.
Will felt well enough to get up that morning, it wasn’t long and he was running around the house, Jasper under one arm showing him the lie of the house and where his toys were kept.
It was a wonderful day, so good to see my sick son well again and happy as well.
That night as I tucked him into bed and kissed him good night, he held Jasper close to his chest as he drifted off into a well-earned rest.
I looked at Jasper, the one eyed teddy who had been a part of my life for so long and saw his one eye blink at me.
Or was it a wink?
Written for: http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/tale-weavers-prompt-32/
Morpethroad 
You are a master at pulling at heart-strings.
I really enjoyed reading every word.
Thank you so much Jules, appreciate you stopping by and your lovely comment.
That was a very sweet story Michael. I’m sure that one eyed teddy will be well loved for many generations.
Thank you Jackie, he will one hopes.
A treasure – the story and the bear. I enjoyed that very much!
Thanks so much Debi, so pleased you enjoyed my tale.
Michael, this is so beautiful. The cherished possession of Jasper, what he brought to you and now to Will. Superbly written and yes pulled at heart strings this morning. Hugs.
Thank you Jenny, so happy you enjoyed this tale.
Of course, he winked. You did not really doubt this, did you? I enjoyed this tale, Michael.
Thanks Gabriella, no I am sure it was a wink, cheeky fellow that he is.
It was like readig the Veleveteen Rabbit again with a nice sequel:) love this a lot|| save this for the grands…by the way, want to wish you a great trip, Michael, in case I miss saying it in time:) Travel safe.
Thank you so much Oliana I appreciate your kind wishes, shall blog about my journey upon my return.
Look forward to it and will add a haiku now and then to your stories:)
Thank you i look forward to that.
Oh, I love the Velveteen Rabbit!!
Thank you Lyn, this was my introduction to it.
I agree with Jules you definitely know how to pull ones heart string, you had me reminiscing about my old stuffed bunny, lovely story XD
Thank you Yves, i’m glad you could connect. Great prompt to play with.
This was truly beautiful, Michael. It certainly tugged at my heart strings. It would make a wonderful children’s storybook. My little dog Cally (my avatar), has a pastel multi-coloured rabbit with long floppy ears. She loves it with every bit of her puppy heart.
Thank you Lyn, thats a very encouraging comment, thank you so much.
It is so simple and beautiful! 🙂 I love the way you weave a story that feels so real – like you are sharing a part of your life. Your spin has made me want to check out the original one.
Thank you for reading my story praj, hope you have a great weekend.
Jasper would wink, of course. Jasper is a member of the family. One of those heart-warming stories that make me say aahh. Nice to read a story with a happy ending.
Thank phylor, I hope he did too. Enjoy your evening.
I certainly will try. Am being bad and having a glass of white wine. Oh my.
If it does the trick, have another.
Thank you for the excuse, oops, I mean advice, lol. I’m not sure of the time difference between where you are and I am. So, I wish you a good Sunday — is it one all ready?
1.45pm Sunday. I live in the future.
10:48 pm Saturday (and that’s before we change the clocks — lets see spring forward, leap back? Think that means we lose an hour between now and Sunday.)
I like it when it’s another day than where I am. When my dad was in southeast Asia the first time, I had to come to grips with the international date line and that my today was his tomorrow.
Oh dear, perhaps I shouldn’t have that second glass of wine.
I have become used to living ahead of you good folk but I am sworn to secrecy about tomorrow so as not to frighten you from awaking on your Sunday. Enjoy your wine.
I shall not ask you to break your code of secrecy and tell me anything about Sunday, such as which teams will win in what North American’s call football, if my head will regret that I opened that bottle of white wine, and will I actually drag all that stuff into the attic.
Happy Sunday.
My lips are sealed.
My heart warmed and my lips upturned after reading your magnificent words. I wish all children no matter their age, from toddler to 120years could read this. They would cherish it. Thank you Michael.
Thank you LHN. That’s a very flattering comment.