The Mayor's Bear #9 (final part)

The woman in the bright blue suit

Netherneither End has something special that most other towns of its size don’t have: a university. This meant that there were lots of people in the town whose job it was to think new thoughts and to help other people learn new skills and ideas. And this inspired lots of local people to have creative ideas about business and how to help others. The town buzzed with new businesses and shops.

Many students graduated from the University in Netherneither End and went on to big companies and senior jobs around the world. Roxie did not know this at the time, but the woman in the bright blue suit was one of those students. She had many lovely memories of being in Netherneither End as a young student. And as it happened today, she would be able to do something rather wonderful for the town.

Roxie settled down in her seat and placed Strumbold next to her. She was very tired and fell asleep almost immediately as the train shuddered and started to pick up speed as it travelled south. She slept and slept. The countryside whistled by the windows. The train stopped at stations and Roxie carried on asleep. Strumbold began to worry that Roxie might miss her stop.

And then the train slowed down. It began to crawl along. Very soon the train stopped altogether. All the passengers looked at each other and wondered what was happening.

The train manager made an announcement. “I am very sorry everybody but there is a big problem up ahead. Another train has broken down and it is going to take hours to move it. We are going to stop at the next station and there will be buses for everyone. As you might expect, this will take a few hours to organise. I can only apologise but this is outside our control. We will do our best to get you to where you need to be, as soon as we can.”

Roxie slumped in her seat. She was never going to be able to make the Teddy Bear’s Picnic on time now. “There’s nothing we can do, is there Strumbold. Sorry that I could not get you to the picnic. This has been such a mess!”

“What about the woman in the bright blue suit?” whispered Strumbold. “Do you remember what Toot said earlier this morning? Just as you were saying goodbye to her? I saw the woman in the first class carriages as we got on”

Roxie thought and then remembered. “OK” she said “let’s go and talk to her. I have nothing to lose!” Roxie marched off towards the first class compartments and found the woman in question. She sat down opposite her. The woman looked up, a little surprised.

Roxie breathed in. “Hallo, my name is Roxie Riverbloom, and I have come to you for help. I don’t quite know why, but I think you can help me. And I really need some help right now. You see, I am the Town Mayor of Netherneither End and I simply have to be at the annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic in two hours time. The town and all of the children will be so upset if I am not there. And it’s a long story, but I will have to resign as Mayor, if I am not there. Can you help? Please?”

The woman in the bright blue suit looked at Roxie for a long time.

A very long time.

And then she said “Roxie, thank you for asking me for help. I once studied in the university in your town and learnt lots of wonderful things. And that learning helped me get to where I am today: I now run a very big business making children’s toys. My name is Beatrix Bickington and it would be my absolute delight to help you. There’s a seat in my helicopter with your name on it. I am being picked up at the station in half an hour. I will get you to Netherneither End and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic on time.”

Roxie almost cried. A short while later she, Beatrix and Strumbold were flying fast back to the town.

At the park in Netherneither End, everyone had come along. The Teddy Bear’s Picnic was usually very popular but this year even more people had come along. All the Town Councillors were there. The Town Clerk was there. Heather and Vaneather were there with Roxie’s children and Bonniebow. They had brought Bonniebow of course. She was looking forward to seeing Strumbold again. Even Puxley Biddlestone had taken the morning of work to watch the picnic. She was high up in her horseshoe chestnut tree where no one could see her. But she could see everyone.

It was now only a few minutes before 11 o’clock and everyone was checking their watches. Where was the Town Mayor?

Cllr Pompous McDoom, who was standing on the river bank, loudly proclaimed “well, she has well and truly done it this time. We won’t forget this!”

The town clock began to chime. Everyone was silent. Even the blue river seemed to slow down. And then in the distance, there was a strange sound, something like a phwup, phwup, phwup… sound.

And then over the trees appeared the Town Mayor on the end of rope, suspended from a helicopter. In her arms was a teddy bear. And around her neck was the Mayor’s Chain of Office!

Carefully she touched the ground and undid her harness. Suddenly everyone stood up and was shouting, cheering and clapping! Cllr McDoom had stepped back and fallen into the river with a splash. Nobody noticed except for Puxley, Bonniebow and the Town Clerk. They all smiled a little. Cllr McDoom just sat there looking very wet and bedraggled.

Roxie gathered herself and then gave this short speech.

“Welcome everyone to the annual Teddy Bear’s Picnic! It is so lovely to see you all, especially all the children with their teddy bears. This is my teddy bear, the Mayor’s Bear! He is called Strumbold and he helps me lots and lots! I know I cut it very fine, but I made a promise to be here. And I keep my promises. And as you can see, I have found the Mayor’s Chain! And so again, everyone can be healthy, wealthy and happy here in our wonderful Town. So please enjoy your sandwiches, cakes, squash and cups of tea.”

Everyone cheered and clapped again. The picnic went on until the warm early evening. Lots of games were played. And all felt so happy to live in such a wonderful town.

It was just the best Teddy Bear’s Picnic ever.


A quiet end

After the picnic finished, Roxie promised her children she would be home soon. She had to take Strumbold back to the Town Council chamber.

She carefully placed Strumbold onto his high shelf and sat for a moment in the Mayor’s chair.

“Thank you Strumbold. I could not have done this without you. Your magic did the trick! The Chain was found and everyone enjoyed the picnic. I am so very grateful to you.”

“I didn’t do any magic” said Strumbold “all I did was ask you a few questions and remind you of stuff you already knew. You did the magic, Roxie. Not me.”

Roxie rubbed her chin and ran her tongue around inside her mouth while she thought.

“I guess you are right. But thank you all the same!”

“You see that’s the thing, Roxie. If only every person realised that they can do magic. It’s only people who have the power to make our world even more magical than it already is” said Strumbold quietly. 

Roxie went home. Waiting for her on the kitchen table was another poem

The blue river flows

Worries are washed downstream 

The blue river flows 

___________________

The end

The Mayor's Bear #8

The woman in the lift at the station

The journey the next day was long but anything but tedious. It began as you would expect: a big breakfast, lots of memories and endless goodbye hugs before they finally climbed into Sooshalla’s car.

Her car was fairly old and made some strange noises that you don’t really expect in such a vehicle. Or indeed in any kind of vehicle. Very occasionally it sounded like one of those fireworks that scream overhead. More often it sounded like an old food mixer attempting to knead dough but not really succeeding. And then there was the odd ‘pop!’ which happened when you were least expecting it. Roxie, didn’t like to say anything, she was hitching a ride after all. But they had made it all the way to Scotland from Netherneither End and she felt confident that they would make it back again.

And she was feeling light and breezily happy watching the motorway miles slip by until there was a new sound. It was something like saucepan lid rattling on a stove, followed by what can only described as a loud, long sigh.

“That doesn’t sound good” said Soosh. Luckily they were just passing a service station and they were able to turn into it and parked up as quickly as they could.

The car kept sighing for several minutes. Roxie turned to Soosh. “Do you know what is up?”

“Well”, exhaled Soosh slowly “I don’t mean to worry you, but the last time this happened, the car was off the road for a week.”

“Gosh! That sounds expensive and inconvenient. Good job you have breakdown cover” said Roxie spying the sticker on the windscreen.”

“Well, you know how they always seem to bump up the price when you come to renew membership. And you can usually talk them down.” Soosh paused. “This year that didn’t quite happen like that…”

There then followed lots of phone calls, a little bit of arguing, quite a lot of walking around the car park, some cheese sandwiches and probably too many cups of coffee. Six hours later, Roxie was beginning to get worried. Very, very worried. She was now beginning to wonder if she would get back in time for the Teddy Bears’ Picnic the following day.

Strumbold had nothing to say except “You’ll get there Roxie, I know you will”. He said it several times, albeit in different ways. It was beginning to be a little irritating in the circumstances.

“Why are you shouting at your Teddy Bear?” asked Soosh as she climbed back into the car with another cup of coffee. Roxie gave her a long look and just shook her head.

“OK, so what’s the plan?” inquired Roxie.

“Pretty soon, we are going to be picked up and taken to a nearby garage. I will stay with the car and we will drop you off at the train station. I have been looking at the train times and if we get there by 7pm, there’s a train that will get you back to Netherneither end by 9.30 in the morning. There is a short delay at Crewell,” smiled Soosh with her head on one side.

“It’s not ideal,” said Roxie through clenched teeth “but if it’s the best option, then let’s go for it!”

Of course, the pick up truck got to the train station with only enough minutes to spare to buy a ticket. But nonetheless, Roxie was travelling south on rattly local train a few minutes later. She had her bag, she had her rucksack, she had her Chain of Office, she had Strumbold and she had hope! She clung onto that hope like it was a length of rope holding her off the edge of a cliff. Mayor Roxie would be opening the Teddy Bears Picnic tomorrow!

The night had turned quite cold by the time time Roxie had got to Crewell station. It was approaching midnight. She knew she had to find somewhere to sit and wait in the warm for the train to Netherneither End. The train was due to set off at 5.30 in the morning. She had a long way to go yet.

The train station was emptying of everyone as she arrived. All the other passengers on her train were scurrying off to retrieve cars, hire taxis or meet friends who were picking them up. The station staff all seemed to disappear as well, behind doors marked private. Roxie shivered a little with the cold and a little with worry about what she was going to do for the next five hours. She looked at the signs in the station but none of them said ‘waiting room’. There were plenty of cafes and newsagents, even a gym and a hairdresser. But they were all shut. There was no waiting room and it was getting colder and colder.

“Oh Strumbold, any ideas?” she said out loud. No one could hear anyway. Strumbold stayed silent. He was not that keen on train stations. Lots of bears got lost in train stations.

And then Roxie spied the only enclosed space she could find that was probably the warmest place around: a solitary lift from one platform to the connecting overhead walkway. There was no one else about so she went inside and tried to keep warm. The floor looked a little sticky and rather grubby so she squatted on her overnight back and planned on waiting the night out. Roxie was not happy but what else could she do. The only way to get home in time for the picnic was by train. And that train was hours away.

She had phoned the children earlier in the evening to check everyone was OK. They were having a fabulous time with Heather and Vaneather of course involving lots of cake, stories and an odd card game that they had invented together. She told the children where she was spending the night and before she could count to ten, Samalan had written her another one of his poems.

The trains are asleep

Dreaming of sleepers and tracks 

And clackety-clacks 

She smiled now as she recalled “kissing” them all good night and settled down to wait for the morning.

Around 2am, a short woman with a tired but friendly looking face and grey overcoat joined her in the lift. She smiled at Roxie and Roxie smiled back. She knew she ought to feel a little worried but oddly, she wasn’t. There was something about this woman that felt very peaceful and calm. For a long time neither of them said a word. And then Strumbold coughed. The woman looked up and immediately Roxie coughed again to hide the fact that it was Strumbold who had made the noise. They made eye contact and the other woman said “my name is Toot Barnden, what’s yours?”

Roxie hesitated but then thought that they were both hiding in a lift away from the cold, they must have something in common. So she replied “hallo, my name is Roxie, Roxie Riverbloom”.

And with that they started talking about so many things. They shared many interests. They both liked quilting although Toot hadn’t done any for a very long time. They hated the fact there was no waiting room. They both had a sister and brother. And their conversation went on for a long time. Then dawn began to break and Roxie knew her train was coming soon.

“Toot, thank you, I have so enjoyed getting to know you. If you are ever in Netherneither End, please look me up. We can have a cup of tea together”

“It would be my pleasure Roxie. Perhaps if you can, give my love to an old, old friend of mine who lives in your town. Her name is Puxley Biddlestone. If you haven’t met her already, I am sure you will one day.”

Roxie thought that was a name she did not know. But she thanked Toot again and said she would look out for Puxley.

“Just one more thing, Roxie. If you have a problem today, talk to the woman in the bright blue suit. She’ll be able to help,” Toot informed her. Roxie thought she was looking at Strumbold for part of the time she said this.

“Thank you”, said Roxie, somewhat confused. “I am hoping there will be no problems today. I had my fill yesterday!”

And with that they parted and Roxie climbed onto her train. Roxie was beginning to think lots about what she was going to say later when she opened the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. So as she walked quickly through the first class compartments to her seat further down the train, she did not notice the woman in a bright blue suit.

But Strumbold did.

go to part nine

The Mayor's Bear #7

Is the Chain of Office there?

“Nishan” said Roxie “it is so wonderful to be here. The present I sent you, I assume you have not opened it yet?”

“Of course not” said Nishan “you know me and surprises. I love them!”

“Of course. But could I borrow the parcel a second. I just need to tweak what is inside a little”

Nishan looked curious but retrieved the parcel from a nearby cupboard. Roxie tried not to go upstairs in too much of a hurry. She sat on the bed of the spare room where she knew she would be sleeping. After carefully placing her travel sewing kit next to her, Roxie slowly peeled back the sticky tape to reveal the cushion. Delicately, she unpicked the stitching and reached inside.

Strumbold was watching. Roxie held her breath.

And then her fingers came into contact with something hard and metallic. Then slowly, slowly, she managed to extract the chain and brush off the stuffing that was hooked to it in a few places.

Trembling, Roxie held the Chain for a long time. Two tears of relief rolled down her cheeks. “Oh Strumbold, thank you! Without you, I would not be here”

“Without you, I would not be in Scotland!” rumbled Strumbold. Roxie grinned and let out a long happy sigh. Soosh walked into the room.

“You’ve got it then! How fantastic is this. We are both celebrating our big brother’s birthday tomorrow, you can show everyone your Chain and we get to be home in time for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic!” said Soosh joyfully. They then both collapsed on the bed giggling and tickling each other. It was like they were children again.

She let her children know that she had found the Chain, but not to let anyone else know yet. All the children were happy and promised to keep things quiet until she got back home.

Later on, Roxie got a text from Samalan and smiled broadly

The chain never knew

That it was gone or missing

It knew where it was

Soosh and Roxie could not wait for tomorrow and their brother’s party.

The best day

The next day was one of the best of Roxie’s life. Nishan loved the cushion. Everyone admired the Chain of Office and joked about having to bow. The food was plentiful, spicy and sweet. The party was full of fascinating people with interesting stories to tell. There were crazy moments such as when everyone decided to dance on the lawn to “Mr Blue Sky”, waving their arms in the air. In the rain.

And there were quiet moments too: Soosh and Roxie held Elodie-Fay’s hands as she told them about the medical treatment she’d had a few months ago. All was well now. And the hugs they shared healed things even more.

Finally, as the evening relaxed down, Nishan got up to make a speech.

“Well, I feel so incredibly fortunate. I have now spent 50 years on this beautiful planet with the most adorable family and friends. I am sad of course that my parents are not here anymore. I have the most wonderful wife, who is the love of my life, who keeps me on the rails while making every moment we are together golden and glittery. And my two sisters who irritate me and delight me in equal measure. Of course I jest, they are much more irritating! And all of you, my dearest friends, who have come from far and wide to be here. I wish this party could go on forever. I love all you folks so much! Sometimes when people get to my age they have a midlife crisis and wonder about the meaning of life. But no crisis for me. The meaning of life is really not hard is it? It’s about love. It’s always been about love! So let’s toast: to living, to loving our family, our friends and everyone! Love is all you need!”

“Love is all you need!” exclaimed everyone

And with that, the Beatles song played and everyone sang along. Roxie and Soosh hugged. Everybody hugged! What a birthday party!

As they climbed into bed a couple of hours later, Roxie said “You know it’s funny. If I hadn’t have accidentally sewn the chain into the cushion, I wouldn’t be here and I would have missed everything. I have been so stressed about losing the chain but in an odd way, it was maybe one of the best things to happen to me. It is funny isn’t it. You never really know what will happen next.”

“True” said Soosh “But I know we have a long and fairly tedious drive ahead of us tomorrow. But hey, who knows what could happen!”

“Who knows” whispered Strumbold...

go to part eight