Your old teddy bear

I am not just a teddy bear, am I? I am all your childhood memories in one body.

You know I’ve been around for everything, every tear, and every laugh.

Do you remember you always had me in arm? It used to be either both of us, or none of us in everything.

We would take walks to imaginary places, play outside, sunbathe, read, learn, laugh, climb trees, bike – uncover the worlds wonders.

I was there through the whole of kindergarten, and I even went with you for the first couple of years in school. We felt so big, then. Do you remember?

We were together through all the awkward phases and identity crises; you were such an emotional child, always trying to find yourself.

We were together through all your loneliness, challenges, and weaknesses. I was so happy to be your patient teddy bear, and your safe spot through everything.

You said nobody knew your every secret, your every doubt, your every fear like I did. It was my proudest badge of honour. It meant I was important, and I wanted nothing more but to be important to you.

I am no longer with you every day. Now I mostly sit alone, seeing you a bit more grown for every time you finally come back home a little.

Where are you now?

What are you doing?

Who are you with?

I hope you’re happy.

I hope whoever you’re with makes you feel less lonely, and wipes your tears when needed.

I hope they’re listening to all your stories, because you can be very talkative when you want to.

I hope they’re patient and loving.

Meanwhile, I will always be here, representing all the growth you’ve gone through up until now.

I will be representing every insecurity,

Every happiness,

Every heartbreak,

And every emotion.

I am no longer with you every day, but I hope I can at least remind everyone of you, and of us - while I am sitting here waiting for you to come back.

I hope I can remind them of your childish face and awkward teeth.

Of your smiles, and your tantrums.

Of your weirdness, and your joys.

I hope you remember that your life and all of your being exists in me when you lose sight of it.

It’s all here, in your old teddy bear.

A worn out and old teddy bear, having done the most important work a teddy bear can do:

Proudly send you off into the world to independently keep growing.

I will always be waiting for you back home.

I know I cannot be with you every day anymore, but I hope you still look forward to seeing me every now and then.

Dette skriver juryen om bidraget

Dette er hyllest til en de fleste av oss har et forhold til, nemlig den gode gamle teddybjørnen. 

Teksten er nostalgisk, og skrevet på engelsk. Det kjennes fint å være i hodet til teddybjørnen, som snakker til barnet som nå er blitt voksent. 

Språket er lett forståelig, teksten er i brevform, og følelsen av genuin interesse fra teddybjørnens side styrkes ved bruk av spørsmål som «Do you remember?» 

Den litt banale teksten oppleves som søt og passende til et kosedyr, og blir et fint virkemiddel. Teddy kjennes som en fysisk manifestasjon av det indre barnet i oss, og forteller at båndene ikke nødvendigvis er helt kuttet selv om man er blitt voksen.

Astrid (23) til topps i Fjell-Ljoms skrivekonkurranse

Astrid Bårdstu Folvik stakk av med seieren i Fjell-Ljoms skrivekonkurranse og sikret seg 20.000 kroner.