The Beastie Bear: Personal Narrative

The Beastie Bear

A figure mysteriously emerges from the shadows of two tall pine trees.  The ground shakes as an earthquake crumbles buildings. Slowly but suddenly the clear, light blue sky closes up and is replaced with thunderous clouds that are dark grey and gloomy. A cold front blows in sweeping away the aroma of strawberries and cotton candy; a toddler’s favorite mixture of lip gloss.

Swinging back and forth on a swing set, an innocent toddler relaxes and hums patty cake to herself.  Trees whisper amongst themselves about the beast living amongst them. Suddenly, a loud scratchy noise like someone gasping for their last breath startles all of the crows and they take off immediately. The child unaware that she is in the presence of the beast swings happily, imagining that she is blasting off to the moon.

            A bellow breaks out, leaves rustle. Thump. Thump. The first movement of the beast has been taken. At the same second lightning strikes and thunder roars, as she sticks out her tongue and tries to catch raindrops in her mouth.

With lightning flashing the sky lights up electrically. A soggy, giant, orange bear that smells like a wet dog leaves the cover of the trees and makes his appearance. The hair over his slimy skin was ruffled and messy. His feet could have easily been mistaken as big foot. However, the toddler was not afraid, as she studied the bear from his clawed toes to the hair standing up on his head. She looked past his untrimmed nails, rotting teeth, and his demon red eyes. Like precious gems, she spent the most time looking into his eyes; they were dark like a black hole, but big like the enormous red dot on Jupiter.

She did not fear him, until her concentration was broken by an ear shattering holler. Her eyes tore away from his eyes and she froze. Her mind went blank and her muscles limp, but her heart beat loudly and faster than ever.  The crows that had just settled on the monkey bars directly above her are now soaring in the air looking to take cover.

Before her swing came to a safe stop she had jumped off, her limbs like jello did not catch her and she fell hard onto the unforgiving ground. Pain did not matter, she rose to her feet and took off, for she was the prey the beast was hunting.

Her jeans were scarred with grass stains; one shoe was off while the other was on. Unevenly she sprinted towards safety. The blades of grass were soaked due to the rain and she tripped many times; getting away from the beast was nearly impossible. Sliding on one foot, flailing her arms out, trying to balance herself out, she tumbled over. Now on the ground there was no escape, the beast was closing in! His eyes were full of hunger. He could eat a thanksgiving feast alone or even two. She was a goner.

“No, help, mommy do not let him get me, save me, anyone … please”, she hollered.  As if she was a karate master she kicked and screamed, punched and fought. Sweat was rolling down her forehead.

Awakening, she sits up screaming with her legs trembling, she put her hands out behind herself as she sat up and felt the damp bed sheets. She was alive. With much distress she tossed and turned, and squirmed all about. Seeking comfort was nearly impossible; nothing could erase a nightmare, one which felt so real.

Her own thoughts and imagination was the only form of comfort she could muster. Amazingly, cheery images appeared in her mind, calming her, cuddling her like a safety net. She clung to a rainbow, letting each color unfold and separate from one another and gave them a secret meaning.

Red – the color of a loving caring heart.  Orange – a clementine bitter but very sweet. Yellow – the sun which brings happiness to the world. Blue – the majestic sky with shielding powers; it is protection. Green – a lucky three leaf clover.

A miracle of the sky, where a pot of gold can always be found, is the purist memory of happiness to a little girl. A rainbow like a gift from all the angels above was a sign that all was well.

From the window across the room, her puppy dog brown eyes were captured and drawn to the majestic sight.  A rainbow arched across the afternoon sky, awakened her to the truth. A scary dream is only as real as she makes it seem.

With fear behind her she jumped out of bed, ran down the stairs with heavy feet, and ran joyfully outside to her swing set. She swung high, with a goofy smile, as she hummed patty cake to herself.