A Particular Bear

Have you ever wondered at the part we play in the overall workings of the Universe? One Christmas my part became clear.

It began during that little lull after Thanksgiving before the first of December. Those few days when most minds were focused on sales and mark downs. My job was to answer phones at a busy multi-store florist but the phones didn't ring much during this time. Based in the central store, I worked a switchboard and answered for all the stores. When the phone finally rang a miracle began to unfold.

On the phone a gentleman caller was looking for a toy bear. A particular toy bear.

Plush toy animals were often included with our floral orders but this request was different. He was not looking for the traditional furry teddy but a bear made of cloth... and plaid. Not in a traditional pose either. This bear was lying on it's tummy arms outstretched, with snowy white cheeks and a brightly colored plaid body. He was looking for a very particular bear.

This particular bear had been included with a floral arrangement sent to the caller who wanted to buy another one. I put him on hold and went to check store stock.

Our purchasing department only bought bulk loads of plush critters. It was never the same twice. We could not order a specific bear so finding a copy of the little plaid bear depended on what was in stock. On hand were bears of all kinds... giant ones, little ones, white ones, brown ones, fluffy ones, even pink and blue ones but there was no plaid bear. I passed on the bad news and said goodbye.

Moments later a second phone line rang. It was my gentleman again. I explained to him about the switchboard, took his phone number and promised to check with all three of our stores for the little bear.

As promised  I checked the stock in our other stores. I talked with purchasing and searched order catalogues. Nothing... nada... no way did I find a little plaid bear. I sadly informed the caller but promised to keep looking. I pinned his phone number on my notice board and went back to work.

The busy Christmas season burst upon the store. Phones rang non stop. Soon my wall board was covered with little notes of things to do or orders to check and so on. The phone number became completely covered and forgotten.

Christmas eve arrived on a Saturday giving the retail industry one more day of sales. With deliveries no longer possible phone sales stopped, my day loomed long and slow. I passed my time tidying the front of the store. In doing so I checked the plush animal display.

But something was very odd about the display.

Every shelf was a jumble of plush toys, on which were piled dozens of critters. That is... every shelf except one. In the center of the display one shelf remained completely clear.. except for a lone bear... a plaid bear.

My thoughts scrambled to remember... plaid bear... now just where did I know that from? It suddenly hit me. I raced to the office bulletin board. pulling off notes pinned on notes until I found the one I wanted, then I called.

I apologized for the intrusion on this Christmas Eve and gave the reason for my call.

A short while later my caller and his wife arrived in the store. I showed him the little bear but it was only then I noticed that one white cheek was smudged. Horrified I tried to apologize but when I looked up both had eyes filled with tears. 

Its perfect they said... this is OUR bear.

The couple explained. In November they had adopted a little girl. A sweet child who had a terrible abusive life prior to coming to them. She was withdrawn, unhappy and very afraid. To celebrate this adoption, they had been given a bouquet of flowers from our shop with the plaid bear included. The little girl immediately attached herself to the bear and they were inseparable. 

That is... until the family took a trip.

Somehow, the little bear became lost. The child was inconsolable. Her new parents had tried everywhere to find a replacement but to no avail, until today. This bear was an exact copy down to the little smudge on the right cheek.

Somehow out of the chaos and confusion of the holidays, a little plaid bear had found it's way back to someone who needed and loved it. On that day a broken child started to heal. On this day too my role in this Christmas miracle became clear. 

On this day a power greater than all those involved was at work in the form of one particular bear.