Teddy Unbearable ...
Slow Motion woke up to find he had been hugging something furry and wet. It was a Teddy Bear. He had slobbered on it during the night, saliva was dripping from his mouth onto the bear. How did it get in my room? Who the hell could have been stealthy enough to do such a thing without me noticing? He reached out and picked up the bear, held it up in front of his eyes, closed his eyes, Okay, I sense no feelings of animosity, only feelings of warmth, somebody likes me, but who? He saw a stage before his mind's eye. Bingo! It's one of the BB Theatrical Players. But who? There were three scents, if one could call it a scent, what he was experiencing, three co-conspirators in this furry act of expressed love. There was one more mystery person, he could feel it. But, the scent got lost amid several other furry-bear handlers, probably several delivery guys, and Slow Motion lost the trail there ...
_______
Okay, does everybody have a script? asked Slow Motion.
A hand was raised, I don't, said Pauline Angus McGee.
Come up, said Slow Motion, and McGee rose and walked up to his side of the table. He handed her a copy of the newest play to be performed and he could swear her hand had brushed his intentionally as she grabbed for the script.
Is there something you want to tell me? he asked.
No, nothing, except ... I'm really glad you thought I was right for the part of Ella.
He didn't sense any kind of hidden message in that. He crossed McGee off his mental list.
I don't have a script either, said Brute, that was what they called him since the first day of auditions when he had on impulse overturned a table in his enthusiasm. He didn't mind the nickname, he felt it made him special, but there were times when he felt he HAD to live up to the name, and Slow Motion had to bring him down to earth and remind him that it was not so.
Sorry I'm late, said Smalleyes, now entering the theater and throwing his coat onto the back of a theater seat. The traffic was -- hey, where's the coffee?
McGee said: I'm sorry, I got in late too.
We can do without coffee for now, said Slow Motion.
Without coffee? said Smalleyes. At the first sign of dawn I shall be avenged.
A few chuckles went up.
Director!!
Call me Slow Motion.
Slow Motion, there's a new scene in my script.
What? I didn't write a new scene, let me see that.
Mike Manuel's script was passed down, and lo and behold there WAS a new scene in it. The Teddy Bear Scene: ...
Ella: I'm here to give you this Teddy Bear, it's been in my family for many years, it belonged to my grandmother, my mother who gave it to me, and now I'm giving it to you.
Ben: But, I'm a boy, I don't like Teddy Bears ...
Okay, said Slow Motion, who's the wisenheimer?
There was silence around the table.
C'mon, he said pulling out a paper shopping bag and plopping the Teddy Bear down on the tabletop. Who's the culprit? This was lying on my bed when I woke up this morning!
Smalleyes said: Uhhh, the Teddy Bear Fairy?
All right, I want this nonsense to stop, yelled Slow Motion. We're putting on a very serious play here and we've only got a month in which to do it, and I want this Teddy Bear Nonsense to stop!
_______
It was when he returned to his room that evening that he found the next Teddy Bear. This one had a red ribbon around it and a visible heart that actually pumped bigger smaller bigger smaller.
Rats, he said, damn these energy wasting antics.
He went into his room and found the walls decorated with nothing but Teddy Bear posters. All right, he thought, most of the Players were with me tonight, which means those that were NOT chosen for the play have nothing but time on their hands. He crossed off those that were in the play.
_______
I'm asking you very nicely, said Slow Motion to the delivery man. Who has been ordering Teddy Bears?
That's an odd question to ask, said the delivery man. Everything I bring in comes in a box, how am I supposed to know if anybody is ordering Teddy Bears.
By the name of the company, said Slow Motion, I want you to keep an eye out if anybody is ordering things from toy companies.
Okay, all right, said the man, I'll keep an eye out, for Teddy Bears and Toys!
_______
It was on the first day of dress rehearsal that Slow Motion received the Teddy Bear outfit! He was in a fit of rage!
That's it, I'm calling a meeting of all the BB Players and if the culprit doesn't come forward there'll be hell to pay.
Aw, c'mon, somebody's just playing a joke on you, said Smalleyes, it's no big deal.
_______
I've called everyone here together today, said Slow Motion, because something has been going on that is impeding the progress of the latest production.
He went on to explain the Teddy Bear business and how if this kind of nonsense did not stop he'd actually close down the BB Theatrical Dream Machine for the entire season. Most felt it was an unreasonable stance. Not Slow Motion however, he was intent on catching the person or persons. McGee, Brute, and Mike Manuel stood to their feet.
No, not the cast itself! said Slow Motion.
It wasn't our idea, said McGee.
Smalleyes! said Slow Motion.
Hey, don't look at me, said Smalleyes.
No, this guy, said McGee holding out a photograph. Slow Motion reached out for it, and got an electric shock.
Hello again, said a voice he hadn't heard in a long time.
He looked at the photo. Surely it couldn't be! No way! Not the Old Man? Not that crazy old Indian! He wasn't real! He couldn't be real! But there he was in sweater and jeans and sneakers, and laughing with all three of the cast members.
Bloody hell, thought Slow Motion. He's back!
I told you I had nothing to do with this, said Smalleyes.
If there was anyone Slow Motion was truly afraid of it was that crazy old Indian! From now on it was anybody's guess what would happen !!!
