SCOUT: “Jago! Jago!”
JAGO: “Yes, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Jago, Paddy and I need to ask you a very important question.” *Serious.*
JAGO: “Goodness, judging by that look on your face, it must be very important indeed. What is it Scout?”
SCOUT: “Paddy and I want to know if you have a favourite faerie tale.”
PADDY: “That’s right, Jago. In this house we read faerie tales all the time.”
JAGO: “Well, I love faerie tales. So does Mummy Junie. We used to read faerie tales snuggled up together on the settee.”
PADDY: “That’s good to know, Jago. Sometimes Daddy reads us faerie tales too and we snuggle up with him on the settee. Daddy’s favourite is Cinderella, because he is an old softie.” *Giggles.*
BOGART: “Being American, my favourite faerie tale is the first American one, the Wizard of Oz.”
COUSIN PADDINGTON: “I am quite partial to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The queen was wicked, but she certainly kept the story interesting.”
SCOUT: “Paddy loves Beauty and the Beast, even though I don’t think the end is right.”
JAGO: “Why is that, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Well! The poor Beast gets turned back into a crummy handsome prince when he should have stayed a Beast! That is who Beauty loved, not a crummy handsome prince!”
PADDY: “That is your opinion, Scout.”
SCOUT: “It is, Paddy, and it happens to be the correct one too!” *Nods affirmatively.*
JAGO: “That’s an interesting observation, Scout. I must think about that. Now, what is your favourite faerie tale?”
SCOUT: “Can’t you tell, Jago?” *Holds up Dolly.* “It’s Little Red Riding Hood! I love it, oh except for that nasty version by Charles Perrault where she gets eaten up by the wolf and that’s the end of the story! I don’t like that version! I like the version where she and Grandmamma get rescued by the kind woodcutter.”
JAGO: “Oh! I don’t think I know the version without the woodcutter, Scout. That sounds very…” *Thinks.* “Well final, without the woodcutter to save her.”
SCOUT: “I agree with you Jago! It’s a horrible version! Now, what is your favourite faerie tale?”
JAGO: “Well, I suppose it would have to be Goldilocks and the Three Bears. It is an old English faerie tale, after all.”
SCOUT: “Oh no!”
JAGO: “What is it, Scout?”
PADDY: “Scout doesn’t like Goldilocks as a character, Jago.”
SCOUT: “You are absolutely right, Paddy! That Goldilocks was a no good, break and enter, homewrecking monster! She gobbled up all the little bear’s porridge, and broke his chair and slept in his bed wearing dirty shoes!”
PADDY: “We don’t know for certain that she did sleep in his bed wearing dirty shoes, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Of course she did, Paddy! She was a nasty, no good, break and enter, homewrecker!” *Nods affirmatively.* “We’ll have to find you a new faerie tale to like, Jago. Do you like Sleeping Beauty?”
JAGO: “Oh yes I do, Scout. It’s so magical and romantic, and it has pretty faeries in it too!”
SCOUT: “Good! Then that can be your favourite from now on. Alright Jago?”
JAGO: “Well, I suppose so, Scout.” *Thinks.* “I might still like to read Goldilocks and the Three Bears in private though.”
SCOUT: “Well, as long as I don’t have to read it with you, I don’t mind, Jago.” *Thinks.* “Did you say read faerie tales, Jago?”
JAGO: “Yes I did, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Do you enjoy reading faerie tales, Jago?”
JAGO: “Oh yes I do, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Oh that’s wonderful, Jago, because I love to be read faerie tales! Can you read me Little Red Riding Hood, please Jago?”
JAGO: “Wouldn’t you prefer to read it yourself, Scout?”
SCOUT: “Goodness no, Jago!” *Shakes head vehemently.* “I much prefer to have faerie tales read to me.”
JAGO: “Very well, Scout. I will read Little Red Riding Hood to you.”
BOGART: “And to me, Jago.”
COUSIN PADDINGTON: “And me too, please Jago.”
PADDY: “And me too, Jago. That is, only if it’s alright with you, of course. I usually have to read to Scout, so it would be lovely to be read to for a change.”
JAGO: “Yes of course I shall read to all of you if you would like. Can you bring me your book, Scout.”
SCOUT: “Yes Jago!” *Runs away and gets book.*
JAGO: “Right. Is everyone sitting comfortably?”
PADDY, BOGART, COUSIN PADDINGTON and SCOUT: “Yes thank you, Jago.”
JAGO: “Good. Then I will begin.” *Reads aloud.* “Once upon a time, near the edge of a thick forest lived a little girl and her mother.”
Jago is reading from “All About Little Red Riding Hood” from the “All About Series” published by Cupples and Leon Company, New York in 1930. The classic faerie tale was retold and illustrated by John B. Gruelle, who is perhaps best known and loved for his creation of of Raggedy-Ann and Raggedy-Andy.
My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.
He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.
Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.
Jago is a recent addition to my ever-growing family. A gift from a dear friend in England, he is made of English mohair with suede paw pads and glass eyes. He is a gentle bear, kind and patient who carries an air of calm about him. He is already fitting in with everyone else very nicely.
Travelling all the way from London, Cousin Paddington was caught in transit thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. After so long here he has decided to stop with us permanently. That makes me happy, as the more I look into his happy, smiling face, the more attached I am becoming to him.
Bogart has travelled all the way from Georgia, via Alabama as a gift to me from a friend. He has lovely Southern manners and seems to be a fun and gentle soul with an inquisitive nature.