The Cry Bear
By
Rosemary J. Peel
Copyright 2014 Rosemary J. Peel
The Cry Bear
Melissa was very excited. She had been looking forward to this day for a long time; ever since Mummy had taken her to last year’s Teddy Bear’s picnic at the school. Now it was her turn to put on the smart new uniform and begin her very first day in Reception Class. Daddy had taken a photo of her before she set off with Mummy.
Feeling very grown up she held on tightly to her pretty pink lunch box as the car drew up outside the school gates. Today was the start of a new school year and Melissa watched as the playground began to fill up with excited children, all anxious to meet up with their friends after the long holiday break. Mummy lifted her out of the car and they walked together to the Reception Class entrance. There were already a lot of Mums, Dads, and even Grandmas and Granddads waiting there with the new school starters. Some of the children were crying, others looked pale and frightened but a few were chasing each other around the outside of the building. Melissa pulled Mummy closer to the entrance door so she could look into the brightly painted cloakroom beyond. There were rows of coat hooks, each with a picture of a fruit above it and a name printed below. Melissa could already read her name. She searched the pictures trying to see which hook was hers. Then she saw her name printed below the hook with a picture of a large, yellow banana.
“Look Mummy, that’s my hook,” she said, pointing towards the back wall of the cloakroom. Small wooden benches ran around the walls and underneath them were small boxes marked with fruit pictures that matched the ones above the hooks.
Mummy nodded and smiled, but it was a rather sad smile and Melissa couldn’t help noticing that she had tears in her eyes. Mummy looked at her watch: five minutes before school began. People were now moving about inside the Reception Classroom and the children still running about the playground were brought back to the door by their parents. A tall lady with short blond hair and pink cheeks opened the door and ushered them in.
It was very noisy and squashy in the cloakroom. Adults and children squeezed into the small space.
“As soon as you have hung up your coats and changed into your indoor shoes say goodbye to your Mummies and Daddies and go into the classroom. Sit on the carpet and wait until everybody has finished in the cloakroom.” Melissa thought that the Teacher had a friendly voice but that she sounded a bit strict. Suddenly she didn’t want to say goodbye to Mummy; she didn’t want to let go of her hand and go into the classroom all by herself. A lump rose in her throat and a sob escaped her lips.
“She’ll be all right, Mrs. Burton.” The teacher touched mummy’s arm in a sympathetic gesture, but Mummy just nodded, kissed Melissa quickly and practically ran from the cloakroom into the playground.
Melissa felt a hand slide into hers and a little girl with black curly hair and large brown eyes smiled at her,
“I’m Riana, what’s your name?” She said.
“Melissa.”
“Don’t cry Melissa; it’s nice here. I know cause my brother was here last year and he didn’t want to go into the big school at all this morning.”
“I’m not crying!” Melissa said choking back her tears but she kept tight hold of Riana’s hand as they walked together into the classroom.
Two more grown ups greeted them as they entered. A number of children were already sitting on the carpet in front of the white board. Others were wandering about the room looking at everything. Riana pulled Melissa towards the carpet.
“Mrs. Roberts told us to wait on the carpet.”
Melissa nodded and they joined the group of children in front of the white board. A little boy with curly blond hair grinned at them. He had a cheeky smile. Next to him was another boy. He looked tearful. Suddenly he got to his feet and bolted for the cloakroom door,
“I want to go home.” he sobbed, as large tears trickled off his nose.
“Cry baby!” The blond haired boy yelled after him.
“Shut-up, Trevor.” Riana looked angry and gave the boy a push.
“Shan’t, - Cry baby! Cry baby!”
“Don’t be mean,” Melissa whispered.
“What’s it to you?” Trevor gave her a shove.
By now, all the children were out of the cloakroom and the Teacher closed the door before walking to the front of the class. The little boy who had tried to escape but been stopped by one of the helpers was lead quietly back to the carpet. Riana moved up so that he could sit next to her away instead of next to the blond boy.
“Take no notice of Trevor,” she whispered as the little boy sat down, “He lives on our road. He has lots of brothers and my Mum says they’re all bullies. We don’t play with them.”
Trevor shot Riana an angry look and appeared to be about to hit her when the teacher stepped forward, “That’s quite enough Trevor Paterson. Surely you don’t want your name on the cloudy board on your very first morning?” Trevor looked sulky but he shook his head.
“Right children, my name is Mrs. Roberts and I am your teacher. Mrs. Narrindar and Miss Coates are the Classroom Assistants. We are all here to help you. First I’ll mark the register. When I call your name please stand up so that we can all see who you are.” Some of the children began to fidget and the little boy who had made a run for it, started to cry again. “Mrs. Narrindar would you look after - what’s your name, dear?”
“Carl,” sobbed the little boy.
“Carl Henderson?” He nodded, “The comfy corner I think Mrs. Narrindar.”
Melissa looked around, wondering what the comfy corner was. Riana nudged her and pointed to a curtained area at the back of the classroom. Through the curtains Melissa could just make out a fluffy bear sitting on a soft, cushioned chair. Mrs. Narrindar took Carl inside and pulled the curtains closed behind them. Melissa looked questioningly at Riana - the fountain of all knowledge.
“That’s where the cry bear lives,” she said. Melissa was none the wiser.
After they had all answered their names and been introduced to the class the teacher said they could look around all the different areas of the classroom and see for themselves all the occupations they could play with. A lot of the boys headed straight for the builder’s area, where large wooden shapes were piled up ready to be made into whatever you liked - things like trains, cars, diggers or even buildings. There was a play house area that contained a cooker, a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner - even a washing line with pegs and a basket full of dollies’ clothes. Melissa liked that area best but was too slow because there was only enough room for three or four people at a time to play there. Another part of the classroom contained a beach area with both sand and water toys to enjoy. There were lots of tables set out with different occupations. There was modelling clay, paints,, jig-saw puzzles, paper, scissors and glue and a library corner with lots of lovely books to read. The classroom also had three computers that the children could use There was so much to do. The morning passed quickly and soon it was break time. After they had drunk their milk and eaten a piece of fruit, they were allowed to play out in the Reception Class garden.
Mrs. Narrindar and Miss Coates opened a large hut standing at the side of the garden playground and took out the playthings. There were bikes, peddle cars, skipping ropes, hoops and balls. In the middle of the play area was a climbing frame. But best of all, as far as Melissa was concerned, was a wooded garden. This was separated from the rest of the outside space by a small gate. Melissa saw that a number of the trees had small benches fastened around their base and some of them had bird houses attached high up on their trunks. She stood at the gate looking in but not daring to open it.
“You can go in if you like. The ground is quite dry today. When it’s muddy, we keep Wellington boots
in the hut so that we can still play in the woodland.”
“It’s lovely. Can we really play in there?”
“Certainly, providing you don’t harm the trees or plants. There aren’t many flowers yet but in the springtime the woods are full of snowdrops, crocus and daffodils and later on bluebells. The class will be planting spring bulbs in the playground boxes soon. Would you enjoy doing that Melissa?”
“Oh yes. I love helping my Grandpa in his garden.”
There was a sudden uproar in the play area. Trevor had dragged one of the little girls off a tricycle. She’d fallen and bumped her knee.
“Go into the classroom at once, Trevor. We do not allow children to behave in that way.” Mrs. Narrinda sounded very cross, “I am going to ask Mrs. Roberts to put your name on the cloudy board.”
Miss Coates picked up the little girl and wiped away her tears. “Come with me, Ellie, I think some time in the comfy corner might help.”
When break was over and the children returned to the classroom Mrs. Roberts looked very stern. She told them all to sit on the carpet again.
“This is the cloudy board,” she said, pointing to a white board shaped like a fluffy cloud. “When someone is very naughty their name is put on here for the rest of the week. If your name goes on once, you will get a warning; twice, and you will have to stay inside at break time, three times and not only will you miss break for a whole week but you will also have to go visit the Head Teacher. Trevor, do you think your name should go on the cloudy board now?” He shook his head. “What do you think children? Does Trevor deserve it?” Most of the boys shook their heads, but many of the girls nodded; including Melissa.
“I won’t put it on this time young man, but if you continue to bully the other children then I’m sure that your name will be a frequent visitor to the cloudy board. Ah, Ellie, come and join us, dear.”
The little girl who had been pulled off the tricycle had just come out from behind the curtains in the comfy corner. She didn’t look sad any more. Miss Coates told her to sit down next to Melissa and Riana.
“Are you feeling better?” Riana asked. Ellie nodded.
“What’s it like in the comfy corner?” Melissa wanted to know.
“Girls, quiet please. Carpet time is quiet time. You can talk in free play time and during the lunch hour.” Mrs. Roberts instructed them, but she was smiling.
Before her first day at school was over, Melissa had made a lot of new friends and had had such an interesting time that she had forgotten how sad she’d felt when Mummy had left. She had had a lovely lunch in the canteen at dinner time but had found the dining room rather noisy. The afternoon had been spent in free play and Melissa, Riana and Ellie had played in the play house. They had really enjoyed it. The last thing the class did every day before they went home was to help tidy up the classroom. Melissa had just finished painting a picture to take home for Mummy when they were told to start clearing away. She wanted to put her name on the bottom of her picture before she left it to dry. Suddenly it was dragged out of her hands by Trevor. The painting ripped. Melissa began to cry.
“Well, that’s it young man - cloudy board for you!” Mrs. Roberts was furious, “She weren’t putting stuff away!” Trevor protested.
“I was writing my name on the picture.” Melissa sobbed, “I painted it for Mummy.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
“Come with me, Melissa,” Mrs. Narrinda took her by the hand and led her to the cosy corner. Once inside she closed the curtains, picked up the big bear and placed him in Melissa’s arms. He was squashy and cuddly and just the right shape for hugging. Melissa sat in the comfy chair and held him to her. She snuggled her head into his soft fur and let her tears drip onto his back. As she hugged him she began to feel better and soon she found that she didn’t want to cry any more.
“His name is Bumble,” said Mrs. Narrinda, “But we call him the Cry Bear because he soaks up everyone’s tears and makes them happy again.” Melissa smiled. “That’s better. We don’t want you to have a tear-stained face when Mummy comes, do we?”
At home time the children were let out into the big school playground when their mummies, daddies, grandmas and granddad arrived to pick them up. Melissa couldn’t wait to tell Mummy all about her exciting day, her new friends, Riana and Ellie, but most of all about Bumble, the Cry Bear who lived in the comfy corner and soaked up all their tears.
* * * *
Also by the Author
Adult Fiction Lust, Love and Lies (a romantic saga crossing decades)
Poetry: The Pottery Fish (an anthology of modern and rhyming poems)
Astrology: Astrology and Heredity (paperback); The Forgotten Planet
Autobiographical: My Dyslexic Journey
Children’s Fiction: Juvenile/Teens - Holiday Blues, Time Line, Flat Cats, Octinnia,The Adventure Begins. Early readers - A Prickly Problem, Honk The Donk, Alfie Goes to Uni, Just Joe, Fluff Gang Tales (written in rhyme), The Fluff Gang and the New Neighbour (written in rhyme); PC Mouse, The Blackbird That Couldn’t Sing, The Butterfly That Lost a Spot, They’re Not Real, Grandma, And What do you want for Christmas, A Squirrel Called Cyril, Pretty as a Picture, Sampson to the Rescue. Box Sets - Animal Tales Series Box Set and Fantasy Trio Box Set.
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