So then, it was as close to a perfect Summers afternoon as you could get, and I was about six or seven years old. Dad had taken two of my brothers fishing off the Petone wharf, and Mum was taking us out to meet them; us being me and teddy. I was never that much into fishing myself, I just liked mucking around by the seaside. Teddy reckoned he was pretty keen to be outdoors that day, though he wouldn't be doing any fishing himself either you understand.
We'd been best friends since we met on my second birthday. He was a present from Grandad apparently, though I didn't remember any of that. Quite simply, he'd just always been there. He was quite a chatty fellow, and he knew and awful lot of stuff about everything. When I had a question about anything at all, I just had to ask him, gently squeeze on his tummy, and Hey Presto I was enlightened! Often I'd also ask Mum just to see if she knew too, and she always confirmed what teddy had told me was right.
We wandered down the wharf in the bright sunshine and found where the rest of the family had set up for the afternoon. Teddy selected a nice spot to sit and relax, and just generally soak up the atmos. Back in those balmy early seventies days it was the norm for Mum to make your clothes, and it wasn't uncommon for a family of kids to have identical outfits, cut from the same roll of fabric. On this day teddy looked resplendent in his matching boardshorts, although he eschewed the ubiquitous roman sandals.
He wasn't shy about revealing his 'bear' chest either. The little guy knew he was in pretty good shape and he was quite possibly in his prime. I mean sure, he enjoyed the odd durrie and a can, but he always knocked it on the head when pre-season training started. Plus, he never had any difficulty pulling at the annual picnic down in the woods. He could be a bit of a rascal at times, but he'd never really caused me too much bother until......
I should've known he'd get bored; his mind wanders at the best of times. And it WAS a rather hot day too. At any rate, tedddy said to himself, 'Fack this, I'm going for a swim'. Then, to my horror, he executed a perfect swan dive off the wharf, and powered away through the surf in the direction of Days Bay.
It must've been the only time in my life that I ever cried. Well just about. Teddy didn't give a stuff about any of that though. I could see his little windmilling arms and furiously kicking legs as he hammered off through the waves. The only thing he gave a stuff about was having a snowfreeze with a flake in it at the Williams Park Pavillion.
Through my tears, I managed to order Dad to throw himself off the wharf and chase teddy down, cos I knew my Dad was quite a good swimmer. Unfortunately he demurred. However, he did go down the steps to where there was a small platform that boats could use. He then managed to attract the attention of this guy who looked just like a Hell's Angel, except instead of riding a bike he was in a motorboat.
Biker vs Teddy Bear; it wasn't much of a contest really. At first teddy tried to evade the guy, but thought better of it when the boat ran over his head nearly drowning him. He decided it was better to be alive, than continue on his quest for an icecream, so he gave up the struggle and was soon returned to his grateful owner.
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I couldn't really stay mad at him for long, but Mum said as a penance, he had to spend a day hanging from the clothesline by his ears. Teddy has never forgiven for this, and he has refused to speak to me again no matter how hard I've squeezed his tummy. Mum even knitted him a splendid jacket and trouser set for the winter, but there was no placating him.
About three years later his right leg came off in mysterious circumstances. Although it was reattached by emergency 'needle and thread' surgery, his mobility has been seriously hampered since then. He no longer plays footie, or tries swimming, although I believe he still
does alright for himself down the annual picnic. But looking back now, to that fateful day in January, I realise one very important thing.
Except, I just forgot what it was.