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““Made something for me?” asked the very surprised white bear, crafted with no eyes by Jane Marie.  Seeing with her heart instead, Martha Bear® exclaimed, “It’s not my birthday and it’’s not Christmas.  How very thoughtful of you.”

His tan fur-fluffed cheeks flushed pink.  It was so nice for Teddy O™ to get a compliment.  He knew too well how it felt to be in trouble and receive a reprimand.  Sometimes, he just couldn’t help himself, especially when egged on by an audience.  But never mind all that, he thought.  Martha Bear® is pleased with me for a change.

Teddy O™ is a member in good standing of The Thundering Teddies, an organization of tough teddy bears trying to do the right thing but not always succeeding.

Open it Martha Bear® did, and out tumbled a white T shirt.  “How lovely.  I’ll be sure and wear it whenever I walk down to the Big Pond.  (Otherwise known as the Atlantic Ocean.)  It will protect my quilted fabric skin from dry rot by Mr. Sunshine.” 

“You’re looking at the back, Martha,” Teddy O™ told her impatiently.  “Turn it over!” 

She did so and spied a black and white head shot of her very own bear self beside which was printed Call Your Mother.  

Before she could say a word, Teddy O™ explained. “I heard Jane Marie's sister, Nancy, talking about having a Call Your Mother Contest [now concluded] and,” he bashfully hesitated.  “Well, I thought visitors to our site might spread the word that calling your mom was a better thing, as you would say, Martha.  And what better way to spread that word than to wear a T shirt.”  He was on a roll and couldn’t stop talking.  “And since I’m such a great marketer, I figured that because everybody likes you,” he added somewhat jealously, “because you never get into trouble like I do, you would be the perfect bear, in this instance, mind you, not every instance, to have her head on the shirt.  What cha think?” 

Taken aback by all the kind words, Martha Bear® paused to gather her thoughts. “You are so kind to do this, Teddy O™.  I am most pleased and very touched.  Thank you.” 

Satisfied that he’d done well, Teddy O™ imaged himself reporting Martha's accolades and praise to his chapter of The Thundering Teddies.

♥

Days passed.  Teddy O™ watched Martha Bear® and waited.  And he kept watching her and waiting until she had to ask, “What is it?  Do I have mud on my knees or something?”  Since Martha had a large round tummy, a thing she had worked her whole life to achieve and maintain, she explained, “You know I can’t see my knees so if that’s the problem, would you just tell me if they're dirty and I’ll go scrub them.” 

“Your knees look fine.  What I want to know is how come you haven’t worn the T shirt I gave you?” 

Oh my, oh my my, thought Martha.  How she disliked making disparaging remarks of any kind to anyone.  Yet, being tactfully truthful was always best whenever possible, so she told him, “I must apologize for not having worn your shirt until now.  It was very thoughtless of me.  I should have put your bear feelings above my fashion sense.” 

Teddy O™ cocked his head, squinted one eye and looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language.  

She explained further, “You must know how I love all things fancy and colorful by now, Teddy O™.  But the shirt is black and white.  Had the picture on it been pink or purple or teal, I would have already worn out the shirt.  I’ve been self centered about the whole thing, and I apologize.” 

“Oh, I don’t care that you don’t like it, Martha Bear®.  Heck, I don’t like some of the colorful clown clothes you parade around it.  But forget all that.  You mean you don't care for the shirt because the printing isn't multi-colored?” 

Shocked, she said, “No.  It’s a simple black.”  And though she never would say it out loud, Martha Bear® couldn't keep from thinking the shirt design was boring - boring black.  Then it struck her.  “Way back in my memory, I seem to recall that in rare cases, if a bear gets a good enough bump on his head, he can lose his sense of color, sort of like color blindness in humans.  Although mentally he thinks he still sees colors because that’s how he remembers things, he really is seeing only black and white.  That must have been how you ordered the shirt in the first place.” 

“No kidding?  Well, tickle my feet and call ’em hairy!  I felt like something wasn’t quite right, but I couldn’t put my paw on it.  I do remember knocking my noggin after tripping over a crepe myrtle tree root in your garden, Martha.  I landed against the trunk of the tree, but you know us bears, if there ain’t no stuffing showing, we don’t complain much.” 

“Well, there you have it,” punctuated Airborne, Martha Bear’s grasshopper companion and advisor, who had arrived by this point.  Having overheard as he flew, since his beating wings are soundless, he confirmed, “Yes, Teddy O™, what Martha Bear® said is true.  Not to brag, but I pride myself in retention of obscure knowledge.  The condition from which you suffer is called Banged-Up Bear Color Blindness. ”

“What can I do about it?  Is it permanent?” asked the little brown bear who had just noticed he was seeing only black and white. 

“No, it isn’t permanent,” Airborne reassured.  “The duration is anywhere from one minute to one hundred thousand minutes.” 

Teddy O™ and Martha Bear® looked puzzled. 

Airborne immediately realized  the subject of food topped the list of bear priorities and ciphering was near the bottom, so he clarified.  “That means your condition will clear up of it’s own accord sometime after the moment you bumped your head until 69.44 days later.” 

The two bears still looked confused so Airborne said, “In other words, your condition could last up to two months, Teddy O™.” 

“Two months?  That’s a long time.” 

“It could be much shorter.  Should you happen to bump your head again the right bump might just knock whatever is out of whack back in place.  Then you would see all of the colors of the rainbow again." 

Martha Bear® recognized the rascally look in Teddy O’s eyes.  “Oh, no you don’t.”  She waggled a pointed paw at him.  “Don’t you go around bumping your head to get your colors back.  Don’t you dare!” 

“Gee Martha, you know I can’t help being clumsy sometimes.  If I happen to trip over the landscape edging and crash into the cement wall or fall off the roof while checking the gutters for dead leaves, I’ll just have to buck up.” 

Martha Bear® walked toward the medicine cabinet, knowing she was wasting her bear breath trying to reason with Teddy O™.  He was a stubborn one and there was little she could do but make certain there were plenty of bandages and antiseptic available. 

Teddy O™ said his good-byes.  After Martha Bear® pulled on her white shirt with the black picture and writing, she and Airborne watched the floral clock on the wall by the fireplace as they waited for his return.  Sure enough, 32 minutes and 17 seconds later, a short bedraggled brown bear with a now crooked round mouth, dusty fur, a bent ear and flattened tail staggered in the front door.  

Martha and Airborne dashed to help him.

“What have you done to yourself?” Airborne squeaked out first as they accompanied Teddy into the bathroom where the medical supplies awaited. 

Teddy O™ responded a bit groggily, “I was walking across the narrow edge of the top of the wooden fence surrounding the manor when I slipped on a soggy bread crust left out for the birds.  I took a tumble into the shamrock plant, bounced off the carved welcome rock and landed in the Mr. Lincoln rosebush.”  He took a ragged breath, then said, “But that pink vest you’re wearing today sure matches the roses in your ears, Martha Bear®.” 

"Looks like the old TO is back," Martha Bear® pronounced, almost but not quite happily.  She pondered the small bear's well deserved rascally reputation.  He was mischievous with good intentions - a far better combination to cherish than no bear at all.  “What on earth will we do with you, my friend?” wondered Martha as she separated the fur on his shin and pulled out a rose thorn with tweezers. 

“Just feed me lots of green apples and brown pecans and red beary juice and yellow cheese and stuff." 

“Looks like he’s on his way to a speedy recovery, Airborne.” 

The grasshopper fluttered his wings to ever so gently stir the air around the battered bear while Teddy O™ suggested, “You know, I think we should have more Call Your Mother T shirts made up with black letters and some colorful shirts as well.  That way, any bears or other creatures out there who either do or don’t want colors can have a choice.” 

“That’s a fine idea,” Martha Bear® agreed.  “After all, telling everyone to Call Your Mother, is, of course, a better thing.”  And she carried her smaller friend to the cushioned lounge on the outside veranda to rest while she fetched him a tray of treats.  It was just what he had planned all along, she was sure.

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