Chapter 1
- "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear," says Camellia.
- "Yes, adorable girl?".
- "Do you love me?"
- "I do love you a lot!"
Her expanding eyes glisten at his words.
- "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear."
It seems she has taken a liking to my name.
- "Why do you repeat my name twice?"
- "It's because I love it!"
- "Oh, it's my pleasure," he says with smiley eyes.
- "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, am I a good girl?"
- "Of course you are."
- "Why?"
- "You are intelligent, you attend your classes. You socialize with people and are good at housework. This is marvelous."
I don't agree with the socializing part.
- "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, is Santa real?"
- "It is. Remember last year when he gifted you a new bed?"
- "It's super comfy."
- "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear."
- "What is it, cutie?"
I pause for a moment.
- "Where are my parents? Why are they not with me?"
- "They flew far away, to a paradise," he says with a calm tone, maintaining his cheerfulness.
- "But I'm being a nice girl. Why did they leave me alone?" She says while holding her skirt tight, with her eyebrows narrowed and her voice breaking.
Teddy's merry expression disappears. He pauses for a second.
- "This is life. To be completely honest, they passed away in a car crash because of a drunk driver's recklessness.
My vision is getting blurry. My shirt is getting soaked. I can't stop this stream of tears. I heard my paternal grandma mention something about an accident in my parents' funeral; however, no one told me the details. It must have been painful to die that way.
- "Thanks for telling me the truth. At least you cared enough to make the truth clear to me," I say.
Unlike my family members. I clench my jaw at the thought of it.
- "Did they catch the culprit?" My voice is trembling. I'm afraid I will get killed by this person, too.
- "The police caught him before he could flee. He's been imprisoned since."
- "Thank god."
- "Are you scared?"
- "I am. I think I will have trouble sleeping for the next days."
- "You needn't be afraid for I shall protect thou."
- "I believe you. You have been protecting me ever since the day Mom and Dad died. I have been wondering, how did you get this information? Did you know Mommy and Daddy? Who are you? I guess you are benevolent enough to show me your true identity. I want to talk to you face to face."
I don't trust him enough because my parents told me not to trust strangers, but I need to know more about him before I report him to the police. He knows everything that I do at home.
- "I'm Teddy–"
- "Forget it," I say, howling.
I regret asking.
I'm Camellia Miya, 7 y.o. I live in a small house in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with a brown, mysterious, talking teddy bear. Mommy and Daddy departed me last year unwillingly. My other family members did so at will.
- "I don't understand this subject." I hold my head with both hands while furrowing my brows. I want to run out of here.
- "Let me help you," he says.
- "I get it now. Thank you for always teaching me housework and school stuff. You're really smart at Math. Are you a teacher?"
- "You're flattering me, " he chuckles. "Maybe I should consider teaching."