Many of our Challenge young people are scattered throughout Aotearoa New Zealand during this lockdown.
As part of their study or Youth work papers they have written a story of the Bears they have seen in windows from the bears perspective…
Kevin from Glenn Innes
Hello my name is Kevin but I am no average human, in fact I am only a small teddy bear. I have a very loving family and my favorite human Sarah has always taken care of and played with me. But one day I was suddenly placed by the window at the front of my home and left there for days on end. There wasn’t very many people or cars out which I felt was a bit weird but as I’m just a bear I didn’t understand the reasoning behind this. I was very confused not just about why I didn’t see many people but why Sarah placed me here in the first place. But as each day went by I started noticing children walking out and about with their parents and they were always pointing towards me and some took photos. I felt I should pose or smile but then I remember that I am just a plush toy and it would be very scary to children if they saw me move on my own. I don’t know why they take photos but it seems to bring great joy to them every time they spot me. I felt lonely at first and thought my human didn’t want to play with me anymore. But I now realize there must be a something big going on in the outside world. It is not normal for me to see people wearing something that’s covering their hands and mouth all the time. I realize that people may be placing bears like me on windows as a treat for children to see and spot, maybe even like a treasure hunt for them. Now I look forward to each new day and being able to see the smiling faces of children and their parents, makes me one very happy bear.
– From Charlotte
A message from Mr Waddle in Petone
For a long time I was sitting in a box in a garage. I thought I would be there forever left to collect dust, forgotten by my grown up family. What I didn’t expect, was suddenly to be taken out, dusted down and put on a shelf with a view of the street. I was able to see the people walking by on their morning stroll or evening stroll. I could see all the baking and cooking that my family does in this very garage. I could see them experimenting experiment with the different ingredients and laughing together and tasting the food. I can see it all and it makes me happy. Though I wish I could smell it too!
I get to see the different activities that take place in my street. The workout sessions, the music sessions, the family prayer time. I like seeing their game nights, I enjoy seeing everything. There is a whole world that I didn’t ever see before.
I guess I’m quite happy where I am sitting now. I’m happy with the things that I get to look at. I am happy that even in this lock down, this family has found a way to keep themselves busy. I’m happy that people notice and wave out to me even though I don’t really qualify for a bear hunt. So yeah, I’m happy to be part of a new and different world.
– From Cassidy
Ene from Upper Hutt
I remember a time when the streets were once coloured with noise. Cars passing, workers working, people conversing and the boys in blue zooming past with their sirens. I remember when people would stop to chat with each other, when friends would hang out with each other and when families would come over just to be with each other. Now, it seems as if they are afraid to even be in the same room as one another. People wearing masks, as if scared to breathe the air of someone else. Families talking through the metal gate that separates one land from the other. From morning to noon I would find enjoyment in counting each of the colourful machines that would streak past, but it was if one day that changed. My attention was newly placed and instead I looked forward to the few families that would still traipse past my window with the smaller versions of themselves. Shouts of excitement and delight filled the silent roads as the tiny people met eyes with me through the glass barrier that divided us, lifting their arms and pointing right at me. “Look dad a Teddy Bear!” the families’ faces lit up with wide smiles spreading across their faces conferring with one another and all their attention on me. They stayed a couple more seconds, smiles not yet faltering from their face before continuing on with their walk. More and more families would pass each one filled with glee. There was still a hint of fear that people held, but it is as if seeing me makes them forget because what once made them afraid, is soon vanished from memory and happiness takes over instead. The day soon turns into night, as I lay on the window sill staring out into the starry sky waiting for the sun to rise once again. The thought of the making more people smile the next day being my only thought.
– From Xycacia
Eru and Iti from Johnsonville
It’s so quiet here now. No noise comes up from the gorge. No planes roar across the sky. No motorbikes booting it past our house. To start with the silence was a bit scary. It was like the world had stopped. Had everyone except our family died or something. Maybe its like a horror movie and we are the only ones left alive. We were pleased there was two of us.
Then we heard the sound of birds. Different songs that we had never heard before. We could hear the trees blowing and even once I am sure I heard a leaf falling on the ground. Iti said I was making it up. But I wasn’t. Then children would rush and point us out to their mums when they walked past. It’s been a long time now and we have given those children names. Kate, Mere, T, Chrissy, Matt, Sio and Abby. Every day they walk past and wave and laugh. They seem really happy. We are really happy to know them. Just sitting out here we have made new friends. We don’t even try hard. We can just sit and be. Bears like that.
– From Wiremu