A Bear's Tale by Susan Walker & Alexander T. Bear

Author:Susan Walker & Alexander T. Bear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: children's books action & adventure chapter books family, animals bears teddy bears pets fish stuffed animals, autobiographical historical United States Europe United States Presidents & FIrst Ladies, History biographical military united states europe, Literature & fiction chapter books & readers historical fiction short story collections, science fiction & fantasy magic teddy bears fairy tales folk tales other
Publisher: Cooper McKenzie
Published: 2016-07-13T00:00:00+00:00

1990: The Camel

In 1990, Karen and I were working in the Saudi Arabian desert. Karen and Chip handed cases of water out of the back of the truck to a company of U.S. Army tank jockeys. This was our twentieth trip into the Saudi Arabian desert since arriving in the Middle East three months before. We each had a job to do. Karen drove. Chip complained. I protected them. This trip would be no different than the last nineteen. Those Iraqi soldiers didn’t have a chance with Alexander T. Bear on duty.

From my perch on the truck’s dashboard, I heard the Bedouins’ language, but I didn’t understand a word. They were probably hoping to trade with the convoy. It happened every time the group of trucks stopped. Suddenly groups of desert people appeared out of nowhere with camels, horses, goats, and all their belongings with them.

I faced the back of the truck so I couldn’t see too much.

“Brrrumph.”

The noise came from my left just before something clamped onto my arm.

Now I was used to Karen and Chip picking me up. They were gentle. They even hugged me tight when homesickness was especially hard to live with. After all, we were on the other side of the world from our families.

No one had ever grabbed me up by one arm before. Not even when I was a new teddy bear, years and years before. I would have yelled for Karen, but everyone knows teddy bears can’t talk. But I could listen and comfort and protect Karen and her friends.

I floated out the window of the truck, dangling by my shoulder a long, long way up from the sand and black road. I couldn’t even see who was carrying me.

“Karen, that camel has that furry friend of yours,” a deep voice shouted from behind me.

Karen raced toward us and grabbed me by my other arm and both legs. I wished I didn’t have to see Karen struggle with my kidnapper. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

“Let go of him, you idiot camel!” Karen demanded. Releasing my legs, she smacked my kidnapper, then pulled me free. I felt something tear in my shoulder.

“Oh, Alexander, your shoulder!” She cried as she hugged me close. “Chip, get the first aid kit. We have to patch Alexander up before all his stuffing bleeds out.”

I wondered if a stuffed bear could die from losing his stuffing. No, Karen would fix me up. She and her father, and the rest of her family had taken care of me just as I’d taken care of them for years and years and years.

That night in our tent between the two Saudi Arabian airports, Karen laid me on her bunk. She brushed away her tears as she unwrapped the white bandage from my shoulder.

“I don’t know what got into that camel. Normally they stay away from the trucks. I guess you’ll have to stay here from now on. It’s too dangerous in the truck. I just hope you keep protecting me, even though you’re not with me.

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