… But I Can’t Explain
Northwick is a very special teddy bear. He lives with a boy called Frank and his family. Both Northwick and Frank have nystagmus.
Frank never liked going back to school at the end of summer. And this year was worse than most. His school had been merged, so everything was different. He had to get to know new teachers and new children.
Worst of all some of the new children teased him. They laughed at the way he turned his head to see things, whispered about him behind his back and even called him “wobbly eyes” when no teachers were around.
It had happened before and Frank knew the bullies would stop if he ignored them. So that’s what he tried to do, but it wasn’t always easy and he wasn’t looking forward to next week’s school trip to an old castle. The bullies would have lots of chances to tease him there.
SLOW COACH
On the day of the trip, Frank was so slow getting ready that he was the last person to get on the coach. Only one seat was left, next to a new girl he didn’t know. He sat down glumly and tried to ignore her, but she was very chatty.
She said her name was Chloe, so Frank said he was Frank and then stared at the seat in front. But ignoring Chloe didn’t stop her talking. She told Frank she didn’t know anyone else in the class, because her family had only just moved to the area.
Chloe told him lots of other things too, but they all went in Frank’s left ear and came out of his right one. He was too worried about being bullied to listen. Until Chloe mentioned that she had a dog. And the dog was called Presley.
“That’s funny,” said Frank, looking at Chloe for the first time. “We’ve got a dog and his name is Elvis.” And then they told each other what their dogs looked like. And the funny things the dogs did. And the silly things they did.
When they arrived at the castle, the teachers formed everyone into a crocodile and Chloe and Frank were still talking. Together they climbed up the narrow spiral stairs of the tallest tower in the castle. From the top they could see tiny houses and fields and even the sea far, far away.
They were still talking when they had a go at archery. Frank was worried about archery like he was worried about most sports. He wasn’t sure he could hit the target because of his eyes. But he did. And every arrow he fired got closer to the bulls eye. In fact, it was so much fun he didn’t want to stop.
But at last they all trooped, tired but happy, back to the coach. Chloe and Frank sat together and shared what was left of their packed lunches. It was only then that Frank realised no-one had bullied or teased him all day.
DOUBLE DESPERATION
Later that evening, Northwick fished under his bed and brought out a bag full of good things to eat. You could just say things to eat, because almost everything was good to eat in the bear’s book (details of how to buy the book are at the end of this story).
Northwick offered Frank a double chocolate cookie, but Frank said he wasn’t hungry. This surprised Northwick, as his friend had never turned down a chocolate cookie before. With a big sigh, Northwick offered Frank his last chocolate fudge brownie, a treat he’d been saving for himself really. Not even that tempted Frank.
In desperation, the bear offered Frank some honey. But he turned that down too. “Are you feeling alright?” asked Northwick. “I think so,” replied Frank. “It’s just that for some reason I can’t explain I’m not hungry.” Then he paused and said: “Did I tell you about Chloe?”
“No,” said Northwick, raising an eye-brow and tucking into the chocolate fudge brownie at the same time. “But I think maybe you should.”
Copyright John Sanders, 2005
This story first appeared in the Focus newsletter of the Nystagmus Network in 2005. You can read more Northwick stories in the book "Tales of Northwick" available online from the Nystagmus Network
John Sanders, freelance journalist, writer and trainer John Sanders
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