The Teddy Bear Picnic

Book Three from the Series THE THREE LITTLE LIBRARIANS AND THE BIG, BAD BROTHER
Copyright October 2008

[Part 3]

Zach hadn’t brought a Teddy Bear of his own, but remembered Little Bear from the church library.  Little Bear had his own library of miniature books, and today was dressed in swimming trunks for summer and tiny reading glasses.  In no time Zach returned, and he told everyone the story of Benjamin Franklin.  Benjamin had invented bifocals, Zach told them, holding up Little Bear and his glasses.

“Look!” said Emilee, “it’s a Praying Mantis!”  There on the quilt, almost camouflaged on a light green square, was a baby Praying Mantis. 

“That’s my favorite wild creature of all!” exclaimed Erin.  Carefully Emilee picked up the mantis, dropped it into Taylor’s cupped hands, who dropped it into Makayla’s, who dropped it into Erin’s hands, cupped gently.  Then Erin carried it to some red-berried Nandina bushes at the side of the church, where it would be safe.   

When all the children had imagined the mantis’s prayers and told about the Teddy Bears they had brought, it was time to go to the gazebo for sandwiches, cookies, fruit, and tiny lettuce salads.  While Allison and Donna filled cups with ice and poured lemonade, Mrs. Cloar cut out slices of the dessert she had brought.  It was what she called an American Flag Pie.  It had a Graham Cracker Crust and a filling of Cool Whip, Philly Cream Cheese, almond flavoring, and sliced bananas.  Then on top there were blueberries and strawberries arranged to look like the stars and stripes of the flag.

Mrs. Cloar called on Jordan to say the blessing, but while all the children had their heads bowed, they heard a buzzing sound.  There was a bumblebee stuck in Abby’s hair.  It had gotten under her barrette.  Quick as a wink, Avery lunged for it and got it out, but it stung him badly on the hand and flew off.  Allison immediately reached for the ice and put it on the sting.  Then she and Avery walked to the Fellowship Hall to get the First Aid kit.

“You know, Mrs. Cloar,” Abby said, with a sad look on her face as she comforted Anna, “I think maybe I shouldn’t call Avery my ‘big, bad brother’ anymore.  He got stung for me.”

“That reminds me of Jesus!”  Emilee said decisively.

At four o’clock Megan’s little brother, Carson, solemnly rang the church bell thirteen times for the first thirteen states, and Megan read the poem about Paul Revere and the Old North Church in Philadelphia.  They packed up the Teddy Bears, food, and quilts.  It had been a really good day, maybe something to write a book about.

(The Three Little Librarians and the Big, Bad Brother is a fictional book based on true events and real characters.)