The memories came flooding back
I recently had a big clear-out of my bedroom and, tucked behind the wardrobe, I found my old teddy bear, Oscar. Seeing him again brought all the memories flooding back.
I’d had Oscar from when I was very little and, for as long as I could remember, he had only had one eye. It wasn’t important to me, I loved him no matter how shabby and old he was. Oscar was my constant companion and we did everything together.
One day, I discovered that Oscar had lost his one remaining eye. I took him to my mother and, much to my delight, she promised that she could give him his sight back.
The next day she presented Oscar to me. She had decided she might as well sew on two new buttons, rather than just one. I clearly recall how much his new appearance came as a shock. I’ve never forgotten how upset I was to see him looking so different! Oscar was not meant to have two eyes! He looked all wrong! I started crying (I was very young, remember). My mother was really worried. She didn’t have a clue what was wrong with me. Eventually, I made her understand and she had no choice but to cut off one of the buttons so that, once again, he was my familiar one-eyed bear.
I don’t know how I failed to realise he had gone missing down the back of the wardrobe, but I’ve already decided he’ll be coming with me to university, where I can keep an eye on him. I may not want to play with him anymore, but looking at him still evokes so many precious memories.
Questions:
1. Where did the user find their old teddy bear, Oscar?
Behind the wardrobe — That’s where Oscar was found during the bedroom clear-out.
2. What was unique about Oscar's appearance for as long as the user could remember?
He had one eye — This was how the user always remembered him.
3. How did the user feel about Oscar's missing eye?
They loved him regardless — His missing eye didn’t affect their affection.
4. What happened to Oscar one day that prompted the user to take him to their mother?
He lost his remaining eye — This led the user to seek their mother's help.
5. What did the user's mother do to fix Oscar?
She sewed on two new buttons — Her way of restoring his sight.
6. How did the user react to Oscar's new appearance with two eyes?
They were shocked and upset — His new look felt unfamiliar and wrong.
7. What did the user's mother do after realizing the user was upset?
She removed one of the buttons — To bring Oscar back to his old self.
8. Why did the user cry when they saw Oscar with two eyes?
They felt he looked wrong and unfamiliar — Seeing him with two eyes made them cry.
9. What did the user's mother initially not understand?
Why the user was upset — The mother didn’t understand at first.
10. Where had Oscar been missing before the user found him?
Behind the wardrobe — Oscar had been hiding there unnoticed.
