Never did a boy love a cuddly ted more than Elliot loved his ted called Fred.
He cuddled it tight and cuddled it more and he cuddled it hard until his arms got sore.
Then one night someone crept in the room and Fred disappeared in the midnight gloom.
The toys woke up and they cried "Oh my! We have to find Fred or the boy will cry."
"Where has he gone to? Can anyone see? Someone has stolen him, who can it be?"
"I think I know," bleeped the UFO, "I’ll be back in a jiffy with the ted in tow."
Up he whizzed to a hungry black hole and cried, "all we want is the ted you stole!"
The hole shook its head, “you are mistook, you won’t find it here but you’re free to look."
He looked high and low with his lights ablaze but soon got lost in the night sky maze.
"OH ME!" he cried. "OH MY" he yelped! "I don’t know where I’m going and I need some help."
Back with the toys the UFO confessed, "I didn't find ted but I tried my best!"
"Maybe," chuffed the train, "he’s inside the house; leave it with me, I’ll be quiet as a mouse."
The train chugged off to have a look; determined he would find that teddy bear crook.
But along the way he got clogged with STUFF: an odd black sock and lots of fluff ...
... an old sticky sweet, a bit of glue, a snotty old tissue and a rotten shoe!
"OH ME" he cried! "OH MY" he yelped! "I’ve slowed ... right ... down ... and I need some help."
Back with the toys he was filled with woe, "I didn’t find ted but I gave it a go."
"Maybe," said Nelly, "he’s been pilfered by a ‘gator, leave it with me, I’ll be back a little
later."
Off she tromped with a rumble and a tumble, and it wasn’t long before she found the jungle,
With slippery snakes and hoppy frogs and growly lions and stripy mogs.
She spied the ‘gator and tiptoed near and said with a tremble, "you’ve got Fred, I fear!"
The ‘gator snapped, “You are mistook, you won’t find him here but you’re free to look."
His mouth opened wide and in she peered, then SNAP went his jaws and "YUM" he sneered.
"OH ME" she cried! "OH MY" she yelped! "I’m a midnight feast and I need some help."
Back with the toys she shed some tears, "I didn’t find ted but I faced my fears!"
"Maybe," said the whale, "he’s been kidnapped by a squid!" And into the water the whale then slid.
But there in the water in the ocean deep, were some terrifying things that made her weep.
No squid, alas, but a great white shark, with a million teeth, all razor sharp.
She waved at the shark and she paddled near and said with a tremble, "is Fred here dear?"
The shark then snapped, “I ain’t your crook, you won’t find him here but you’re free to
look."
So look she did and got a scare when she came across a monster with seaweed hair.
"OH ME" she cried! "OH MY" she yelped! "I’m trapped by a beastie and I need some help."
Back with the toys her face was long, "I didn’t find ted but I was brave and strong."
"Alas!" they shouted. "Alas!" they cried. "We did our best, at least we tried."
Then through the door came Elliot’s mum, holding Fred the ted with a fluffy bum.
"You’ve had a scrub, you’re nice and clean; it’s time to sleep sweet bear ...
... sweet dreams."
The toys looked at ted sitting by their side then ran in all directions screaming "RUN AND HIDE!"
They dived out of the windows and ran down the path, for nothing scared them more than a bedtime bath!
Written by Corrinne Garstang Copyright © 2016 Corrinne Garstang. All Rights Reserved.
