Addisyn Madeen
What is the story behind the giant bear?
It sits day after day in the Art room but it wasn’t always there.
It started off in the music room, but how did it make its way up the stairs?
This is the story behind the giant bear.
The giant bear is loved by all and is very fluffy.
This giant bear’s life started when it was being gifted to the music department, four years ago, by the graduating class of 2015. Now, you might think a giant stuffed bear is a weird gift, but Mr. Griggs had a nickname that inspired the bear being a gift. The name was: ‘bear’ because he is loud and has a beard. A BEARd. Mr. Griggs claimed the gift for the music department.
Then it sat in the corner of the music room only to be stolen and be played with by students. So it was moved to the top of a shelf… only be stolen and played with again by students. Ms. Lee was supposedly “ready” to get rid of it until there was a meeting. Ms. Littani, the art teacher, took it down to use as a seat and Mr. Griggs, with a glare, said: “Either put it back or take it with you.” And so she did.
At this point the bear is taking up room upstairs in the art room, you look to your right when first entering the room where students create masterpieces and next to the drying rack is the giant bear. But what does the music department have to say about the loss of their beloved giant bear. “Not a day goes by where I miss the bear.” (Jeffery Griggs, 2019). On the other hand, Mr. Doherty states “I have never met the bear but I wish that I had.” (Jonathan Doherty, 2019)
This bear doesn’t seem to have affected anyone in the music room but in the Art room, it has lived a life. It has stories to share. Except it can’t speak so here are some stories from the point of view of those who can.
The first story is about a certain teacher who once decided that a good place to work is sitting on the bear. She gets all comfy and cozy with her laptop. When a certain principle walks in. Imagine how she looked in the middle of the day, sitting on a giant bear, “working”. I do believe she was.
Another tale involves a certain group of people working on a school play. They all agreed on taking a break and most of them spent half an hour of a five-minute break on this giant bear that happened to be very comfortable. I asked this certain group about the bear and memories they shared. A couple of them enjoyed sitting on it and coming up with names for it. They settled on Jared and that was another regular day for them. They spent most of their free time on the bear, every day they worked hard.
Another student had said and I quote “getting lost in its warm fuzziness.” (random student, 2020) And he said it without a moments hesitation and a deep love for this bear.
The bear, Jared, has lived a life. It has stories to share and has made friends and someone much more. Good for ol’ Jared.
This bear spent months, years even, gathering dust in the music room and after going up a flight of stairs, made a life for himself. He is Jared, the giant bear.
This is his story.
Addisyn Madeen