Freewriting Friday — On the Edge of the Bed
It gave me comfort as a child
As children, my sister and I slept in the same double bed. I doubt we would fit now. But I was six and she was three so it wasn’t difficult except we used to put all of our dolls, teddies, and golliwogs right across the bed until all that was left was a tiny space on each edge. We clung to those edges but never fell out.
Even now, sleeping in a huge king or queen-size bed, I cling to the edge. My partners have assumed that it’s because I want to get away from them, but I think it’s just habit. It gives me comfort to know that there is an edge to the bed. Crazy I know.
I still love my bed but these days I don’t take my dolls and teddies with me although I do still have my Rose-Marie doll and my original teddy — named Teddy of course. I obviously wasn’t creative as a child. I think Rose-Marie came from a movie with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald — I think he was a Canadian mountie — but I can’t remember the name of the movie.
They are both in the top of my wardrobe wrapped up warmly. I have a teddy collection of about 50 teddies in a display cabinet in my garage. Obviously, no room for my car. It’s filled with books, books, and more books, and some paraphernalia and memorabilia that I can’t bear to part with. Also, board games, tennis rackets, a netball or two, and bags of all types and colour — suitcases, overnight bags, carry bags, even some handbags — you could call me an old bag lady. But don’t!
PS The photo looks very much like me as a child, but the doll looks nothing like Rose-Marie — she is blonde and has plaits.