Ted and Riley, back in the States, 1993
She’s Gotta Have It
Just after Daddy flew back
to the States and I was hiring
nannies so I could sing at the
casino lounge each night…
Riley and me in Plaza de las Americas
(translation: da mall). She spied
a toy so huge, brown, sweet,
huggable, fuzzy… and pricey
“¡Mamí, es MÍ oso!” The teddy bear
to beat them all. So tall, big as Riley,
a faint smile, Hershey-Kiss eyes,
just like my beba’s eyes…
“Maybe another day,” I sighed after
checking the price; in a trice, she
sneezed, spewing snot all over
the poor bear’s head. ALL over.
I scraped the boogers off with my
credit card in the checkout line.
He’s mine, for now, as she
gypsies her way around L.A.
Ted sits on a small rocker, with a
tiny bear on his lap, waiting for her.
When I miss Riley most, I find Ted.
Sit on the bed, hug him, and smilecry.
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
My sister says that once a child has peed, pooped, puked, or deposited any bodily fluids on a blanket, it’s theirs forever. And so it went with Ted. True story – I’d never seen a two-year-old put out that amount of mucus in my life. She really wanted that bear! This will appear on the side bar of Poets United, and it’s my NaPoWriMo #12 (National Poetry Writing Month: A poem a day!) Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
‘what is it about bears that is sooo appealing?
Debbie
Loved this and the smilecry got me big!
oldegg
I hope he didn’t turn out like Ted in the movie!
Gattina
Cute picture ! If you are interested in cats you should see my cat blog
http://gattinamycats.blogspot.com/
Roger Green
my sister bought me a bear almost that big…only 15 years ago!. Mr. Applause – he’s in our guest bed right now.
coalblack
He’s a truly awesome Bear!
I loved “smilecry”. I think we’ve all done that.
J Cosmo Newbery
LOL! You just have to admire the girl’s technique!
Rajesh
Very nice stuff.
Sherry Blue Sky
I so love this – all of it, the photo, the little girl happy-smile, the story and you sitting there, missing her, hugging the bear. Adorable.
sheilaeh
Riley baptized that bear in her snot..
smart little girl ya got there..
Hershey kiss eyes….gypsies all over
love it ,Amer..
Lisa A.Williams
This is adorable. I bought my daughter a bear when she was seven, she named Margaret and she is still so loved even nine years later.
brian miller
ha its funny…my sister was similar…she had to have this baby doll that was bigger than her…they had gotten one for christmas but it was not bigger than her so my dad went out and found one…cheap…on christmas day…taller than her…and for years it was her constant companion….
nice batman shirt as well…smiles.
I HAVE A VOICE
what a great memory though!
Josie Two Shoes
Sounds like Riley has had a mind of her own and is determined to get what she wants, whatever that requires. I loved this story and I can well relate to how Ted is filling in as a daughter surrogate until she returns to claim him.
Sara v
That is the most ADORABLE photo–Never heard of snot acquisitions, but whatever works, right? (from the kid’s point of view) Wonderful write Amy–big smiles and teddy bear hugs ❤
ihatepoetry
De-fricking-lightful! You couldn’t make this stuff up!
kimnelsonwrites
Such a great telling of the sticky situation. And now, all these years later, you have Ted. I suppose it was fate, kismet, meant to be.