After a long exciting day with a lovely walk and all kinds of fun with Mummy, it's now time to go to bed. It has already been dark outside for hours. Daddy arrived back from work a good hour ago. The stars, moon and shooting stars light up windows everywhere.

Everyone is looking forward to the upcoming Christmas festivities. For Hannah, it will be her first one and she is enthralled by all the luminous Christmas trees and colourful Santa Clauses that decorate the gardens.

Even the little teddy bears know it'll be Christmas again soon. In the display case, they are having their own fun. The winter bears, as they do every year, have been moved to the front, and the beach and summer bears rest humbly in the background.

A colourful bustle takes over the display case. Santa Claus hurriedly organises the last presents that he wants to give to children at Christmas and there is a lot of baking and cooking going on because at Christmas there should always be lots of treats. Even Mummy has been busy for days going shopping, baking biscuits and Christmas cake, wrapping presents, and decorating the apartment. Needless to say, it should be an unforgettable Christmas for the little one and the whole family.

What Hannah doesn't know yet is that not only will it be her first Christmas but it will be the only Christmas that she will celebrate alone with Mummy and Daddy. She hasn't noticed that Mummy's tummy seems to be growing. A little baby brother will join her and his eyes will beam with hers when they hear Santa Claus's bell ringing from the living room.

Hannah is fascinated anew every day by the many different colourful teddy bears that Mummy has painstakingly collected over the years. Her eyes sparkle when she stands in front of the display case and looks at the little creatures' dark, smiling, button eyes.

The teddy bears seem to be Mummy's pride and joy and Hannah doesn't understand why she's not allowed to play with the cute little fellows and instead can only look at them through the glass window pane. She doesn't know the meaning of words like 'fragile' yet.

So that Hannah won't be sad, Mummy gives her a little teddy bear that she's allowed to cuddle and promised that when she's older, she'll give her some of her teddies.

Now it is evening and the light in the display case is turned off. The teddies need their sleep, which means that it's time to go to bed. Hannah says 'goodnight' to the bears and Mummy gets her ready for bed. She snuggles down in her cosy warm winter sleeping bag, holds her little stuffed toy dog, Hannes, firmly under her arm and thanks God for the marvellous day she had.

While Mummy tells her lots of teddy bear stories, Hannah falls asleep sucking away. She is looking forward to the morning, when Mummy will get her out of bed again singing a tune and together they will turn on the light in the display case and awaken the teddy bears from their sleep.

_{By S. Lenz, Bergheim-Fliesteden}