January 2011
Of course, it was nothing new. Going back many years families had always had this problem around birthdays or Christmas time. Finding just the right presents for a young girl (or an old one, for that matter), however, for some it could be especially difficult.
Most parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc. play safe: another new doll, possibly complete with extensive wardrobe, or wardrobe plus the latest in pram technology.
The more cultured donors would perhaps use their imagination and give a subscription to that trendy new junior ballet school just opened near the church hall.
In a more rural setting many young Fionas and Camillas would be taking delivery of their first, very own, pony, but everything is relative as the philosophers are fond of telling us. For example in far flung third world countries even the gift of a rusty and bent old bicycle wheel, retrieved from the municipal rubbish dump would be gratefully received by a ragged urchin and could even take his mind off worrying where his next meal might come from.
And then we have the 'Aristocratic' - 'High Society' option. A trend which can probably trace its origins hack to the likes of Caesar and Cleopatra. When she was weighed down with enough jewellery to sink a Battleship, he, in desperation would cause to have constructed yet another gold-plated luxury barge to add to the fleet (gliding down the Nile attended by a large number of aides, lackeys, courtesans and slaves being one of her favourite pastimes when bored) . . . As a few modern husbands these days might say, 'Yes dear, I have ordered the new Bentley.'
Let us however, return to a more simple, mundane, (up to a point) way of life. John and Mary's young daughter Samantha had let it be known that she would like a teddy bear for her impending birthday. Not wishing to do just half a job they all set out to the grandest toy emporium they could think of, way across town in Oxford Street. The smooth, elegant, mirrored lift quickly delivered them to the third floor of this impressive building, where they were at once presented with a virtual Aladdin's Cave of highly desirable, if expensive, distractive items.
A few enquiries soon led them to their goal; 'The Teddy Bear Room' wherein were displayed the greatest number and variety of the representations of these furry creatures than they could ever have expected to see. However, it dawned on John and Mary, perhaps a little late, that a problem could be looming and they just hoped that little Samantha would not over-react excessively. Their hopes ended abruptly when Samantha suddenly drew back in horror . . . 'Ugh! Horrible . . . they're ugly . . . nasty . . . I want to go home!' meanwhile stamping her feet in the time-honoured fashion. Without being in much doubt as to the answer Mummy and Daddy asked, in unison, 'But what's wrong dear?'
'Can't you see, they've all got two eyes!'
Crestfallen and embarrassed while thinking of their own childhood back in the old Country where it was never difficult to find a normal, one eyed, teddy bear, Mr and Mrs Cyclops led their distraught child away from that traumatic room and went in search of the Mobile Phone and iPOD display.