School Days – and The Biggest Bear
First grade school days
I first hear the story The Biggest Bear when I am six years old and in first grade. The day I get on the school bus with my four older sisters, I am certain I will learn to read on this, my first day of school. I don’t, and I am disappointed beyond measure.
Nevertheless, I love my teacher, Alvina. She reads to us. Every day, after lunch, we have story time. I am introduced to so many stories by Alvina. That makes up for not learning to read the first day of school. I ride home on the bus that day, contemplating my first big disappointment in life. I will need to go to school many days to learn to read.
Each new day in school, I learn new things. Alvina teaches us the sounds of each letter of the alphabet. On top of the blackboard in the front of the room, each letter lines up alphabetically. With each letter is a picture. I specifically remember the letter “H” because in the lower case letter, there is a girl with a skirt billowing behind her. The “hoop” of her dress flows behind her as she runs as fast as she can, Alvina says. She shows how she sounds when she is running. “Hhhhhh. Hhhhhhh. Hhhhhhh.” I am fascinated by her description and the picture with the letter. We practice “huhhuhing” as a class and the letter and picture are forever ingrained in my mind.
Reading is fun
Not only does Alvina make learning run, she makes reading fun. Before we learn to read, she reads to us, every day. Even after we learn to read, she reads to us. Alvina stands in front of the classroom, the blackboard with the letters on top behind her. She opens a book and stretches out her hand so we can see the pictures. I am fascinated with how she holds the book. She places three fingers behind the book and holds the pages open with her thumb and little finger.
When I go home, I practice reading to my “children” like Alvina. It’s harder than I think it would be, but I practice. Not only do I practice holding the book like Alvina, I practice reading with expression, because when Alvina reads, she reads with expression.
Sometimes she stops and looks at our faces. Sometimes I see a twinkle in her eye and wonder what is so funny when the story she is reading is sad. But then the story line changes, and we are happy again. Now I understand the twinkle in her eye.
A twinkle and a smile
Even now, when I read The Biggest Bear to a child who has never heard the story before, I am Alvina, reading with expression, watching his sad face when he learns Johnny must kill his bear. I have read this story hundreds of times, and each time, the expression on the child is the same. But then the story changes and the ending is happy. I try not to smile, but I am sure there is a twinkle in my eye as I watch the expressions of children I love change from dismay to happiness.
I think the biggest bear deserves to live. He is Johnny’s pet and should not need to die. Even though he destroys many places and things, I side with Johnny, because it is Johnny’s story. I don’t think about the danger the bear is to the community. I just want the biggest bear to live.
Sometimes there are alternatives to what we think is best and to what we want. I remember this when I read The Biggest Bear. In a pretend story, it’s fun to imagine and get what we want. In real life, we have to think of others.
Sometimes in real life we must learn to give in so that others will be safe. Our world is a better place when we stop our selfishness and do what is best for others.
