THE MAN WHO LOVED ...TEDDY

The man who loved TEDDY

Big Mac, is what his fellow riders called him... originally known as Stephen Hazel. A six feet - two inch tall... 425 pound... bearded... denim clad ... Harley rider... with a teddy-bear tattooed on his arm and who survived on Mc. Donald’s Big Mac. That’s how he got the name... some say he once broke in to a Mc. Donald’s outlet at mid-night to feed himself...however he landed in the prison for a couple of days , and believe it... he had no food until he was released... and finally satisfied himself with 6 Big Macs.

He sure was not the right person to mess around with. His appearance was scary enough to keep people at an arm’s length. But this big guy had a curious weakness... he loved a soft-toy...whom he called ‘TEDDY’.

TEDDY could be often spotted sitting on the headlamps of his chopper... with a smile on his face... cool denim clothing, tattoos and dark glasses. Mac would often be seen talking to TEDDY while sitting on his chopper parked outside... OLLY’S PUB... People never dared to stare at him, cause everyone remembers Billy’s broken nose and arm... he had called Mac a kid who played with an idiotic doll. Mac didn’t mind being called a kid as much as TEDDY being called an idiot. Billy had to kneel before teddy and plead for forgiveness... until Mac said "TEDDY forgives you... get yo our ass outta here ‘fore ee changes his mind".

I once had an opportunity to share a drink with the big guy... at OLLY’S. I was there drowning my anger and frustrations in alcohol when the giant came and sat besides me and placed TEDDY... between us on the counter. Olly greeted him and said... "Hey Mac... the usual??"... "Sure" came the reply... "And what will TEDDY have today..." ... "TEDDY...err....what you gonna have today ?... oh.... ok..... hey Olly... TEDDY says he will have the usual too...(grunt)". My eyes couldn’t believe it... a huge... middle aged ... bearded biker... clad in leather... talking to a teddy-bear. To surprise me further the bartender got two drinks... a huge mug of beer... and a tiny miniature mug of beer too...what next... Mac fits the tiny mug in TEDDY’S hand and then he clashes their mugs and grunts aloud.... "Cheers....my boy... a drink in the name of ...twenty years of our friendship...".... "What twenty years... I say to myself... they ‘ve been together for twenty years...", my ears couldn’t believe it too.... Just then Mac spotted the curious look on my face... it scared me ... I tried and acted as if I was minding my own business.. just when I felt as if I was weighed down by his hand which landed on my shoulder... "hey kiddo... what’s the matter...why are you so sad... want me to buy you a drink..... no....no.... today TEDDY and I are really happy.... I insist.....Hey Olly... one more mug for the guy besides us...."

The one became two and soon three... then followed the vodka shots... the lime...salt...and fresh tomato juice did the trick... I was flying and TEDDY was still trying... man no wonder it keeps smiling all the time... Mac would dip TEDDY in his drinks... Because TEDDY too is alive... The man talk had begun... the secrets were rolling OLLY joined us too... the was empty except for the four of us... which included TEDDY too...

"TEDDY belong’d to me daughter" Mac went on... "... her bes’ fren’ an’ now mine... she loved it... she even changed his clothes too....NO NO TEDDY...its ok...I trust these people...they are brothers...( he suddenly speaks to TEDDY)... Sammy....aka Samantha was 6 when I gave TEDDY to her... she was not even 7 when I took charge of him...Sammy and me wife died in a car crash... funny ... how this life proceeds... it didn’t rain on their funeral... no dark clouds... my neighbor was getting married... Someone won the elections and we had a new president ... their were parades and celebrations all around... it was just me and TEDDY along with the priest that sunny and warm day... today was their death anniversary... and TEDDY tells me Sammy is 26 now... she is a fine lady up there in the heaven and guess what she has taken a re-birth ... can you believe it... she is here... and I and TEDDY are travelling all around the country now looking for me Sammy... we shall find her... won’t we TEDDY..."

"So what was with you...", he asks me... and I say "I had a fight with my wife...".... and how we all laughed...TEDDY actually fell off the counter...

The morning came... and we were sober again and different people... Mac left for his search... he would send me post-card and pictures of him and TEDDY...Chicago...Los Angeles...Las Vegas...New York and finally New Jersey. Mac had an accident... TEDDY fell of too... both were dripping in blood...they were taken to the hospital... I and Olly traveled all the way to New Jersey. 2 weeks and he hadn’t opened his eyes... TEDDY was still smiling... I gave him a hospital gown too and laid him besides Mac. The nurse...a young and beautiful girl would come and check up the reports often during the day...and spend a long time staring at Mac... he was a big man...

I was just taking a nap...when I was suddenly woken up by a loud grunt..."Kiddo!!! her eyes (the nurse had just left )... Sammy she is here... Kiddo we found her..."...Found her I cant believe him... he tells me to open his wallet which lied in the corner cupboard... their was a picture of the six year old Sammy...her eyes.....yes her eyes...!!! The nurse...

"And hey get me a few BIG MAC’s... I am starving..!!!".

Sahirr