THE TALE OF TWO MIRRORS
\nby Lydia Irby 2010
\nOnce upon a time, there were three bears, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, and Baby Bear. They lived in a lovely house in a clearing in the woods. Papa Beau was President of Honey Bear, Inc. and often out of town on business. Mama Brigitte had a very successful home based business. Baby Baji, was a beautiful young lady with a kind heart and a zest for life that was contagious.
\nOne day, when Papa Bear was away on business, Baji asked Mama Bear if she could visit her friend Rachel Rabbit who lived deep in the forest.
\n„Why of course dear! Have fun and please tell Mrs. Rabbit that carrot cake was fabulous!“
\n„Thanks Mama!“ she replied joyfully and gave her mom a big hug and a quick peck on the cheek. „Love you.“
\n„Love you too sweetie.“
\nBaji skipped down the path humming to herself and thinking of a new game she and Rachel might play in the leaves that afternoon. The fall day was delightful. The air was cool and crisp and the autumn leaves swirled in the slight breeze and slowly covered the ground in a blanket of orange, ruby, russet, and gold.
\nThe path to Rachel’s house ran by the creek. Baji glanced into the water and greeted what she thought was another bear. „Hi friend!“ Baji stopped to gather a few leaves to press in her memory book and a shiny object caught her eye. She walked closer, bent over and picked up a small gold, case covered with pink and purple rhinestones. „Ooohh!“ Baji open the case and looked inside. She recoiled at the sight and almost dropped the little gold case. For inside, she saw a disfigured face with one eye, a nose, and a fringed ear. It was so grotesque she could not look any longer.
\n„My goodness,“ Baji shuddered and thought, „Is this how I really look?“ Baji had never really seen her image before. The river was too far away to think that the image was of the person looking into the water. „This is not good.“
\nSo, instead of continuing on to the Rabbit residence, Baji slipped the gold case into her pocket and returned home.
\nShe dragged her feet as she walked and avoided everyone on the way home, ducking behind trees, crossing to the other side of the path to shelter innocent eyes from what she deemed hideous. When she arrived home, she quietly slipped into her room and called \u201cMama I’m home.“ Baji avoided Mama Bear for the rest of the evening.
\nThe next morning, Mama Bear entered Baji Bear’s room to wake her for school. „Good morning Sweet Pea! Time to rise and shine.“ Mama Bear bent over the bed to gently rouse Baji.
\n„Mama, I don’t feel well.“ Mama Bear sat on the bed.
\n„Let me see if you have a temperature,“ said Mama Bear as she reached toward Baji’s forehead.
\nBaji quickly pulled the covers over her head. „Oh Mama! Can’t you just leave me be today?“
\n„Well there is something going around. And it is Friday. An extra day of rest won’t hurt. Yes, Sweet Pea you may stay home today.“
\nBaji would not lower the blanket when Mama Bear leaned in for a kiss. Mama Bear gently caressed Baji’s head and left. Baji waited until she knew for certain that Mama Bear was gone before she moved. „How can they love me as ugly as I am? How can anyone care about a troll like me?“ Baji began to question not only the basis of her parents‘ love but all of her relationships and all the things she had ever been affirmed for. Her confidence plummeted as she wrestled with thoughts that maybe others pitied her and maybe she wasn’t as wonderful as everyone told her she was.
\nBaji moped in her room all day, half heartedly performing activities that normally thrilled her. Any time she heard Mama Bear\u2019s feet in the hallway, Baji scurried and quickly hid underneath the covers.
\n\u201cMama would never understand,\u201d Baji sighed, \u201cShe is so beautiful and talented. I don\u2019t think she has ever felt the way I do right now.\u201d
\nMama Bear was concerned. She knew Baji wasn\u2019t really sick, but if Baji was pressed to explain her malaise, their fragile relationship would go from terrific to terrible in no time flat. \u201cWell, Beau will be home this evening. I\u2019ll talk to him about this.\u201d
\nIn the meantime, Papa Bear was in the airport looking for gifts to bring home to his special ladies. He looked up and down every aisle in the Meadowlands Gift Shop and then the saw the perfect souvenirs\u2014a beautiful amber and onyx ring for Brigitte and a small gold compact, covered with pink and purple rhinestones for Baji. \u201cPerfect!\u201d He had the clerk wrap them in petal pink paper and he ran to catch his flight.
\nWhen Beau arrived home, he was surprised by how quiet and dark the normally lively house was. Inside he saw Brigitte cooking a marvelous meal of roasted winter vegetables, and the delectable scent could be detected from 20 paces. He was glad to be back. \u201cGirls, I\u2019m home!\u201d Papa Bear called.
\nNormally by now, Baji would have knocked him over with an enthusiastic greeting.
\n\u201cHi honey.\u201d Brigitte greeted him sweetly. \u201cI am so glad you are home safely.\u201d
\n\u201cHello love,\u201d he replied and greeted her with a kiss. \u201cHave I missed much? And where is Baji?\u201d
\n\u201cFunny you should ask. She wasn\u2019t herself today so I let her stay home from school. She has been moping around here all day and hiding from her shadow. That is not like her. Maybe she\u2019ll tell you what is bothering her.\u201d
\n\u201cSure, I\u2019ll go check on her. But first I have a little something for you.\u201d Papa Bear reached into his satchel and pulled out the smaller of the petal pink packages. He placed it both hands, bowed slightly and offered the gift to his wife. \u201cFor my queen.\u201d
\nBrigitte opened it carefully, not wanting to rip the delicate paper. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, she opened the box. The amber and onyx ring sparkled brilliantly in the twilit kitchen. \u201cIt is beautiful. I had been admiring one like this in a magazine. Thank you darling!\u201d
\n\u201cGlad you like it dear. Now off to see Baji.\u201d Papa Bear walked down the hallway towards Baji\u2019s room, his familiar footsteps catching her by surprise. She had been listening at the door and was so busy trying to see Mama Bear’s ring that she forgot that her appearance might be upsetting to Papa Bear.
\n\u201cBaji, my baby bear, I\u2019ve missed you.\u201d
\nBaji ran into her father\u2019s arms, forgetting the hurtful images burned into her mind\u2019s eye the previous day.
\n\u201cPapa! Papa! You\u2019re home!\u201d She snuggled his warm neck and then remembered that she was hiding her face and pulled away abruptly.
\n\u201cWhat is the matter Princess?\u201d
\n\u201cOh nothing.\u201d
\n\u201cHey, I have something for you\u201d.
\nHe pulled out the second petal pink package, held it in the palm of his hand, waiting for her to accept his gift. Baji, unlike her mother, opened the package quickly, ripping the paper and tossing it to the side. She opened the box, and when she saw the compact from her Papa, she froze.
\n\u201cGo on, open it.\u201d Papa Bear encouraged Baji to open the compact. It was like she was afraid to see the image she tried so hard to forget.
\n\u201cPapa, am I pretty?\u201d
\n\u201cBaji, you are very pretty. Words cannot describe how beautiful you are inside and out.\u201d
\n\u201cPapa, do you love me?\u201d
\n\u201cBaji, of course I love you. I\u2019ve loved you before I ever saw you and I love you more every day.\u201d
\n\u201cPapa, will you always love me?\u201d
\n\u201cHoney bear, I will love you until the end of time and nothing will ever change the way I feel about you.\u201d
\n\u201cEven if I wasn\u2019t\u2026pretty?\u201d Baji asked haltingly.
\n\u201cYes Sweet Pea. Even if you had only one eye, a big nose, and a fringed ear.\u201d Papa teased.
\n\u201cThen it is true! I am ugly and you and Mama Bear have only been nice to me because you have to!\u201d She pulled away and ran to the far corner of her room and wept. Mama Bear came quietly from the kitchen and listened as Papa Bear tried to console Baji.
\n\u201cBaji baby. Come here and sit on my lap.\u201d Baji slowly came and sat on Papa Bear\u2019s lap and dried her tears. \u201cSshhh. It’s okay honey. Baji, honey, tell me– what makes you think you have one eye, a large nose and a fringed ear?\u201d
\n\u201cTHIS.\u201d She held out the case she found in the woods on the way to the Rabbit residence. Papa Bear opened it and Baji turned away. She did not see that Papa Bear too had one eye, a large nose, and a fringed ear for the mirror in the compact Baji found was broken.
\nNow Papa and Mama Bear understood the sudden change in Baji\u2019s behavior.
\n\u201cBaji, Sweet Pea, let me show you something.\u201d Mama Bear sat on the bed next to Baji.
\n „I don’t want to look.“ Baji tried to sound resolute in her decision but there was a hint that she might be convinced otherwise.
\n„Close your eyes and when I count to three, we will all look inside together.“ Everyone closed their eyes and Mama Bear slowly opened the compact. Then she counted, „One — two– three!“ and at that, three pairs of eyes opened slowly.
\nBaji gasped with glee. „How lovely! Baji saw her undistorted reflection in the mirror given to her by Papa Bear. \u201cI really am pretty.“
\n„Yes Baji, you really are.“
\nAnd from that day forward, Baji saw herself as her father saw her, beautiful.
\nHow is your self image preventing you from truly living?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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