Jane Hissey Quotes

“A very long time ago, he had seen his good friend Old Bear being packed away in a box. Then he was taken up a ladder, through a trap door, and into the attic. The children were being too rough with him and he needed somewhere safe to go for a while.”

“ ‘Let’s try making ourselves into a tower,’ said Duck. ‘Good idea!’ said Bramwell. Little Bear climbed on top of Rabbit’s head and Rabbit hopped onto Duck’s beak. They stretched up as far as they could, but then Duck opened his beak to say something. Rabbit wobbled, and they all collapsed on top of Bramwell.”

“Rabbit climbed on to the bed and began to bounce up and down. The others joined him. They bounced higher and higher but still they couldn’t reach the trap door in the ceiling.”

“ ‘I’ve got it!’ he cried. ‘I could climb up this plant, swing from the leaves, kick the trap door open and jump in!’ In case it wobbled, Bramwell Brown, Duck and Rabbit steadied the pot. Little Bear bravely climbed up the plant until he reached the very top leaf. He took hold of it and started to swing to and fro, but he swung so hard that the lead broke and he went crashing down. Luckily, Bramwell Brown was right underneath to catch him in his paws.”

“Bramwell gave Little Bear two big handkerchiefs and a flashlight so he could see into the attic. Then he began to wind up the propeller of the plane. Rabbit and Little Bear climbed aboard and Bramwell began the countdown: ‘Five! Four! Three! Two! One! ZERO!’ They were off! The plane whizzed along the carpet and flew up into the air.”

“From somewhere quite near he heard a muffled ‘Grrrrr,’ followed by, ‘Did somebody say something?’ Little Bear moved a few things aside and there, propped up against a cardboard box and covered in dust, was Old Bear.”

“The two bears leapt bravely from the hole in the ceiling. Their handkerchief parachutes opened out and they floated gently down...landing safely in the blanket.”

“That night, when all the animals were tucked in bed, Bramwell thought about the day’s adventures and looked at the others. Rabbit was dreaming exciting dreams about bouncing as high as an airplane. Duck was dreaming that he could really fly and was rescuing bears from all sorts of high places. Little Bear was dreaming of all the interesting things he had seen in the attic, and Old Bear was dreaming about the good times he would have now that he was back with his friends. ‘I knew it was going to be a special day,’ said Bramwell Brown to himself...”

“The little plane flew beautifully and the first time they passed the trap door Little Bear was able to push the lid open with his paintbrush. Then Rabbit circled the plane again, this time very close to the hole. Little Bear grabbed the edge and with a mighty heave he pulled himself inside.”

“In the corner of the playroom was a little wooden airplane with a propellar that went round and round. ‘We could use this plane to get to the trap door,’ said Bramwell. ‘Rather dangerous, I know, but quite honestly I can’t bear to think of Old Bear up there for a minute longer.’ “