(E. R. Braithwaite is due to visit Guyana late August, 2012. The following review of his most recent publication, Billingsly, the Bear With a Crinkled Ear, is a sort of welcome-home present.)
THIS most recently published work shows that E. R. Braithwaite has not lost the flair for fiction writing executed in his first book, ‘To Sir with Love’, first published some six decades ago. This work also shows that the writer, celebrating his birth centenary, has successfully turned his attention to the young reader with aplomb and with consummate ease.
‘Billingsly, The Bear with a Crinkled Ear’ is a superbly written story mainly for children, running into sixty-one pages of pure reading delight.
‘Billingsly’ could also delight the adult reader, and adults reading to children. Not all books written for children lend themselves readily to be read aloud. ‘Billingsly’ is good enough to be read aloud. There is the rhythm of poetry even in the title, ‘Billingsly, The Bear with a Crinkled Ear’.
Another outstanding feature of this book is the author’s ability to merge stoic statements of reality with flights of fantasy, resulting in a work that is educational, entertaining and comforting.
The plot of ‘Billingsly’ is simple, but with enough interest and loads of entertainment to string along the reader, and to connect to the child, not unlike the plot formats of fairy tales and merry tales of yore.
In ‘Billingsly’, the action is fast-paced, pitted with interesting observations, facts and fantasies (taking flight into the land of the Tooth Fairy and Wishes Fairy). And the ‘characters’ —  a discarded mirror, dolls and toys — act like touchstones to each other, forwarding the story to an intriguing end.
The story begins with Mr Billings being burdened by a number of challenges in order to get to the bakery to buy a birthday cake; get to the toy store to buy a special gift; then catch the train home in time for his daughter’s birthday party. His biggest challenge was buying a teddy bear, which he saw in a show window a few days ago, hoping it was still there.  However, when he arrived at the Toy Shop, the saleslady stated the teddy bears were all sold, except for one with a crooked ear. Mr Billings had to convince the salesclerk that the damaged toy was not a bother, hoping that his daughter, Lisbeth, would not take offence.
The daughter loved the bear from first contact — a special bear, as the father pointed out; one of a kind in the whole wide world. But there was more to the physical defect. The bear’s crinkled ear straightened out as the girl addressed it directly. And it all seems natural as the writer goes to great lengths to explain that children naturally speak to their toys. Hereafter, the girl and the toy carry on a healthy discourse right to the end of the story, each of them learning from the other — resolving many ‘conflicts’.
The main conflict was that other toys (that came alive in a discarded mirror) were filling Billingsly with the fear of being discarded by fickle-minded children. The fear was due to numerous children who were replacing their traditional dolls for the new Barbie dolls. But Lisbeth promised to never part with Billingsly. And the two, child and toy, lived through a few adventures that served to bind them closer together.
‘Billingsly’ is well-told story with a comfortable ending.
The end is worthy of reproducing here:
“Billingsly was worried about being discarded and abandoned, trying to wish away that eventuality by asking the Tooth Fairy to get the Wishes Fairy to grant the bear that wish.”
This is the Tooth Fairy’s reply and ensuing dialogue:
‘You shouldn’t spend your time wishing. Isn’t it much better getting surprises?’
‘Surprises?’
‘Can’t you be silent for a moment? Yes, I said, surprises. Sometimes, just to be difficult, or perhaps just to prove how clever she is, the Wishes Fairy grants someone’s wish even before they wish for and then it’s called a surprise.’
‘But …’ began Billinsly.
‘No buts, Just think about it. Weren’t you very surprised when Lisbeth’s father returned to the toy shop for you? And hadn’t you sort of wished that he would?’
‘Yes,’ answered Billingsly.
‘And weren’t you surprised when he accepted you even though the sales lady showed him your ear?’
‘Yes. Yes.’
‘And weren’t you surprised when Lisbeth accepted and loved you just as you are?’
‘Yes, but…’
‘There. Don’t you see what I mean? All those happy surprises. Isn’t that so much better than wishing? Now you have a little girl who loves you and is your friend. That should be enough for today and remember, every day is today, and every tomorrow is a surprise.’
‘Yes,’ said Billingsly. ‘But suppose….’
‘Don’t waste time supposing’ she said. ‘Just be happy with what you have.’
Writer, teacher and diplomat, Edward Ricardo Braithwaite was born in 1912 in British Guiana. He is the author of several other books, including ‘Paid Servant’ (1962), ‘A Kind of Homecoming’ (1962), ‘A Choice of Straws’ (1965), ‘Reluctant Neighbours’ (1972), and ‘Honorary White’ (1975).

(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

What’s Happening:
•    The National Library will be honouring E. R. Braithwaite with a Guyanese stage adaptation of his famous novel, ‘To Sir with Love’.
•    The current issue of The Guyana Annual magazine will be dedicated to Braithwaite. Tributes, reviews of his publications, and related articles are invited for possible inclusion in the magazine.