Edward and Bear
Written and Illustrated
By
Sonya Chan
Preface
One evening while I was out on my usual walk, I was scared by a big dog. Perhaps he meant no harm to me when he barked, stood up and walked closer. I had no idea how to react but to stand there for the longest few seconds ever in my life. Then realizing he was chained and could not approach me any closer, I ran home as fast as I could.
The next evening, I invited my neighbor, Mr. Edward Collins, to walk with me. I told him what happened the night before. He laughed. Then he told me he had met a big dog when he was a young boy. While other children were afraid of the dog’s ugliness, Edward was the only one who played with the dog. They became friends for a long time before the dog disappeared.
It was such a touching childhood memory Mr. Collins shared with me, that I was inspired to turn it into a story book. The next day a story was created like a film playing vividly in my head. I sat down in front of the computer and within two hours my first draft was completed.
I am not the greatest writer ever, and I have had no formal training in writing. Not to mention that English is not my native language. But I wrote this story from my heart. I hope to deliver messages through my stories to all generations about qualities of life and human behaviors that we are too busy and too self-involved to remember, to practice and to appreciate.
Acknowledgement
Mr. Edward Collins, I would not have been inspired to write this book without your sharing of this part of wonderful childhood memory.
Thank you, Mr. Matthew Millard, my cousins Anne and Bard, for providing constructive suggestions to enhance the story.
Thank you, Mrs. Carol Heath, for spending hours with me in editing my story so it can reach its perfection.
And Mr. Abhay Jain, without your support and always believes in me, I would have still be doubtful and let my talents be buried.
Chapter One