Messages from Winnie-the-Pooh 

　Today,/I’d like to introduce/one of my favorite books,/Winnie-the-Pooh.// I have read this book/many times/since I was a child.//
　The book was written by A. A. Milne,/a British author,/in 1926.// It is about Winnie-the-Pooh/and his friends.// Pooh spends his days in a forest/with Christopher Robin,/Piglet,/Eeyore,/and some other animals.// Every character is unique.//
　How did the author create these characters?// Milne had a son,/Christopher Robin.// Christopher Robin played/with many stuffed animals.// He and the stuffed animals/became models for the characters/in the book.// The book has been popular/around the world/for about 100 years.//

　Recently/I read Winnie-the-Pooh again.// Then/I found some new messages/in the book.//
　Here is one example.// Pooh and Piglet find footsteps/in the snow/and follow them around a tree.// They wonder,/“Whose footsteps are these?”// They have been walking around the tree.// After a while,/they realize/that the footsteps are their own.// Pooh gets disappointed with himself/and says to Christopher nearby,/“I have been foolish,/and I am a bear/of no brain at all.”// Christopher responds,/“You’re the best bear/in all the world.”//
　Christopher probably means,/“Don’t worry.// I like you/as you are.”// The characters in this book/all respect each other/and accept others/as they are.//

　I also read/The House at Pooh Corner.// The book has heartwarming messages,/too.//
　The last episode is especially moving.// Christopher tells Pooh/that he cannot see Pooh for a while/because he has to start school.// Christopher says,/“Pooh,/promise you won’t forget about me,/ever.// Not even when I’m a hundred.”// Pooh asks,/“How old will I be then?”// Christopher answers,/“Ninety-nine.”// Then/Pooh says,/“I promise.”// This interaction shows/that real friendships last/for a long time.//
　I had not noticed these messages/until I read the books again.// Both of the books/have meaningful messages for us,/high school students.//