Illustrations by

Jowita Płoszajska

Typesetting by

Barbara Wieczorek

© by Siedmioróg, 2007

© for this edition by Tom eMusic

© for the text by Stephen Potocki

© for the illustrations by Jowita Płoszajska

The rights to publication of this book in the Braille system were given at no cost to the Society for the Care of the Blind in Laski

ISBN 978-1-62321-000-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.

Tom eMusic

www.tomemusic.com

New York 2012

PREFACE

HOME IS THE PLACE WHERE WE FEEL THE BEST, BUT GRUMBLE THE MOST.

Unknown author

MAN IN HIS MOVEMENT ALTERS THE FORMS WHICH SURROUND HIM.

Jorge Luis Borges

Before you set foot into Miodal’s world, let me tell you a few words about the story behind the story. My father as a child had a teddy bear called Miodal (Mee-oh-daal) who disappeared alas without a trace long before the last World War. Many, many years later I received a teddy bear for Christmas as a child in Canada; I called him Miodal as well and was very fond of him! It hence seems fitting that the protagonist of my book has the same name and most importantly inherits my family’s liking for discovery.

One cannot overstate the benefits derived from travelling. This, I have come to believe time and time again. I nevertheless always feel alarmed as I witness yet another wave of emigration of Poles, who decide to remain far from their homes, either lured by the appeal of foreign countries or as victims of personal circumstances. Whatever the reason may be, I secretly hope that they may someday return home, empowered with experience.

The grass may seem greener on the other side, yet much depends on the point of observation. Without a change of perspective, one cannot embrace the whole picture and become a player in the development of a better world. Just as Greek mythological heroes were challenged to follow the divine Milky Way, teddy bears also are ascribed to their own.

Let me now express my thanks to Tomek Michałowski for his unwavering belief and support without which this project would have remained but an unfulfilled dream. Continual involvement and unconditional help always came from many friends, but I am especially grateful to both Kasia and Kasia. And of course, I dedicate this book to my parents who taught me that giving up is but a short term solution to a long term problem.

CHAPTER I

Łazienki Park, Warsaw

Miodal opened his eyes. Yet, the January morning was still fast asleep. But what was he to do if his dreams had already deserted him? So, he sleepily rolled out of bed and sat listlessly at its edge rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Miodal felt a strong urge to bury himself back under his feather quilt. But suddenly, out of nowhere, a thought gentle as a falling snow flake floated down and whispered into his furry ear:

Hey, hey, today’s your free day! The earlier out of bed, the more fun in your head!

Miodal had already begun to wonder whether or not to roll back into his bed under the warm comforter. But the nagging thought was stubborn and didn’t give him peace:

Don’t be foolish, Miodal. Don’t waste your time!

Okay, you are right. Here, see, I’m already up! Miodal replied to his thought.

Miodal swiftly slipped out of his pajamas and into his green overalls and headed for the kitchen for a quick morning bite. He poured himself a tall glass of orange juice and coated a hearty helping of yogurt with nuts and golden honey.

A peek through the window told him just about enough: Wrap a scarf around your neck and cover your head! Now that Miodal was ready, with a stomach happily full and was properly donned, off he was, marching into Łazienki Park in search of fun!

During the night a heavy new snowfall had shrouded the ground, making Miodal’s progression slow and difficult. To make things worse, an unwelcoming blistering cold wind picked up, sending stinging needles of white powder blown off the frosted trees into Miodal’s cheeks. Miodal stopped and turned away to shield his face from the wind and he wondered whether he should backtrack to the safe comfort of his home; for in such surly weather no fun was to be had. But the wind died down and was no more. Once again, Miodal was alone, wrapped in silence.

Somewhere beyond the tree line, a bird let out a call. Miodal wasn’t alone after all! He sprinted towards it as fast as he could, but came to a sliding halt at the edge of a pond. Miodal just stood there, blinking, searching with his gaze. Seeing nothing but the heavy ceiling of clouds above him, he walked along the shore until he came upon a bench where he sat down; he buried his head in his shaggy paws and wondered what to do next.

As he burrowed in his mind, a swan white as an angel appeared from under the shelter of a bough.

“Good morning to you!” greeted the swan.

“Oh, good morning…” Miodal replied shaken out of his solitude.

“What good fortune brings you this early to The Royal Park?”

“This is my free day and I was out looking for fun.”

“Well, well! And what have you found so far?”

“Not much,” Miodal blurted out and shrugged.

The swan whose curiosity was not quenched, marshaled on.

“Alright, let’s use another approach! First things first: What do you like to do?”

Miodal wasn’t ready for answering questions this early in the morning. So instead, he replied in a roundabout way:

“I can tell you what I don’t like. I don’t like long cloudy grey days. I hate to sit and study. And what good will it bring me anyway? The best would be to escape just like you wherever and whenever it pleases me. I hunger for all the free time in the world. But what can I do to change that?”

“You ask many questions,” replied the swan. “But before you entertain any changes to your life, you must first take a good look at yourself. You are your own starting point to changes.”

“Look at myself, you say?”

So, Miodal got up and bent over to see his reflection in the water. There he saw himself looking back and shrugged. But a little something caught his eye. In the water beneath the glassy surface, a shiny object shimmered on the bottom, as if trying to catch his attention. Without a moment of hesitation, Miodal plunged his paw into the water!

“Look what I’ve found!” he yelled with glee.

In his paw he held out an old golden pocket watch on a fob. He wound it, but to no avail for the needles kept on swinging aimlessly. Miodal therefore gathered that it must be broken.

“Will you ever tell me the time, little watch?” Miodal chaffed, whereupon the needles started slowly rotating and stopped as suddenly as they had started, positioning themselves on the exact time of the morning.

Miodal rubbed his eyes in disbelief. But before he could add anything, the swan said:

“You must learn to befriend time. Use it wisely and you shall achieve a great many things. Waste it and you shall grieve forever. It is not for you to wait for time, nor is it for you to chase it. Think about what you really want. This will mark the beginning of your journey…!”

Miodal wasn’t one to brood long over anything. Seeing the grey stillness surrounding him, he wished for colors and a warm breeze to run freely through his fur.

ŁAZIENKI PARK

The Łazienki Park is called The Royal Park because it was commissioned over two hundred years ago by the last king of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski. While this king gave much attention to Polish culture, he failed to unite his countrymen who first served their own interests before the welfare of the country. Poland became unable to defend itself against neighboring hostile powers. As a result Poland disappeared from the European map for 123 years.

CHAPTER II

Kinderdyjk, Holland

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER III

Paris, France

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER IV

Buckingham Palace, London, Great Britain

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER V

Big Ben, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London, Great Britain

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER VI

Eilean Donan Castle, SCOTTISH West Highlands, Great Britain

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER VII

Fiesta de San Fermín, Pamplona, Spain

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER VIII

The Leaning Tower, Pisa, Italy

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER IX

Venice, Italy

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER X

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER XI

Greece

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!

CHAPTER XII

Łazienki Park, Warsaw

BUY THE BOOK IN FULL VERSION!