After the long and terrible war that destroyed their land, five children--Isabella, Christopher, Katrina, Megan, and the youngest, Samantha--went to meet their brother Alexander.

Each of his siblings had given him something before he left, something to keep him from harm and bring him safely back to them. A watch, a scarf, a book, a coat, and, from Samantha, her favorite teddy bear. Alexander came to them and gave Christopher his coat, Megan her watch, Isabella her book, and Katrina her watch. When he got to Samantha, he reached into his sack and found it empty.

“I’m sorry, Samantha, but I can’t find your bear,” he said in barely a whisper. Tears sprung to the little girl’s eyes, and she turned to walk away.

“Wait,” Alexander whispered as he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “I can give you something more precious than your bear.”

“What?” she demanded through her tears.

“Father died just before you were born, and mother died right after you were born.”

“So?”

“I remember them and I can give you my memories of them.”

Her face lightened, and she smiled. “But why wouldn’t you keep those memories for yourself?”

“Because you never had them, and I made such an awful mistake losing your bear.” He took her tiny hand and held it in his. Suddenly she remembered her mother and her father--all the happy times she would have had if they had only lived longer.

“Do you still remember?” she asked.

“No, but you do, and that’s all that matters.” Alexander sighed.

Samantha knew Alexander made many mistakes--he wasn’t always very nice to her or any of her siblings--but right then, she knew one thing for sure: she loved him with all her heart.