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No. 1836
Once upon a time there was a grumpy old bear who lived by himself in a little apartment in the city. Each day he would go out and do his work, frowning all the while, and at the end of each day he came home just as grumpy as before.
"At least I have a nice quiet home to come to." The Bear would say to himself. "Nobody to bother me HERE!"
Whenever people tried to be his friend, he would ignore them and say "I don't want any friends. All I want is to be left alone!"
So most of the time, people left him alone.
One day as The Bear was going home, he passed a little girl sitting on the stairs. She had two great big bags of groceries beside her.
"Hello Mr. Bear." She said politely.
"Oh, hello little girl." The Bear grumbled as he walked past, frowning.
"I live just down the hall from you, you know." The girl added.
"No I didn't know that, but I'm afraid I can't stop to chat, I've things to do." he said irritably.
"Well, okay Mr. Bear, but since you are going upstairs anyway, would you help me with my grocery bags? They are very heavy."
The Bear turned to look. The bags did look heavy for a young girl after all. "Oh, very well then." He said, as he went back and picked up one of the bags. Together they walked upstairs to the girl's apartment with the bags, and The Bear placed them beside her door.
"There you are." He said. "Goodbye now."
"Oh, thank you Mr. Bear, you're so kind!" The girl exclaimed with a smile.
"Hrmph. If you say so." The Bear mumbled back as he walked down the hallway to his own apartment.
"Oh, by the way Mr. Bear, I wanted to ask you, are you happy?" The little girl called out after him.
The Bear turned to ask her what she meant, but she had already disappeared inside.
"What? Of course I'm happy." The Bear grumbled to himself. "So long as I'm by myself." and he went inside with a frown on his face.
The next day as The Bear was returning home, he passed the little girl sitting on the same step as before.
"Hello again, Mr. Bear. How are you today?" She asked sweetly.
"I'm fine, thank you." He replied. Then he stopped walking and turned back to her. "What did you mean yesterday when you asked if I was happy? Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, I see you coming and going every day, and you always look so grumpy." The girl explained. "I never see anybody come to your house, I wondered if maybe you wanted a friend."
"Of course not!" Said The Bear with a frown on his face. "Why in the world would you think that?"
Now it was the girl's turn to frown. She put her hands on her hips and glared sternly at the bear.
"Why, I think you're grumpy because you don't have any friends, and you don't have any friends because you're grumpy all the time!" She said defiantly. "I was only trying to be nice to you after all."
The Bear was surprised at what the girl said. "I'm sorry." He said sheepishly. "It was mean of me to say that."
The girl was still frowning, and kept her hands on her hips.
"If you still want to be friends, I'd like that very much." He said hopefully.
Now her frown disappeared and she smiled again. "Of course I would."
"The Bear was very much enjoying the little girl's company, and rightfully so, for he had never before had such a special friend.
They would sit around after dark and play board games together, until the bear would finally, reluctantly, tell the little girl that it was her bedtime, and that it was best that she head home.
"Oh, but I don't want to leave, Mr. Bear." The Girl mumbled. "I'm having so much fun!"
"Oh, what to do, what to do..." Thought The Bear. Then a big smile spread across his face. "I know! Let's have a Slumber Party!" He shouted Excitedly.
The girl beamed, "Of Course! What a wonderful idea! What a Wonderful, Happy Idea!" She took Mr. Bear's hand and they danced in circles, laughing at the thought of how much fun they were to have. Round and around they spun, collapsing in a heap on the floor.
Mr. Bear sat up and said thoughtfully, "Before we can sleep, we need to take a bath!"
So up to the washroom they marched, where they got in the tub and took a bath. It was very warm and very comforting. Mr. Bear poured a little bottle in and made it a bubble bath. The girl liked bubbles, and they foamed up so high, they tickled her nose.
They played all kinds of fun games in the tub.
(accompanying pictures)
Scuba Divers!
Pirates!
King and Queen of Tubland!
They made such a mess, but it was good fun.
After they dried themselves off in Mr. Bear's big fluffy towels they scurried into the bedroom and snuggled next to the fire.
The Bear poured some tea, the little girl nestled by his big, warm, furry side.
The little girl hugged him up snugly, and sipped a bit of tea by the fire.
"I feel happy, Little Girl" said Mr. Bear.
"I like you very, very much, Mr. Bear," said the little girl.
The little bear smiled as he looked at his great big clock above the fire. "I like you too, but now it's time to sleep!"
The girl yawned and snuggled deeper into Mr. Bears lap.
Mr. Bear hugged her and whisper in her ear,
"I'll watch over you... I love you."
The girl didn't reply, She was fast asleep.
Mr. Bear smiled as he stroked her head and stared at the fire.
He didn't feel so grumpy anymore.
(may God have mercy on my soul)
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