The Adventures of Bear

Bear is a one year old Alaskan Malamute puppy who is constantly

looking for adventure. He was born in Vermont near a farm. A family with

two children from Montpelier, Vermont discovered he was for sale on their

way home from vacation. The moment they looked at him they just had to have

him. So they took him home and got him used to his surroundings. He loved to

play and run around outside. His family loved him dearly, and after one week

they decided on the name Bear. Life had been good from the time Bear was

born to the day he had his first Thanksgiving. One day though, Bear was

taken outside in the cold, winter snow to play.

The children had to go to school, so they told Bear not to wander too far

away from home. Being only a puppy though, Bear got distracted very easily.

The children’s parents were gone at work and Bear saw a movement out in

the forest. He ran through the snow as fast as he could, but eventually he was

too far out into the forest to know where he had come from. Bear was lost.

It had been two hours since Bear had discovered he was lost. He was

walking around in the forest thinking about what he should do. Soon he saw a

deer walk out of her house. Bear barked, and the deer stopped. Slowly Bear

came up to the deer. He said, “I have been wandering in the woods for quite

some time. I’m tired and cold with no place to go. Please let me stay in your

warm house.” The deer said that her name was Whisper and she took Bear

home. Whisper’s mother fed Bear and let him take a nap by the fire. It was

nearing night time when Bear woke up, so he thanked the family of deer for

being so kind to him and went on his journey.

As Bear walked further through the woods a tricky fox came up to him.

He told Bear that if he followed him he would have a home for the night, but

Bear was smart enough to know not to follow him. He realized that Sly was

tricking him into going home with him. Whatever it was that Sly wanted to do

with Bear, Bear did not want to stick around to find out. It was getting dark

and cold outside. Bear was tired and wet. He was hoping to meet another

animal that would be kinder to him than Sly. Eventually it got to cold outside to

go on any further.

Bear walked back to Sly’s house and knocked on the door. Sly

answered with a grin, “I had a feeling you would come back.” “I’ve come back

to ask for a place to stay the night, and I hope that you will have some heart to

let me. I’m tired and cold with no place to go. Please let me stay.” Somehow

that night Sly was nice. He allowed Bear to stay and let him sleep by the

warm fire. The next morning Bear had something to eat, thanked Sly for

letting him stay, and went on his way.

As Bear walked through the forest he stopped by a hollow tree out of

breath. He began to cry and started wondering if he would ever find his way

home. Suddenly he heard a noise. It sounded like somebody was clawing the

wood from inside the tree. Bear turned around and looked at the tree. He

walked around it and peered up and down. He couldn't figure out where the

noise had come from. He thought that nobody could possibly live inside a tree.

Then he saw a door handle on the tree. Bear slowly opened the door, only to

find a hedgehog hiding behind the couch afraid.

Bear walked inside and said, “I’m sorry if I scared you. I didn’t know

that it was possible for someone to live inside a tree. I am tired and cold with

no place to go, and I was hoping you would let me stay for a little while.” “Oh I

thought you were a bear, and this isn’t just any tree, it’s a hollow tree. My

mother, father, brothers and sisters live in this tree. What’s your name?” “My

name is Bear. I am not a bear though; my family just calls me that. I think it is

because I always seem to pounce on things, or sneak up on people. What is

your name?” “My name is Grover. I am a hedgehog. Let me go get my

mother. I am sure she wouldn't mind if you stayed with us for a few days.

After Grover asked his mother, she came out and met Bear. Grover’s

mother explained to Bear that he was welcome to stay with them for as long as

he needed. He thanked her and Grover and Bear went outside to play.

What was supposed to be a couple hours of romping and playing in the

brook, suddenly turned into an all day thing. Grover and Bear became best

friends in a short amount of time. They had the best time of their life. The first

day Bear stayed at Grover’s house they were playing outside almost all day.

Bear even taught Grover how to skate on the lake. That night Bear had

expected to leave and thank Grover’s family for their kindness, but something

held him back. He did not want to leave. Grover was hoping that Bear would

be able to stay one more day. So, Bear got into their puppy bed and went to

sleep by the warm fire.

The next day Bear and Grover skated on the frozen lake and played.

They also had a delicious breakfast and lunch. After they ate lunch Grover

asked Bear if he needed help finding his way home. Bear said, “No thanks I

think I am close enough to home to find it.” Bear was unsure if he was close to

home or if he wasn’t, but he did not want to worry Grover about that problem.

Soon it was dark outside and Bear knew that he had to say his goodbyes to

Grover and his family, and continue on his journey home. Grover was upset

to see him leave, but Bear promised he would come back and visit one day.

As Bear continued trying to find his way home he heard a noise. It

sounded like a screech but he wasn’t sure. Suddenly an owl came flying down

and landed right beside Bear. Bear barked thinking that this animal was

trying to capture him. The owl stopped Bear and spoke to him saying, “Don’t

worry I wasn’t trying to scare you. I have seen you running around these

woods and want to help you. My name is Screech. If you are trying to find

your family you better do it fast. They are worried sick about you.” “I have

tried to find my way out of the forest but I can’t. I have been trying to find my

way home for many days but I can’t. I have been trying everything possible to

get out of this forest but I just can’t”, said Bear. “I can help you get out of this

forest if you promise not to stop for anything”, said Screech. Bear could tell

that Screech was a wise old owl who had been around these woods for a long

time. “Okay, I’ll follow exactly what you say and won’t stop for anything.”

“Follow the path with the acorn trees only. DO NOT STOP FOR

ANYTHING OR ANYBODY. Be careful and get home fast. These parts

of the forest can get dangerous. Stick to the path and you’ll be fine.” “Thank

you”, said Bear. “I will do exactly what you said.” Bear was sure that he

would find his way home now. Screech was very wise, and Bear knew that he

knew what he was talking about. As Bear looked up at the trees making sure

that he was following the acorn trees only, he thought to himself about all the

friends he had made. Bear had had a good time in the forest, but he was

looking forward to seeing his family again.

After many hours of walking, Bear saw an opening through the trees.

He started sprinting out of the forest. Bear saw his house in the distance. He

breathed a sigh of relief, in knowing that he had found his way home. There

was snow on the ground, and it was icy and cold outside. He ran inside and

barked. Bear’s family came running downstairs happy and joyful. They were

clueless as to how Bear got home, but he was home, and that was all that

mattered. Everyone sat around the fire with Bear. They had their puppy home

with them, and tomorrow they would get to share their first Christmas with him.

That week out in the woods Bear learned that he could solve any problem if he

persevered through it. This adventure had helped him meet new friends and

taught him a very important lesson.