Bear Story Part 2

1/2/12

“You can talk?” The bear said.

“Of course I can talk, how else do I communicate with the other trees in the grove?” Ursula replied. “The real question is, how come you and I can understand each other?”

“Oh that’s easy to explain. What’s your name?” The bear said.

“Ursula.” She replied.

“Pleasure to meet you Ursula, my name is Boris. You see, I am not like most bears. Black bears native to this area speak a different language that is not intelligible to trees. I am different. I come from another world, much like earth, only bears are able to communicate with all other species. We are exceptionally good at foreign languages.” Boris explained.

“So how did you get here, and why are you here?” Ursula asked.

“Well, many reasons. For one, bears love travel. We have scientists that scout out locations that are similar to our home planet, so that we can acclimate easily and explore. Second of all, I love apples. On our home planet, the apple tree is extinct. Imagine my sadness, because I love apples more than anything else in the universe.”

Ursula replied, “Well as you can see, there are plenty of apple groves up here. We are used to bears walking through the groves and eating apples, so please have as many as you want.”

Boris was warmed with joy, and he walked a little closer to Ursula. Ursula got a little nervous, thinking about her father’s warning, that bears loved to sharpen their claws on the trees. She clinched her trunk tight, and her sap flowed faster as Boris approached. Much to her surprise, Boris brushed the soft fur from his back against the tree, as he cozied up to Ursula and lied down.

“Your apples are the best I’ve ever eaten, and I really do like your comfort. I am so happy that you and I can be friends.” Boris said.

The sun got low in the horizon again. But this time Boris slept next to the foot of Ursula. Boris kept Ursula warm the entire night in the grove. Ursula was already starting to have feelings for this bear. It made her so happy that her apples were the tasty treat that Boris had been looking for. She searched her limbs for a few more perfect apples, and dropped them to the ground as a surprise for Boris when he awoke in the morning.

The sun came up, and while Ursula was still dreaming away, Boris awoke to find a dozen gala apples around him. Pleasantly surprised, he started eating away, until he heard the pickers coming from over the hill. He left immediately, because he did not want to cause the pickers to get aggressive towards him.

The pickers walked up to Ursula. “How about that? It looks like this tree is ready to be picked.” One of the pickers said, pointing to the few perfect, leftover apples on the orchard floor.

The picker placed his ladder against Ursula and started picking away. Usually, this would feel good to a young tree. But Ursula was upset and horrified. She had already begun to like this little alien bear, and now she would have nothing left to give him. The pickers took all but the last few apples from the top of the tree that were too difficult to reach. Two in the afternoon came, and the pickers packed up their bushels and went home for the day. Ursula wept, because she knew it was only a matter of time before Boris came back to enjoy more of the fruits of her labor.

It wasn’t long before Boris came over the hill and through the orchard. He could hear her crying.

“What’s the matter?” Boris asked.

“Well, the pickers came today and took all my fruit. I have nothing left to give you. I’ve so enjoyed your company these last few days, and now you’ll never come back to talk to me.” Ursula cried.

“Oh Ursula, I’ve enjoyed your company too. And of course I will be back to stay with you. I will eat the other apples on the ground, and I’ll come back to keep you company until the fall comes to an end.” Boris replied.

And Boris did keep his promise. Every day, after the pickers went home, Boris came and talked to Ursula. He nuzzled up to her trunk and slept every night with her. And in the morning, Boris retreated to his cave so as not to cause a disturbance. The thing about having Boris there, it made it so the base of Ursula’s tree stayed warm, which kept the sap in her tree flowing, and kept her invigorated all fall long.

But then November came, and it was becoming apparent that it would be too cold for Boris to stay much longer.

“Boris, do bears from your planet hibernate for the winter?” asked Ursula.

“No, we don’t really,” Boris replied, “Bears are pretty short-lived, and we need all the time we can get to make scientific advancements in space travel. So, in the winter when it becomes too cold, we usually find a new, warmer location to live.”

“Is that what you’re going to do Boris?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it, and it looks like I have to. The winters in Michigan will be too harsh for me. I was thinking of going somewhere like New Zealand.”

Ursula, saddened by the news replied, “Oh, I understand. I will miss you terribly though.”

“Well, I’ll miss you too. You have kept me the best company of anyone I know, and your apples are delicious. I will be back in the springtime, I promise.” Boris said.

And Boris cozied up one last time to Ursula, and the last semi-frozen apple fell down from her tree next to his feet.

The next morning, as usual, Boris woke up early to leave. Ursula was still asleep. He gave her trunk one last nudge, and he whispered to her, “I’ll see you in the spring.” And he left, to return to his rocket ship to travel to New Zealand.

1,027 words complete for 1/2/12