Where we are – the Bearlingtons were in the midst of preparing for hibernation when Papa’s brother Sam appeared at their door. He had been kicked out of the house last spring after disrupting the previous hibernation and eating all of their food. Sam has recently been kicked out by his girlfriend and is looking for a place to stay.
After being greeted with less-than-open-arms by Mama, Sam is taking a walk while the family discusses his situation.
Papa: Shelly, be reasonable. He doesn’t have any place else to go.
Mama: That’s his own fault. It sounds like he was as much of a loaf at her house as he was here.
Kenny: I like Uncle Sammy! He’s fun.
Carl: Yeah! He let’s us eat whatever we want and run around the cave.
Kenny: And he give great rides.
Mama: And you boys are totally wild when he’s here.
Carl: Mama! We’re bears. We’re supposed to be wild.
Mama: We live in the suburbs. You need to behave like civilized bears.
Penelope: He’s really funny. Remember those impressions he did of the humans he met at the beach? (mimicking) “Alice, is that a bear? That can’t be a bear! Bears don’t go to the beach.”
Papa (laughing): I’d forgotten about that. He is the only bear I know who goes to the beach when the humans are around.
Penelope: He must be really brave.
Mama: Or not very bright. Humans carry diseases. He should stay away from them.
Just then, Sam reappeared. He was carrying a basket of salmon and and another one fully of blueberries. He handed them to Mama.
Sam: Here, Shelly. I wanted to make up for some of the food I ate last year that you had been saving.
Mama: Thank you, Sam. That’s very sweet. Where will you go if you can’t stay here?
Sam: I was thinking about that. I think that there may be an empty spot further up the coast. I remember hearing some deer talking about a shelter near Kapoka.
Papa: That’s a long ways off. Do you know anyone up there?
Sam: Not really. But it should be fairly sheltered and safe.
Penelope: Will you come back in the spring, Uncle Sam?
Sam: I don’t know. There really isn’t anything for me around here. Maybe it’s time for me to make a fresh start.
Penelope: You can’t go that far without knowing for sure you’ll find shelter.
Kenny: What if the place is full of mean bears?
Sam: Don’t worry about me. I’m a tough old bear. I’ve been in tight spots before.
Mama: Sam, are you sure there’s a spot for you up there?
Sam: Well, a friend of a friend said that they usually have openings in the late summer.
Mama: It’s not late summer anymore. You don’t really have a place, do you?
Sam: Not really. But I know I was a problem last year. I was just hoping that you might forgive me.
Kenny and Carl: Please, Mom? Can he stay here?
Mama: I don’t want to be heartless. Do you promise not to raid the pantry every time you get bored?
Sam: Cross my heart.
Mama: And you have to start picking up after yourself. You can’t just go out for a long walk in the spring when it’s time to do the big clean-up.
Sam: I promise.
Mama: And when it’s time for the boys to hibernate, you have to back me up and tell them to go to bed.
Sam: I promise.
Mama: Then you can stay.
There was much cheering and dancing around. When everything finally settled down, they sat down for a big meal of salmon and blueberries.
Pictures courtesy of Google Images.
What a lovely family, Sam has a place for winter. Here bears are getting ready for hibernating eating a lot, berries, fish, everything edable. Google Sulo Karjalainen a bear man and you will find a great story of a man taking care of bears.
Thanks! I will do that
Boy, it was looking off there for Sam. I hope he learned his lesson.
Katie Isabella
I wouldn’t bet on it. It’s his nature to be a little irresponsible.
I just love this!!! “but mama, we’re bears- we’re supposed to be wild!” LOL!
Didn’t really work for them. 🙂
Mol!!😸 it doesn’t work for the little critters either!!
Pawtastick mewss!!! HURRAH Sam can stay! Whew wee were wurried fore sam!
Wee love a happy ending!!!
***purrss*** BellaDharma an ❤ BellaSita
Hopefully, he’ll be a better house guest this time
Pawss crossed on that!! 😉
The line “We’re bears. We’re supposed to be wild,” reminded me of a great quote by a former Governor of Alaska (I forgot his name): “You can’t just let nature run wild.”
Sounds like a politician.
🙂
I wish i could get Frodo to promise not to raid the pantry every time he gets bored!!
A cat’s gotta do what a cat’s gotta do. Purrs, Snoops and Kommando Kitty
I am so glad that Sam can hibernate with the family. XO
He would have been pretty lonely by himself. Hopefully, the food will hold out. 🙂
wavez two ewe Snoops and Kommando !!!! hope thiz message findz ewe both doin sooooper grate; N pleez ta watch out for that bear….THEY STEEL SALMON !!! 😉 ♥♥
We are well, thank you. We knew there was something we didn’t like about bears
So cute.😊
Thank you!
MOL! We loved the story. We have had bears at our house when they woke up in the spring, I wonder if they have the same conversations with their bear families before hibernation.
Purrs & Head Bonks,
Alberto
They definitely should if they have a food hog amongst them