A Bear Named Cubby

Dad looked over at the end of the couch and saw his son’s head nodding. He smiled, as every dad would, as he looked upon his young son holding his bear and dressed in his pajamas. His son seemed to be trying his best to sit up straight, to get the most out of this day, extend it for all it was worth. But sleep was taking over. The proud dad reached over and gently tapped his son’s leg. His son sprang up straight again, as if to say, “I was never asleep.”

“Son, I think it is that time.”

His son continued to look outward, not toward his dad, as if he could not hear him—too tuned inward to understand.

“Son, it is that time for sure.”

Dad rose from the couch and moved toward his son, who had now turned to look at his dad. His look was of defeat, but not completely. He knew he was ready for a good night's sleep, and he knew that if he was good, he would get a story for bed. Dad always told great stories.

All I have to do is brush my teeth and say my prayers, and he will do it, the son thought.

“Yes, sir,” the boy said, careful not to speak too excitedly. He did not want to let his dad know he was indeed tired and looking forward to bed.

As Dad reached down, the boy grabbed his bear tighter and raised one arm as if to help his dad with the effort of picking him up off the couch.

“Ahhh huh,” Dad exclaimed, “I think you are getting bigger by the day, boy.” He raised him to his chest. His son's head lay next to his, legs wrapping, although lazily, around his body. “Pretty soon, son, I believe you will have to carry me to bed.”

“No way,” his son started, “you are way too big.”

“Well, you're growing, and soon you will be as big as I am.”

“That big?”

“Of course. You are eating right and taking care of yourself, and I cannot wait for you to carry me down this hall.” Dad turned with a small smile on his face.

They were soon at the bathroom door, and Dad let his son down, reminded him to brush ALL his teeth and clean the sink as a good boy should. “And I will meet you in your room.”

Dad had started going to the room first in a nighttime ritual that began a few months earlier. His new task was to ensure the room was “ready” for his son. No monsters, witches, or interesting Star Wars people hiding anywhere. Dad always made a good sweep. To date, none had bothered his son while he slept. Both were thankful for this effort, as it also meant Dad and Mom got a whole night's sleep. No disturbance from their son entering their room late in the night for a security check due to a bump in the night was a welcome change.

Dad pulled the covers down and fluffed the pillows. A slight smile came across his face when he noticed a single sock in the bed. Apparently, it had been missed in making the bed, part of his son’s morning chores. His son had always fought with his socks when he slept, always managing to rip one-off as he dreamed, ever since he was an infant. Dad grabbed the sock and tossed it toward the hamper.

Just then, his son rushed in, and in the usual fashion, jumped in bed and right into his ready-to-sleep position. He grabbed his bear and pulled it tight against his body. He looked as though he were a soldier at attention in his bed. Dad smiled and pulled the covers up to tuck in his son and paid extra attention to ensure the bear was covered tightly as well. This was a learned process, and Dad was sure to cover all steps to ensure the nighttime ritual went as well as possible. It was his duty, and he enjoyed every moment of it.

Dad smiled down at his son, who smiled right back. Dad leaned in. The smell of freshly brushed teeth filled his nose. A tiny bit of toothpaste at the corner of his son's mouth caught his eye. In typical dad fashion, the thumb came up and rubbed the toothpaste clean, which, of course, met his son’s usual response.

“Daaaadd!”

“Well, there is a mirror in that room, you know.”

“Huummph.”

“I love you, my little man,” Dad said as he kissed his son on his forehead.

His son puckered his lips and awaited his dad’s cheek, which was quick to touch, just as it did each night. Once the cheek had been kissed, he said, “I love you too, Dad.” There was a pause, then: “And I love Mom too,” his son stated heartily.

“And she loves you.”

Dad stood. “Have sweet dreams. Tomorrow is a new day, and we will be ready for it. Sleep well, my boy.”

Dad turned to walk toward the light switch by the door. When he reached the switch, he heard his son speak up.

“Daadd? Cubby wants our story.”

“Oh, Cubby wants a story?” Dad turned to look at his son.

“Dad, please?”

Again, the moment took hold of Dad, and he started back toward his son’s bed. He could feel the moment grab him. A little hard to swallow. A bit more warmth building in his already full heart. These were the moments that are remembered: a dad and his son, a story, a full heart, and great memories made. He approached the bed, where his son was looking up in anticipation for the story. “Cubby wants a story? Hmmm.” He made a spot on the edge of the bed, facing slightly away toward the dresser.

“What about Pinocchio?” his son suggested. “The Warrior?”

“Hmm, let me see.”

“The giant one...yeah, Peter and the Giant!” his son decided.

“Do you know why your bear is called Cubby?” Dad raised an eyebrow and looked toward his son. He got a blank look back. He could see his son, even as young as he was, trying to figure the answer. His son was a curious one.

“All little bears are named cubs?” the son stated with a question in his voice.

“Yes, they are, my smart little man. But do you know why?”

Again, he could see his son thinking. “In the beginning, little bears had names.” His son’s eyes grew together to concentrate on the words. “They had names like you and I…names like Tommy, Billy, and George.” His son’s face relaxed, letting the words sink in.

“Once upon a time, long, long ago in the winter months, there lived a mother bear named Sally.” His son looked closer at his dad’s lips, trying to understand. “Sally had a baby with a strange name. His name was Cubby.”

“Daddy?” his son protested.

“Listen to the story.” Dad put a single finger over his son’s lips. “Now, this name might not seem strange to you because all baby bears are called cubs.” Dad lifted his finger and pointed at his son. “But in those days, bears were named like you and me. Sally was a loving mom and took pride in dressing and caring for little Cubby each day. Cubby was such a cute bear, with blue eyes and soft brown fur.” Dad moved his finger to the top of the bear his son was holding. “He was small and chubby,” he continued, pulling his hand away.

“When spring arrived, all the bears went to the meadow. The bears referred to the meadow as Healthland because it was filled with berries. There was a little spring that ran through it for freshwater. There was plenty of room for baby bears like Cubby to chase butterflies. The sky was so blue, the trees tall and dark green, and the grass yellowish-green and long—so long it would wave in the breeze. But most of all, Healthland was quiet and safe and the parents’ favorite, for no hunters hunted in Healthland.

“This was Cubby’s first visit to Healthland, and he met many other new baby bears. But when Cubby told them his name, they laughed. All laughed. Cubby brushed it off, as playing was more important and there were many berries to eat.

“Later that day, when Cubby and Mom returned home, Cubby asked his mother why he couldn’t be named Tommy or David. These were the names of the other baby bears that had laughed at him.

“Mother looked at Cubby and said, ‘Because someday your name will be famous.’ And then she smiled.

“Cubby looked puzzled but accepted his mother’s answer and continued his day. It wasn’t long before bedtime came. Sally tucked her baby bear in bed and wished Cubby sweet dreams. But Cubby could not sleep. He thought of what his mother had said. He thought about the stories he heard from the older bears at Healthland about the hunters. These were the tall creatures that hid in the woods and stole bears from their families. And they carried boomsticks. Scary!

“When Cubby heard the bears talk about the hunters, he could feel the fear. Bears were large and strong. Bears were protectors of the natural lands. Bears never wanted to hurt others. They loved berries and butterflies. But when the word “hunter” was spoken, all bears whispered and looked around with caution. Some even shivered. Cubby thought of stories he heard from years gone by when several bears went missing and never returned. It was believed that the hunters took them. When he heard the stories, he thought of them as fairy tales. But now, Cubby felt a chill. They were not fairy tales; they must be accurate.

That’s it, Cubby thought. I could catch these hunters and help the other families. Hunters would never take bears again. Then I would be famous like Mother said, and no one would make fun of my name. Cubby drifted off to sleep, thinking of himself catching a hunter.

Dad continued his story:

The following day Cubby woke—cheerful and ready. He began to get dressed and make his bed. As he did, he thought of his dream. Whoa! he said to himself. I cannot catch a hunter. I am just a young bear. That would be way too dangerous. The older bears don’t even try to catch them. Not me, he thought. I will have to find another way.

“Come on, Cubby,” he heard his mother through the den, “time to go to Healthland.”

Cubby was excited. Scary thoughts left his mind, and thoughts of butterflies, games, and berries, oh the berries, filled his head.

When they arrived at Healthland, Cubby saw a group of other small bears playing. He saw his new friend Tommy with them. And then he saw they were near the berries. Cubby waited for his mother to permit him. That came shortly after she met with the other mother bears near the spring.

Cubby ran over to the group. “Tommy!” he shouted.

Tommy looked up. Chewing berries, he tried to smile to acknowledge Cubby.

“So, what are we playing today?”

Tommy grabbed another handful of berries. “How about...who can eat the most berries?”

Cubby grabbed a handful and thought, Hmmm.

The two spent a few minutes enjoying the fresh berries, then started toward a group of boys playing tag. Some of the boys saw them coming, noticed Cubby, and chuckled. Cubby knew it was due to his name and for sure not the berries. All the little bears loved the berries. Cubby didn’t let it bother him as he still had the taste of berries dancing on his taste buds.

“ATTENTION! ATTENTION!” A large elderly bear stood in the near middle of Healthland. Cubby and Tommy knew this was the leader of the bear community. But they were puzzled. Healthland quickly quieted. All the bears stopped what they were doing. All attention was on the great old leader.

“I have some bad news, friends, and family.” The great bear spoke in a deep voice. “Hunters have been noticed in the area,” he continued. “Right now, there is just a scent of them, but we must use caution.” His look was very serious. He seemed to look each bear in the eye. “Stay in Healthland, and please, use caution.”

The mother bears were quick to gather the children toward the center, trying not to worry the little bears but ensuring they were not on the edge where the berries were. A short time passed, and the mother bears eased further out. Their noses often lifted to the sky, smelling and then smelling again.

“Hey, I know what we can do today,” Tommy said to the group of boys. “We can catch the hunters. That way, we can have all the berries we want.”

“Yeah,” said one small bear.

“I’m in!” said another.

“No way!” said Cubby. “They are the hunters. Not a good idea.”

“Whatever,” said one of the boys.

“Guys, the hunters are dangerous,” Cubby pleaded. “Like, grown-up bears do not even come back.”

“There are a lot of us,” the same boy continued.

“We could trap the hunters,” said another.

“What are we gonna do, Cubby, stand in the middle and chase butterflies all day?” questioned Tommy. “I want some more berries, and I know you want more, Cubby.”

“But it is dangerous. We could be taken,” Cubby again pleaded.

“Wow,” Tommy said. “I guess that is why your mom named you Cubby. If you were a real bear, you would have a normal name, a strong bear name, and you would want the berries, and that means we must trap the hunters.”

The other boy bears started planning and discussing how they could trap these strange creatures.

Cubby noticed another small bear outside the group. Donna was her name. She made her way to Cubby. She had a few berries in her pockets and offered Cubby some. Cubby was thankful and tasted the berries. He still watched the others. It wasn’t long before the threat seemed to go away. The mother bears went back to the stream, and the other bears were back to the edges. Donna and Cubby chased the butterflies and, of course, found the berries. The boys were still planning as they had a mission. Cubby overheard some making plans to sneak out in the dark to catch the hunter. Darkness would be a cover, so the hunter could not see them.

The day was ending. “It was nice playing with you, Cubby,” Donna said as she started toward her mom.

“You’re fun, Donna,” Cubby said shyly. “Thank you for sharing, and thank you for playing with me.”

“I think you’re right, Cubby,” she said. “That's why I was playing with you. It is far too dangerous to catch a hunter and to leave Healthland.”

Cubby’s eyes widened as he looked at Donna.

“My mom says smarter is better than stronger,” she explained. “I think you should stop them.”

“Stop them?” Cubby questioned.

“Yes, they could really get hurt leaving Healthland.”

“How can I?”

“You’re smart.” She giggled.

“Donna,” her mother called.

Donna turned and nodded to her mom. “I gotta go.” She looked back at Cubby. “See you tomorrow?”

“Sure!”

As Cubby and his mother were walking home, Cubby started worrying. Some of the boys were planning to catch the hunter that night. They think the hunter would be gone the next day. What if they are not there tomorrow? Cubby thought. What if? Cubby continued to worry.

“Cubby!” He heard his mom’s shout coming down the hall of their den. “It is bedtime.”

Cubby was already in his PJs and tired from thinking all evening of what the boys might do. He did not want to tell his mother. That would be snitching. They already made fun of him. He couldn’t make it worse. He wanted to stop them himself. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I can stop them, and then they will know my name. I will stop them, and we will go back to playing and fishing and eating berries.

As his mother came to the doorway, Cubby started toward his bed.

But what if? Cubby worried to himself. What if they are braver than I am, and they go tonight?

Cubby’s mother tucked him in and kissed him good night. She noticed that he seemed worried. When she asked if he was ok, he lied and stated he was. Then as she was leaving the room;

“Wait, Mom!” Cubby shouted. “They are gonna try to stop the hunter,” he hurriedly said. “They have a plan. They are, Tonight.” Cubby’s worry overcame him, and his words started joining together as he spoke.

His mother turned and walked back to Cubby. “Whoa, wait a minute,” she said in a soothing voice. “Calm down.” She got to the bed and reached to hug Cubby, as the worry was overwhelming him more and more. “Shhhhh, calm down, Cubby.” Her voice soothed further.

Cubby let out a large sigh as his mother pulled him closer. “That’s it. See, I knew something was wrong with my little bear.” Cubby took another deep breath, and she could feel that he was calming. “Now, what is happening?” She looked at Cubby. “Let’s start from the beginning.”

Cubby told his mother everything, this time in a calm tone. He let her know what he had heard, the plan, and that it was to start tonight.

“Oooohh, we will have to let the other parents know,” she confirmed.

“I am sorry, Mother. I am sorry I did not tell you right away.”

“Oh, Cubby,” she said, stroking Cubby’s head. “I understand. The important part is that you told me.” Again, Cubby felt the warmth of his mother's face looking at his. While he knew he should not lie, he knew she understood.

The next day, Cubby and his mother went to a few nearby dens where other little bears lived. They quickly learned that those little bears were gone. News traveled quickly. In all, six little bears were gone. They formed search parties and searched Healthland, the surrounding streams, and areas for the entire day. There was no sign of them and no sign of the hunters. All the bears were worried that they were gone forever.

While no one blamed Cubby, he felt sad. If only I had argued or tried to stop them, he thought. If only I had told my mother right away. I guess I was mad ’cause they made fun of me. But that is no reason. I should have done the right thing and LET SOMEONE KNOW!

As the long day came to an end, the six bears were still not found. All of the parents were very sad. Being a bear is tough, and when hunters are around, it is very dangerous. But to lose so many little bears in this way was hard for every bear.

Again, nighttime had settled, Cubby found it hard to sleep. His thoughts were of what he could have done differently. Tears filled his eyes. I have got to do something, he thought.

Cubby decided he could find the little bears. He could do it. I have to make this better, he encouraged himself. I cannot let the summer days be sad, knowing I could have stopped this.

“Cubby,” his mother called through the den. “Cubby, it is time to get up. We have to join the others soon.” His mother heard nothing from Cubby’s room. Pushing open the bedroom door, she paused. No, she thought, no, he wouldn’t. She again looked around the room. Cubby was not there. She dropped her head; she knew he had gone to look for the little bears on his own. Guilt had conquered him, and now sadness had conquered her.

For the next three days, Sally and the other adult bears continued to look around Healthland and the outskirts to find the now seven little bears. Each morning brought hope of a possibility of finding them. Each evening brought sadness.

The bears asked for help from the other animals in the woods. Bears are not predators. They eat berries and fish, so the other animals of the woods do not fear them. The other animals looked at the bears as protectors. The deer, rabbits, and owls were all eager to help, but they had no news each day. The sadness grew amongst the grown-up bears. Hope was nearly gone. They didn’t want to face the realization that the little bears were lost, or worse, captured by the hunters and taken out of the woods. Sally and the other mothers did not want to give up hope, but three days was long for little bears to survive in the vast woodland area.

Cubby was tired, having walked for almost three whole days. Cubby was not sure where he was, but he was sure he was hungry. He hadn’t seen a berry in days. The squirrels tried to help Cubby gather some nuts. Cubby was always thankful, but the few nuts did not fill his large belly. He missed Healthland, playing, and of course, the massive berry bushes.

Cubby was walking toward the top of a large hill that had more rocks than grass. He did not see or smell anything. Not even a berry, he thought. Let me get to the top of this hill. From there, I might be able to figure out where I am. He thought further. Maybe the other bears made it back. Perhaps they found another way. He encouraged himself. Cubby found himself struggling with each step. The rocks were hard to climb. Hungry and tired, Cubby knew he could not go much further.

No! Cubby demanded to himself. NO! I will not quit. Cubby reached the top of the hill. He stuck his nose high in the air, sniffing deeply to find a scent. He had learned that the higher he was, the more he could smell. The top of this hill was as high as Cubby believed he could be. Wait! Something caught Cubby’s attention. He took more air in and slowly turned in a circle to find the scent. Tommy? That smells like a dirty Tommy, a filthy Tommy. The scent led him to look down the side of the hill a few hundred yards. Cubby squinted.

There, there in the thick bushes, were Tommy and the others. They were all grouped together, almost lying on top of each other. He could not see their faces. There was another scent as well. Hunters! Cubby felt excited and scared at the same time. His heart was racing, and he wanted to hide.

Till now, Cubby had never seen a hunter. He had not even smelled one. And now it was all here on the side of the hill. He could smell them. He could smell them all.

Cubby paused, looking around and sniffing for more scents. He could tell the hunter was a few feet away from the group of bears. He could see his friends were not moving. They seemed scared.

Cubby started making his way down the hill. The thought of his friends encouraged him. The fear caused him to move slowly. With each step, he heard cracks from the sticks underfoot. He stopped, smelled, and squinted to see if anything moved, and then he started again.

As Cubby got closer, he could see his friends. Tommy, his back to Cubby, quickly turned his head and immediately locked eyes with Cubby. Cubby froze. Cubby felt himself getting nervous.

“Go back,” Tommy mouthed. “Please go back.”

Cubby saw only one hunter sitting in a chair and looking away from the bears. Tommy again mouthed for Cubby to go back. He looked worried. Cubby continued slowly. He noticed the bears were in a cage of some type. The cage was small, and the bears could barely move. Small branches and thin rope seemed to be the makings of the cage.

“Why can’t you break out and run?” Cubby whispered, now close enough to only be heard by the bears.

“Because of the boomstick,” Tommy whispered back to Cubby and pointed to the hunter's lap.

The word “boomstick” made the hair on Cubby’s neck stand straight out. When they learned of hunters, all bears knew it was the boomstick that made them so scary.

Still frozen in his tracks, Cubby thought, What to do? How to get his friends away from this hunter? Go back and get help, Cubby thought. I do not even know where I am. How am I going to find help? Cubby continued to think. His friends were not moving. Most tried not to look at Cubby so they would not give him away. Well, this is great, Cubby thought. I came all this way, and now I cannot do anything. Some hero I am.

“Hold on,” Cubby whispered to his friends. “I’ve got an idea.”

“Cuuubbyyy,” Tommy whined in a whisper. “No plan. No nothing. The hunter has a boomstick. I have seen.”

“And I have laughter,” Cubby interrupted.

“Laughter?” Tommy said, confused. “You’re gonna laugh at the hunter?” The other bears all glanced in Cubby’s direction when they heard this. Then they quickly looked back at the ground and trees, remembering not to alert the hunter.

“Hunters don’t laugh,” one bear whispered. “You are gonna get caught.”

Another whispered, “That is your plan?”

Another bear questioned. “Laughter?” His tone was a little too loud.

The hunter turned toward the bears. All froze. Cubby did not move. He hoped, waited, and watched. All while trying to be as small as possible. He felt as small as a blade of grass, although he knew he was slightly bigger! The hunter turned back in the other direction, dismissing the noise.

Cubby could not move. His mouth was frozen shut. He felt like he could not breathe.

“Cubby,” Tommy whispered. “Go home.”

Cubby unfroze, pride again filled his heart. He raised his eyebrow, looked at Tommy. “Laughter is one of the greatest gifts of all.”

In a quick movement, with all his courage and all his belief, Cubby jumped up. He dashed toward the hunter. Cubby was over the hunter's head in a single hop and rolling head over heels in front of him. The hunter was shocked, seeing a large bear jump and roll over his head. Cubby rolled a few feet and smacked squarely into a tree. Cubby popped up, spun in circles as though he was dizzy, and fell to the ground flat on his back. The hunter, seeing this sight, began laughing. He laughed so hard that he fell out of his chair. As he fell, he dropped the boomstick. Still, he laughed. He had never seen a bear flip, roll, and then smack himself against a tree.

The other bears all raised, looking at the hunter on the ground, rolling in laughter. Laughter? They thought.

Cubby was not hurt. He was lying on his back, looking. The hunter was now rolling on the ground laughing, away from the boomstick. Cubby knew this was it. Laughter had saved the day. He still needed to free his friends.

As tall as a bear could stand, Cubby stood, opened his arms as wide as he possibly could, and let out the loudest roar he had ever roared.

The hunter was stunned. The laughter ended quickly, and now it was the hunter who felt fear, and he ran down the hill and was not seen again.

Cubby brought his arms down and went back to all fours. Laughter? he thought. Then looked over to his friends. “LAUGHTER!” he shouted to them and smiled.

All the bears were able to make it back home. Mothers and fathers were delighted—filled with joy that all their sons had returned.

Within a few days, all had returned to normal, and Cubby and his friends were back at Healthland enjoying the berries. The oldest of the bears, the leader, approached the center of Healthland. “Attention!” he thundered.

All the bears quieted. Worry could be seen on some faces.

“Oh no,” Cubby said to Tommy.

Tommy shrugged and looked to the center, where the leader began to speak.

“I am sure all of you are by now aware of the story of Cubby and his friends. While we cannot have such bears going out on their own, we are very grateful for Cubby and his actions.” Cubby’s eyes grew more prominent. “As a result of such bravery, I have spoken to all the others and have agreed, from this day forth. All little bears will be known as cubs.”

***

Dad looked down at his son, who was on the verge of sleep. “And that is why all baby bears are called cubs.”

His son gave a slight smile, tightened his hug on his bear, Cubby, and fell entirely to sleep.