KODAH BEAR & FRIENDS

M. Patrick Holshouser-Kertz

8465 Castor Road

Salisbury, NC 28146

980.565.3485

[email protected]

about 920 words

KODAH BEAR AND FRIENDS

by

M. Patrick Holshouser-Kertz

Kodah Bear

On a small farm lives a collection of animals with a handful of chickens, some ducks, a couple of goats, a bunny and a cow known as Ribeye. Ribeye’s best friend is the most important animal of all, a small, solid black dog with bright amber eyes and an underbite. The name of this dog is Kodah Bear. Kodah spends most of his days patrolling the farm checking on the other animals and making sure everyone is safe and protected.

Kodah has a very big personality and is very curious about everything. Kodah is extremely friendly dog and intends to make friends with every creature that comes onto the farm. More importantly Kodah always be a GOOD DOG.

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Growing Up

Kodah is a good dog but tends to bark at new, unknown, or unrecognized creatures. The little black dog loves new experiences and speaking with new creatures to get to know them better.

On a particular spring day during playtime Kodah sees a peculiar, unexplained object poking out of the ground. Kodah does not understand what is happening and is curious to learn more.

Kodah is excited for this new experience. Who is it and where did it come from? Kodah has to know more about the object.

With tail wagging from excitement Kodah runs around the mysterious object. The dog starts to bark, asking,

“Who are you?”

“What are you?”

“Why are you on my farm?”

“Can we be friends?”

But the strange object does not answer. Kodah gets a bit frustrated, decides playtime is over and was time for a nap.

A week later Kodah heads outside for playtime and sees the mysterious object again. This time the object looks a little bigger. The dog decides to try talking to the object again, asking:

“Who are you?”

“What are you?”

“Why are you on my farm?”

“Can we be friends?”

But the object still doesn’t respond. Upset and confused Kodah goes back inside the house to take a nap.

One month passes and Kodah sees the mysterious object again. This time it is much bigger. The dog attempts to speak with the object one more time by yelling:

“WHO ARE YOU?”

“WHAT ARE YOU?”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY FARM?”

“CAN WE BE FRIENDS?”

After still no response from the object growing out of the ground Kodah decides playtime is over and goes inside to eat dinner.

Three months later Kodah sees the object again. The object has changed and is now much bigger. Kodah realizes that trying to talk directly to the object only ends in disappointment. Instead, Kodah sits next to the object under the afternoon sun and whimpers with sadness from all the previous failed attempts.

A moment later the afternoon sun is blocked casting a shadow over where Kodah is sitting. A soothing voice said, “Please do not cry Kodah Bear. And to answer your question, yes, I will be your friend!”

Kodah’s tail begins to wag with excitement. Looking up Kodah sees a large circle of yellow feathers around a black circle. Kodah’s tail wags even harder. Kodah asks, “How do you know my name?”

The object responds, “I’ve heard others call you by your name during your playtime.”

With a smile from ear-to-ear Kodah inquires, “If we are going to be friends, will you tell what you are?”

The object chuckles and the replies, “Absolutely! You can call me Sunflower.”

With some confusion Kodah says, “You are really beautiful. Are those yellow feathers surrounding your face?”

Sunflower giggles and replies, “Thank you for the compliment. And, no, these are not feathers but they are my flower petals.”

“What do petals do for you?” Kodah inquires.

“My petals enhance my beauty and help me watch the sun as it travels across the sky. I was growing up and had to wait until my petals were fully developed so that I could speak to you,” explained Sunflower.

“Is that your only purpose?”

“No, as I grow up the area inside my crown of petals will change and turn into seeds.”

“What are seeds?” asks Kodah.

“Seeds have a variety of purposes. My seeds are a source of food for birds. The birds will land on me and eat some of my seeds and also take some back to their children. The rest of my seeds will fall to the ground to grow.”

“So, seeds are like your children?”

Sunflower chuckled and states, “Yes, and now that we are friends, I am going to need you to come talk to them after I am gone.”

Kodah sighs and asks, “Where are you going?”

Sunflower sighs and explains, “I know we have only known each other a short time but my time is nearing an end. I appreciate you keeping me company while I was growing up. Now I must ask you to look after my children the same way you did for me.”

With a tucked tail the sad dog squeaks out, “Please don’t go.”

In a soothing voice sunflower reassures Kodah, “I’m afraid I must. All things must end at some point and mine is nearing. Thank you, Kodah, for listening to me, making me your friend, and looking out for my children. But most of all, thank you for being such a good dog.”

With a wagging tail Kodah exclaims, “I promised to look after Sunflower’s and that makes me a GOOD DOG!”

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