June 17, 2007
Once upon a time there were four American bears visiting Britian. They were of the common variety ursus touristus and would have stayed inconspicuous in their touristing, except the Papa Bear's knee seized with an infection and he ended up in hospital near Hadrian's wall. Poor thing. We'll leave him there, though, because his story is quite different, full of humorous and disturbing accounts of fellow patients in the orthopedic ward and the intricacies of the National Health System, which this author is not able to fully comment on.
With the Papa Bear in hosptial there were only three bears left: the Mama Bear, a David Bear and a Leah Bear. Now, these three bears were somewhat at a loss as to where to stay while the Papa Bear was in hospital until they talked to a nice woman named Helen, who told them they could stay on her farm. This was perfect because the Mama Bear had read lots and lots of books about the English countryside, but never gotten to stay there, and because the David and Leah Bears preferred more rural living anyway.
So, the three bears quickly settled into a comfortable routine, spending most of the day at the hosptial with the Papa Bear or in the nearby town running various errands that presented themselves. The evenings were spent at the farm, each in their own chair in front of the (gas) fire, reading or chatting, each in their own chair at the breakfast table, and each in their own seat in the car. The routine was so well established after two days, that the Leah Bear even scolded the David Bear for being in 'her' chair when she came into to read one night. But then the Leah Bear was always quick to set up routines.
The three bears would have conceivably continued in their very pleasant routine except the Papa Bear was finally cleared to go home. This was not quite what was planned, since the Papa Bear and the Mama Bear were supposed to continue traveling until early July, but the Papa Bear's doctors thought he should be on antibiotics for a long, long time, and that it would be easier for everyone if he were at home. Plus, even though the Mama Bear liked her Mama Bear chair in front of the (gas) fire and her Mama Bear chair at the breakfast table and even her Mama Bear seat in the car, and she really liked having the David and Leah Bears make her dinner every night while she read, she wanted the Papa Bear to be better. And, at the rate she was buying books her travel money was going to run dangerously low before she got home.
So, the Papa Bear and Mama Bears flew home, even though their luggage didn't, at first, and the David and Leah Bears continued on their way.
The End
