The Case of the Artistic Bear

The bear had stars in his charts. When he was born his mother consulted many astrologers and face readers. She drove all over town in her little burgundy antique car, from palm readers to purple-clad psychics. The windows of the shops were filled with sparkly lights and pink neon. One blinked and flickered, (from a broken battery), but it seemed to be on purpose. His mother was filled with anxiety about the potential fate of her first born bear-son, and she had to know.

Every reader, every future-seer concurred-this little bear had stars in his chart.

Bear's mother's eyes sparkled with relief and a tinge of exhilaration when she heard those words. Her pink-sweatered shoulders would relax as they would deliver the final verdict-he will be special.

After a life of living in the shadows on the outskirts of Bear-society, Bear mother(Her name was Symphony), was relieved to find her son would not meet her same fate-to live in the shadows-a nobody as she had.

His father had been a bear on the run, moving through town on a temporary assignment as a hunter. She was close to him then, but he disappeared shortly after her first bear son was born.

As her little bear child grew up, she patiently waited, to see what kind of special skills would develop in her son. But year after year, her son was sent home with the same feedback as most of the other children. Your child is right on track...to be just like every other bear.

Finally however, a miracle occurred, on one rainy day, someone in a travelling orchestra had left their lute on a mossy tree stump by the river where little bear often played.

Curiously, he picked up the lute, and the most magical sounds came out of the lute. It was as if he was possessed by all the ancestors and spirits who had lived before him, and through him they poured the most magical sounds through the silvery instrument. All who were about stopped in their tracks. What is that beautiful sound? They wondered. The people of the bear village were stunned. Every beaver, ever salmon swimming in the river, paused, to listen to this beautiful, fluid sound.

Bear's mother rushed out of her her hut and hugged the little bear to her chest. I knew it she said. I knew..you would be special.

But, the little bear, who the villagers had taken to calling "Silver" because of the silver lute that he played, was uncomfortable with the sudden outpouring of attention towards him. And his mother's dependence on his "special qualities" seemed to put a pressure on his chest. While he was playing, while he was at school or doing chores, he thought of his mothers desperate tears of joy, and the pressure returned.

As Silver grew older, he felt more and more the pressure of his mother to be "something great". She bought him special lutes and other instruments, and though she acted from a place of love, he also felt her desperation that he not end up "like her" as she often intoned.

Sometimes Silver ran out to the river to watch the salmon swim, and practiced hunting like his father..just to get a reprieve from his mother's feelings, which seemed to fill the yurt with their ups and downs, and whirlwinds.

One day after many days of receiving no mail at all, the mail-woman-a large otter with slick black fur and glistening little eyes, appeared on his doorstep. I have something for you, she whispered and handed Silver a large green envelope with a shiny red emblem in wax. Silver opened the envelope with his teeth chattering, he hoped so dearly it was a letter from his father-asking him to come live with him in Hunting Village.

But instead, it was a beautiful and aromatic (because it was a very old) map. The map was hand-drawn by his grandfather, a large hulky bear with straw colored fur and weathered eyes.

He was also Chief of Hunting Village.

Everybody in Flower Village where Silver lived with his mother knew that Silver was hoping to hear from his father. When they saw he had received only the beautiful map, they patted his hand and muttered small words of sympathy and encouragement. There, said the tiny fox who lived next door. Things will improve my dear, said the pig who ran the local ribbon and flourishes.

Silver wandered through the green pastures beside the village, with his hands in his pockets, he felt like he would never have the guidance he needed in life from his father.

At home he fingered the old dusty map with his paws, trying not to rip the delicate yellow pages with his newly growing claws. Claws that would be excellent for hunting..he thought.

He fell asleep with the map in his hand, and the night light from fireflies hovering outside his window.

In the morning he woke with a start-the sun was bright in his eyes, brighter than usual it seemed, and the map which was flat when he fell asleep had stood up on its own. It was floating above the bed and a bright red line stood out in glowing ink. Suddenly it was clear to Silver what the purpose of the map was. His grandfather hadn't just sent him a beautiful piece of paper.

Silver could see the line from his village to the woods, suddenly he knew-this was where his father was.

His mother ran in from the kitchen, hearing the commotion. Silver squealed in delight. I know how to find my father! He said.

His mother was horrified. She jumped up and tried to take the map down from its perch above the bed. I won't let you go. She said, and all the villagers gathered to watch them scuffle and to see what could be done to help.

But Silver packed his silver lute, and his compass, and prepared to head into the woods to find his father.

Part 2 coming soon.

comment if you liked it!