Tale #1: How Dancing Bear Learned to Dance

Once upon a time, a big lady bear lived in her cave in the forest. At first she enjoyed eating alone and sleeping alone and playing alone. Later, she became lonely. She went into town to see what she could find. At first, people were afraid of her. But when they saw how nice she was, they started feeding her coffee bread and other treats.

One day, a friend said to her, "There is line dancing at the Legion every Friday afternoon. Why don't you come along? It only costs a dollar for a lesson."

The lady bear happened to have a dollar tucked behind her ear, so she went to dance class. She enjoyed it so much that she started going every week and became a good dancer. That is how she came to be known as Dancing Bear.

One of Dancing Bear's friends was a teacher. She said, "Please visit my class and tell some stories." And that is what Dancing Bear did. Her stories were so good that she got a job with a magazine called Spellbound. The magazine isn't being published any more, but Dancing Bear is still telling stories.

Tale #2 Getting Ready to Hibernate

One evening, Dancing Bear was at the Legion for a dinner. The ladies served ham and perogies and chicken and fried rice and potatoes and carrots and mashed Finnish-style turnips and all kinds of salads and desserts. Dancing Bear went back for seconds. Then she went back for thirds, and took two desserts as well.

"Wow!" said one of the boys, named Ben. "You sure are eating a lot!"

"I have to," Dancing Bear said. "I'm getting ready to hibernate."

"Hibernate?" Ben asked. "What's that?"

"I sleep all winter," Dancing Bear explained. "I don't eat when I sleep. When spring comes, I'll be thin."

One of the ladies said, "That sounds great! I'd love to lose weight in my sleep!"

"Do you have a bed in your cave?" Ben's big sister Carol asked.

"No, I don't," Dancing Bear said. "I gather a lot of spruce branches and sleep on them."

"That's a good idea," Ben said. "Maybe I'll try that some time."

"Do you have a sleeping bag?" Carol asked.

"I don't need one," Dancing Bear said. "I have a fur coat."

Carol ran to her mother and talked to her. Then she went to the coat hangers and got her scarf. "Here, Dancing Bear," Carol said. "You can have my scarf to keep your ears warm while you are sleeping."

Dancing Bear looked at the scarf. It was bright red with white stripes. "It's very pretty," she said. "I can't take it. You will need it for yourself when the weather is cold."

"Mom says it's okay," Carol said. "She is going to teach me how to knit. Then I can make myself a new scarf."

"Thank you very much," Dancing Bear said. She put the scarf around her neck right away, even though it was very warm in the Legion hall.

"Wear it all the time," Ben advised. "Then everyone will know that we are your friends."

Tale #3: Felis domestica

One day, Dancing Bear was walking down Alexandra Street. She saw a black and white animal. "Hello," she asked politely. "Are you a skunk?"

"No," the animal said. "I am a felis domestica. That's Latin for house cat."

"That's interesting," Dancing Bear said. "There are no cats like you in the forest."

"Of course not," the cat said impatiently. "That's why I'm called a house cat. I live in a house."

"What do you do there?" Dancing Bear asked.

"I catch mice," the cat said. "I watch the world go round and make sure everything is going as it should."

"That sounds like a very important job," Dancing Bear said.

"It certainly is!" the cat said, stretching herself. "Didn't you know? Cats rule the world."

Tale #4: Oreo

The next time Dancing Bear was walking on Alexandra Street, she met the same black and white cat. "Nice to see you again," Dancing Bear said. "Do you have a name?"

"My name is Lady Miranda Pulcherrima," the cat said. "That's Latin for incredibly gorgeous. But most people call me Oreo."

"Your Latin name is very impressive," Dancing Bear said. "How did you get it?"

"I gave it to myself," Oreo said.

"Why do people call you Oreo?" Dancing Bear asked. "Is it because you are black and white like the cookie?"

"I think they aren't clever enough to remember my real name," Oreo said. "Often, they don't understand my instructions, even though I repeat them over and over."

"I have a Latin name too," Dancing Bear said. "Ursus arctos*. But I don't like it, because I am ursa -- a lady bear. I prefer ursa saliens**."

"Have you noticed that Latin is going out of style?" Oreo said.

"Yes," said Dancing Bear. "It's a pity. Maybe you and I could speak Latin to each other."

"Quid pro quo***," said Oreo. "Would you like to stay at my house for a while? We have an extra bed."

"Wouldn't your people object?" Dancing Bear asked.

"I have just one man servant," Oreo said. "When he's at home he's always busy on the computer or watching TV or sleeping. He might not even notice you."

"I'm rather big to overlook," Dancing Bear said.

"Well, maybe he's lonely. You speak human, don't you? You could talk to him. And you could open and close doors for me when he's sleeping."

"We could give it a try," Dancing Bear said. "It might be safer to stay in town during the hunting season."

* * *

LATIN GLOSSARY
*ursus arctos -- grizzly bear
**ursa saliens -- jumping (or dancing) lady bear
***quid pro quo -- a trade

Tale #5: David McDougall

Dancing Bear and Oreo walked down Alexandra Street together until they came to a house with the number 906 on it.

"That's my place," Oreo said.

"It looks like a nice cozy house," Dancing Bear said. She started to walk down the driveway.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Oreo said.

"I'm going to the back door."

"I always use the front door," Oreo said. "The front door is for important people like me."

She leaped lightly onto the front porch. Dancing Bear followed her up the six steps one at a time: thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, THUMP.

"Ring the door bell," Oreo commanded.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Dancing Bear asked. "I don't want to be rude."

"Just do it," Oreo said.

Dancing Bear rang the door bell. She could hear the bell playing a little tune inside the house. Nobody answered.

"I think I'd better try again later," Dancing Bear said.

"Try again now," Oreo said. "I want to go in."

Dancing Bear was getting very nervous about the whole thing. What if Oreo's person didn't like her? What if he was sleeping or taking a shower?

The door opened. A tall man with a beard looked out. Dancing Bear had never seen him before.

"Finally!" Oreo said. She slipped inside the house, leaving Dancing Bear standing alone on the front porch.

"Hello," Dancing Bear said. "My name is Dancing Bear. Oreo invited me to visit. Is that okay with you?"

The man peered at her. "Oh yes," he said. "I've heard about you. You're that story-telling bear. My name is David McDougall, but you can call me Doug. Come on in."

Tale #6: Brush me!

Dancing Bear followed David McDougall into the living room. The walls were a lovely blue colour, and the floor had light brown carpet on it.

"This is much nicer than my cave," Dancing Bear said.

"Thank you," David McDougall said. "Have a seat. That rocking chair is comfortable. Would you like some coffee? Or maybe some hot chocolate?"

Dancing Bear's mouth watered. "Some hot chocolate would be nice."

"I'll put on the kettle," David McDougall said. He went through the dining room into the kitchen.

Dancing Bear sat down in the rocking chair and started to rock. It creaked loudly. "Oh dear," she said. "I hope it can hold my weight."

Oreo appeared from the direction of the kitchen and jumped onto the footstool in front of Dancing Bear. "I've had my snack," Oreo said, licking her paw and wiping it over her face. "Now it's time to brush me."

David McDougall came back and sat down in his big green and blue chair. "It will take a few minutes for the water to heat up," he said.

"Brush me NOW! Please!!" Oreo said loudly.

Dancing Bear looked around, but she didn't see a brush. "Doug -- Oreo wants to be brushed," she said. "Can you tell me where her brush is?"

David McDougall handed her a soft plastic brush shaped like a cat. As soon as Dancing Bear touched Oreo, she started to purr. She lay down on her side and moaned, "More! More!"

"She really likes being brushed, doesn't she?" Dancing Bear said. She kept brushing and brushing until David McDougall brought her a big pottery mug of hot chocolate.

"More! More!" Oreo insisted.

"You'll have to wait a while," Dancing Bear said. "I'm on my break now."

"Can you understand what Oreo is saying?" David McDougall asked.

"Of course," Dancing Bear said. "I can understand most animals and some humans."

"That's interesting," David McDougall said. "How did you learn so many languages? Did you go to school?"

"No," said Dancing Bear. "It just came naturally. I wanted to speak, so I did."

"Really?" said David McDougall. "I wish I could speak more than one language."

"Why don't you?" Dancing Bear said.

"I'm a busy man," David McDougall said. "It's hard for me to find time to go to class."

"I could teach you some cat language," Dancing Bear said.

"That's a great idea!" Oreo said. "If he understands cat language, it will be easier for me to tell him what I want."

Tale #7: Voulez-vous acheter des oranges?

The front door bell rang. David McDougall went to answer it.

"I guess another important person has arrived," Dancing Bear said, putting down her hot chocolate. "I wonder who it is."

"Never mind," Oreo said. "Just brush me!"

"I'm still on my break," Dancing Bear said.

Two teen-aged girls were at the door. "Voulez-vous acheter des oranges?" they asked.

"Just a moment," Doug said. He called to Dancing Bear, "Do you know any French? I need help."

Dancing Bear got up and went to the door to talk to the girls. "They are from the high school," she explained to Doug. "They are selling oranges and grapefruit to raise funds for the Pastoral Committee. Twenty-five dollars for a small box, or forty dollars for a large one. As soon as they are picked, they will be sent directly from Florida by truck. They will be fresh and juicy."

"All right," said Doug. "I'll take a small box of oranges and a small box of grapefruit. Do I have to pay for them right away?"

"No," said Dancing Bear. "They will phone you when the fruit arrives. You can pay for it when you pick it up at the school."

Dancing Bear helped the girls fill out the order form in English. They were very happy to get an order for two boxes.

"Thank you for your help," David McDougall said after the girls had left.

"No problem," Dancing Bear said. "Where would you like me to put your receipt?"

"Just stick it on the fridge with a magnet," David McDougall said. "That way I won't lose it."

Dancing Bear went into the kitchen. It was bright green, like the forest in the early spring time. The fridge was covered with all kinds of notes.

"There is no room on the fridge," Dancing Bear called. "I don't know what to do."

David McDougall came into the kitchen. "Sorry," he said. He took down three pieces of paper and jammed them in his pants pocket. "Now you have room."

"Are those pieces of paper garbage?" Dancing Bear said.

"Yes," David MrDougall said. "I don't need them any more."

"Give them to me," Dancing Bear said. "I'll put them in the garbage. If you put your pants in the washing machine with paper in the pocket, it will be a big mess."
"You're right," David McDougall said. He took the papers out of his pocket and handed them to Dancing Bear, along with a couple of candy wrappers and some used tissues. "Thank you."

Dancing Bear put everything into the garbage, washed her hands in the bathroom, and went back to her chair to finish her hot chocolate.

"You are very helpful," David McDougall said. "I was wondering if you would stay for a couple of days. I am going away to a conference in Sault Ste Marie, and I know the cats don't like being left alone."

Tale #8: Bandit

"Cats!" Dancing Bear exclaimed. "Do you have more than one?"

"Yes," David McDougall answered. "Two cats live here. The other one is named Bandit. I'm surprised he hasn't made an appearance. He's very friendly, and loves to investigate new people."

"Bandit is a young whippersnapper," Oreo said. "Don't pay any attention to him."

"Hmmm," said Dancing Bear. "Is he your brother?"

"NO," Oreo said. "He just showed up one day. I told him to go away. But David McDougall thought he was cute."

"I AM CUTE," a new voice said. A very large, fluffy black tabby cat with a white chest walked into the living room, waving his tail like a flag. "I AM THE BEST-LOOKING PUSSYCAT IN THE WHOLE WORLD!"

"Hello, Bandit," David McDougall said. "Come and meet our guest, Dancing Bear."

Bandit jumped up on Dancing Bear's lap. He put his paws on her chest and said, "Hello. Here I am. Pet me. I'm cute and intelligent and adorable."

"Ignore him," Oreo said. "He's just a young whippersnapper."

"Am not!" Bandit said.

"Are too!" Oreo said, and tried to climb onto Dancing Bear's lap beside him.

"Take it easy!" Dancing Bear said, laughing. "One at a time, please!"

"You haven't finished brushing me," Oreo complained. "Isn't your break over now?"

"She's just jealous because I grew up to be bigger than her," Bandit said, pushing Oreo back onto the stool. "I weigh over eight kilos, and she just weighs five. She can't bully me any more."

"What are they saying?" David McDougall asked.

"They're arguing about who is better," Dancing Bear said. "Oreo is older, but Bandit weighs more."

"How old are you?" David McDougall asked.

"I've hibernated seventeen times," Dancing Bear said. "Is that old?"

"You're three years older than Oreo, and you weigh more than both of them put together," David McDougall said. "So you must be the best animal in the house."

Tale # 9: Hallowe'en at 906 Alexandra

"Look at the moon!" Bandit said. He was lying on the back of the couch, looking out the window. "Just perfect for Hallowe'en!"

The porch light was on. A big bowl of Hallowe'en treats was ready inside the door -- Smarties and chocolate bars and little plastic bags full of gummy dinosaurs. Dancing Bear and the cats were in the living room, waiting for trick-or-treaters. Doug was away in Sault Ste Marie.

"Would you like to watch TV?" Dancing Bear asked.

"I'd rather hear a story," Oreo said.

"Me too," Bandit said. "Do you know any stories about ghost cats?"

"I know a story about a goblin cat," Dancing Bear said. "Will that do?"

"Let's hear it," Oreo said, swishing her tail.

"Once upon a time in ancient Japan, Prince Ruiten lived in his palace with his beautiful wife Princess O Toyo. Every evening, they would take a walk through the gardens and smell the lovely flowers. One evening a little grey cat followed them and sneaked into the palace. Nobody noticed the animal crouching in a corner of the bedroom. It looked just like a shadow."

"Yes," said Oreo. "Cats are very good at being invisible."

"Ruiten and O Toyo went to bed and fell asleep. O Toyo dreamed that a giant cat was standing on its hind legs beside the bed, ready to strangle her. It was a goblin cat with fierce yellow eyes and horrible fangs, as big as a person. O Toyo tried to scream, but no sound came from her throat. When she woke up, she discovered that her husband had the same dream.

"The nightmares continued night after night. They were so terrifying that the prince and princess became very ill.

"The doctor suspected that an evil spirit was at work. He ordered a hundred soldiers to keep watch in the bedroom. But no matter how hard they tried, they could not stay awake. They fell asleep and had the same nightmares as the prince and princess."

"They should have made some strong coffee," Bandit said.

"They didn't have coffee in ancient Japan," Oreo said.

"Are you sure, or are you just making that up?" Bandit asked.

"I know everything," Oreo said.

"Do you want to hear the rest of the story?" Dancing Bear said. "You are getting on my nerves with all your bickering!"

"Okay," Bandit said. "I'll shut up."

"Please continue," Oreo said.

"All right," Dancing Bear said. "Just when it seemed that the nightmares would never end, a young soldier named Ito Soda had an idea. He offered to keep watch over his master and mistress. Whenever he started to drop off to sleep, he poked himself with his dagger. He managed to stay awake. Nothing unusual happened. Ruiten and O Toyo slept peacefully with no nightmares. In the morning, they felt much better and asked Ito Soda to come back the next night.

"The next night, exactly the same thing happened. The third night, Ito Soda pretended to fall asleep, and kept his eyes open just a slit so he could see what was going on. At midnight, the goblin cat appeared and started casting an evil spell. Ito Soda jumped up with his dagger in his hand, yelling as loudly as he could. The goblin cat fought back fiercely. All the other soldiers came rushing into the room with their weapons drawn. The goblin cat turned back into a little grey cat, ran between their legs, and got away. Ruiten and O Toyo lived to a ripe old age with no more nightmares, but they never forgot the goblin cat."

"Do you think there is such a thing as a goblin cat?" Oreo asked.

"I thought you knew everything!" Bandit muttered.

"Maybe there are goblin cats in Japan," Dancing Bear said, "but I've never heard of one in North America."

"That's good," Oreo said.

"Did the clever soldier get a big reward?" Bandit asked.

Before Dancing Bear had time to answer, there was a lot of thumping on the porch.

"I wonder if that's a goblin cat," Bandit said. He jumped off the couch and ran to the door to investigate.

Dancing Bear opened the door. "Trick or treat!" somebody yelled.

"Well -- is it?" Oreo yelled. "Is it a goblin cat?"

"No," Bandit said. "These are friends of mine. They are wearing costumes, but I can tell who they are by their smell." He went out onto the porch to say hello.

The tall boy in a skeleton suit and the two little girls in ballerina tutus petted Bandit while Dancing Bear handed out the treats.

"Wow! What a great costume!" the boy said to Dancing Bear.

"I'm going to stay out on the porch and watch for more visitors," Bandit said.

Dancing Bear closed the door. She went back to her chair and started chewing on a chocolate bar.

"Why did the boy say I have a great costume?" Dancing Bear asked Oreo. "I'm not wearing a costume."

"Humans are funny," Oreo said. "I'll never understand them."

Tale #10 -- November Snow

It was 3:30 in the afternoon.

"Please open the door," Bandit said to Dancing Bear. "The children will be coming any minute."

Bandit's special friends always stopped at 906 Alexandra on the way home from school to pet him and rub his tummy. He watched for them from the porch. When he saw somebody he liked, he would run to the sidewalk and lie down on his back right in front of that person. Bandit was never easy to ignore! He knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it.

Dancing Bear opened the door. "Oh, no!" Bandit said. "That white stuff again!"

"You have to expect snow on All Saints' Day," Oreo said. "It's almost winter."

"What's All Saints' Day?" Bandit asked.

"It's the day after Hallowe'en," Oreo told him.

"I know that," said Bandit. "But what are saints, and why do they need a day?"

Oreo didn't know the answer, so she pretended to be very busy licking her shoulder.

"Are you going out?" Dancing Bear asked. "I don't want to stand here all day."

"Why do we have snow?" Bandit said.

"It covers the grass and the plants in the winter and keeps them warm," Dancing Bear said. "I like it."

"How can something so cold keep things warm?" Bandit asked.

"It's not so bad," Dancing Bear said. "You're wearing a fur coat."

"But I don't have boots," Bandit complained. "My feet are always cold."

"You'll get used to it," Dancing Bear said. She gently pushed Bandit outside with her foot and closed the door behind him.

"At last! Now we can have a little peace and quiet around here," Oreo said. "That young whippersnapper is always full of questions."

Tale #11 -- Ben's Problem

At three-fifty-five, the front doorbell rang.

"Oh no!" said Oreo. "What now? Don't tell me the young whippersnapper has learned to ring the doorbell."

Dancing Bear looked out the window. "It's Ben!" she said. "I think he wants something."

She opened the door. "Hello, Ben," she said. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Ben said, "but I have a problem. Can I come in and talk to you about it?"

"I guess so," Dancing Bear said. "Please take off your runners before you walk on the carpet."

Ben took off his runners, his hat and his jacket, and sat down on the couch. "I heard that you were giving out Hallowe'en treats here," he said.

"I'm staying here until Mr. McDougall comes home from Sault Ste. Marie," Dancing Bear explained. "The cats need somebody to feed them and give them water and open the door for them."

"And brush us!" Oreo said. "Don't forget -- we have to be brushed regularly!"

"You said you had a problem," Dancing Bear said to Ben. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

"It's kind of embarrassing," Ben said. "Do you promise not to laugh?"

"I won't laugh unless it's funny," Dancing Bear said. "And if I do laugh, I'll laugh with you, not at you."

Ben looked down at the floor. "I'm scared," he said. "Especially at night."

"What are you scared of?" Dancing Bear said.

"The Skeleton Man," Ben answered.

"The Skeleton Man?" Dancing Bear said. "What does he look like?"

"I don't know," Ben said. "He's always behind me, but I know he's there. What should I do?"

"I think you should write a poem," Dancing Bear said.

"Write a poem?" Ben said. "Do you really think that would help?"

"Yes," Dancing Bear said. "That's what I do when I'm scared."

"You get scared?" Ben asked. "I thought you were too big to be scared."

"Everybody gets scared sometime," Dancing Bear said.

"I don't," said Oreo. Dancing Bear ignored her.

"I don't know how to write a poem," Ben said.

"It's easy," Dancing Bear said. "It's like a song without music. Instead of singing it, you just say it."

"A song without music!" Ben said. "That sounds like fun! Will you help me?"

"Of course," Dancing Bear said.

Tale # 12 -- Ben's Poem

The Skeleton Man

Don't ask me why the skeleton man
keeps following me around!
He's always right behind my back.
He never makes a sound.

I never hear him breathing.
He has no lungs, you see.
He's just a bony bogeyman
who wants to follow me.

I told him he was being rude.
He didn't give a care.
I whirled around and hollered "Boo!"
Guess what? He wasn't there.

My sister says it's no big deal,
and I have to agree.
If he won't look me in the face
he must be scared of me!

Tale #13 -- Stacy

"Welcome back!" Dancing Bear said to Ben. "It's nice to see you again."

"Hello, Dancing Bear," Ben said. "This is my friend Stacy. She's in my class."

"Ben read his poem at school today," Stacy said. "It's great. I want to write a poem too. Will you help me?"

"Come on in," Dancing Bear said. The children looked cold, so she made them some hot chocolate.

"What do you want to write a poem about?" Dancing Bear asked Stacy.

"I don't know," Stacy said. "That's the problem."

"Tell me about something you really like," Dancing Bear said.

"Well," said Stacy, "I love balloons."

"That could be the first line of a poem," Dancing Bear said. "I love balloons . . ."

"I don't know why . . ." Ben added.

"What's next?" Dancing Bear asked.

"Does it have to rhyme?" Stacy asked.

"Only if you want it to," Dancing Bear said.

"I like rhymes," Stacy said.

"Let's think," Dancing Bear said, "What rhymes with why?"

Stacy wrinkled her forehead and thought. "Pie rhymes with why."

"Sky and fly . . ." Ben added.

"My oh my . . . dry . . . high . . . try . . . " Stacy said. "This is fun!"

Tale # 14 -- Stacy's Poem

BALLOONS

I love balloons.
I don't know why.
I specially like
the kind that fly.

I dream of floating,
climbing high,
so far up
I can touch the sky.

If I had a great big
flying balloon,
I'd hitch a ride
to visit the moon.

Tale #15 -- Story Time

Dancing Bear looked out the front window. "Oh, my goodness!" she said, and opened the door. There were five children standing on the porch.

"Hello," said Ben. "I brought some friends."

"I see that," Dancing Bear said. "Hi, Stacy! Hi Jeanne! Have you finished knitting your new scarf yet?"

"Yes, I have," Jeanne said. "See -- I'm wearing it. I'm making one for my Dad now, for Christmas."

"And who are the people with you?" Dancing Bear asked. "They look familiar, but I can't remember their names."

"This is my older sister Carol," Ben said, "and Jeanne's brother Charles."

"May we come in?" Jeanne asked. "We would like to hear one of your stories."

"I guess it's all right," Dancing Bear said, "as long as you remember to take off your shoes."

Dancing Bear looked through the kitchen cupboard and found some trail mix to share with the children. Ben sat down in Doug's chair. Stacy and Jeanne sat on the love seat. Carol sat down on the couch. Charles sat on the floor. They munched on the trail mix, and were very careful not to drop anything on the carpet.

Dancing Bear sat down on her chair and thought. "The seasons are changing," she said. "I am going to tell you an ancient Greek story about that."

Tale #16 -- The Story of Persephone

The ancient Greeks believed that there were many gods and goddesses. Zeus, the ruler of gods and men, lived in a palace on Mount Olympus, high up in the sky where no human being had ever climbed. His brother Dis, the king of the underworld, lived deep, deep under the earth. People who visited his kingdom never returned. The goddess Demeter had the job of looking after all the growing green plants. The people of the earth often made sacrifices to her and prayed for good crops.

Demeter had a beautiful daughter called Persephone. Persephone enjoyed picking flowers, even after she was grown up. She wandered everywhere, looking for the most lovely blossoms she could find.

One day, Dis decided to visit his brother Zeus on Mount Olympus. He told his servants to hitch his four black horses to his chariot, and drove up a long tunnel until he reached the surface of the earth. On his way to Mount Olympus, he saw Persephone picking flowers.

"What a beautiful young woman!" he said. "I want her to be my queen."

Dis was used to getting what he wanted, so he did not ask Persephone if she wanted to live with him. He drove up in his chariot, grabbed her, and headed back down the tunnel to his kingdom.

Persephone did not like the dark kingdom. She missed her mother. She missed the beautiful flowers of the earth. She cried and cried and refused to eat. Meanwhile, her mother was looking for her everywhere. She was so upset that she forgot to look after the growing plants, and they withered and died.

The people were frightened. "Help us, Father Zeus!" they prayed. "Mother Demeter has stopped looking after the plants. Without food, we will all die."

Zeus sent his servant Hermes to find out what was wrong. Hermes could fly, so he had no trouble finding Demeter. "My daughter is missing," Demeter told him. "There will be no crops until she comes back."

Hermes was a good detective, and soon found out what had happened to Persephone. Zeus sent Hermes to the underworld to order Dis to release Persephone. "If there are no people," Zeus said, "no one will pray to us or make sacrifices to us. We will be all alone."

Dis did not want to let Persephone go, but he didn't want to upset his brother. He finally agreed to let Persephone leave, but only if she had not eaten anything in the underworld. When Persephone heard the news from Hermes, she began to cry. She had taken one bite of a pomegranate and swallowed six seeds.

Demeter and Dis went to the palace on Mount Olympus to plead their case before Zeus. Finally, Dis agreed that if Persephone would stay with him for six months every year -- one for each pomegranate seed she had eaten -- he would allow her to go home to her mother for the other months.

Each year, when Persephone comes home to her mother, Demeter is happy. Green plants grow up everywhere, the weather is warm, and the breezes are gentle. When Persephone leaves to take her place as queen of the underworld, Demeter is sad. The plants slowly die, the weather grows cold, and storms bring rain and snow. That is why we have the seasons.

Tale #17 -- What is Real?

"There's something wrong with that story," Ben said. "It's not the same season all over the world. It's fall here right now, but it's spring in Australia."

"The ancient Greeks didn't know there was such a place as Australia," Dancing Bear said.

"I know why we have seasons," Carol said. "I just learned about that in science class. The earth is a big ball that spins around the sun, and it is tilted on its axis."

"I don't think the ancient Greeks knew that either," Stacy said.

"You're right," Dancing Bear said. "They thought the earth was flat, like a plate. Their stories were based on what they saw."

"But they didn't see gods and goddesses," Charles said. "Those aren't real."

"They are -- and they aren't," Dancing Bear said. "It depends what you want to believe. It's like Santa Claus -- some children believe the stories about him, and others don't."

Ben was thinking hard. Finally, he asked, "Dancing Bear, are you real?"

Dancing Bear patted herself all over. "Let's see. Here's my head -- my legs -- my stomach. I think I'm all here."
"I studied about bears at school," Ben said. "Bears don't talk or wear scarves. They don't go to the Legion for dinner and line dancing. They don't open doors and brush cats and tell stories."

Dancing Bear smiled. "That's the magic of imagination," she said. "I'm as real as you want me to be."

Tale #18 -- David McDougall Comes Home

When David McDougall came home from Sault Ste. Marie, he was very surprised. There was a boy sitting in his favourite chair. There were two girls on the love seat, and another girl on the couch. There was another boy sitting on the floor.

"Who are all these people?" David McDougall asked.

"They are my friends," Dancing Bear said. "They wanted to hear a story."

"Get them out of here!" David McDougall said. "I'm tired. I want to sit in my special chair and watch TV."

"Okay, children," Dancing Bear said. "Story time is over."

The children got up and started putting on their shoes.

"Mr. McDougall," Carol said, "You have a beautiful house. Thank you for letting us visit."

David McDougall did not answer. He plopped himself down on his chair and pointed the remote at the TV.

The other children said thank you as well. David McDougall turned the volume on the television higher.

"I think Mr. McDougall wants to be alone," Dancing Bear said. "I'll walk you home."

Dancing Bear was gone until after dark. When she returned to 906 Alexandra Street, David McDougall was rested and feeling a little better.

"I'm sorry I was so crabby," he said.

"I didn't realize you don't like children," Dancing Bear said.

"I don't mind children," David McDougall said, "but I'm not used to them. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, but please don't invite any children into the house."

"All right," Dancing Bear said. "This is your home, so you can decide who comes in." She waited a few more minutes, until some commercials came on. Then she said, "Children are delightful creatures. You might get to like them if you give them a chance."

David McDougall finished watching the program on TV. Then he said, "Dancing Bear?"

"Yes?" Dancing Bear answered.

"One or two children at a time would be all right," David McDougall said. "But not a whole bunch of them."

Dancing Bear smiled.

Tale #19 -- Sleeping In

"Dancing Bear! Wake up!" Bandit scratched on the door. "Dancing Bear! Get up! I'm starving!"

Dancing Bear opened her eyes and looked at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was after 9:30!

"Oh dear!" Dancing Bear said. "I slept in. No wonder Bandit is hungry."

Every morning, David McDougall fed the cats at 7:30 before going to work in the computer room of the plywood factory. This morning, he was late.

"Didn't Doug feed you?" Dancing Bear asked the cats as she walked down the stairs into the basement.

"No," Oreo said. "He's sleeping in. This is Saturday. He has the day off."

Dancing Bear put some kitty kibble into the cats' bowls. She rinsed the water dishes and filled them with fresh water.

"Can we have some canned food as well, please?" Bandit asked.

"You know that's bad for your teeth," Dancing Bear said.

"Pretty please?" Bandit asked, arching his back and rubbing himself against Dancing Bear's leg.

"I'll tell Doug when he gets up, and he can decide," Dancing Bear said. She went upstairs and made some coffee.

David McDougall came out of his room in his pyjamas. "Wow -- that smells good!"

"Would you like me to make you some bacon and eggs while you are taking your shower?" Dancing Bear asked.
"Not yet," David McDougall said. "Give me time to wake up." He poured himself a cup of coffee, added lots of cream and sugar, and sat in his special chair in the living room.

Dancing Bear sat down in her chair with a cup of steaming coffee with a little honey. "I'm so tired," she told David McDougall. "I take naps all the time, and I sleep in later and later. It's time for me to go back to my cave and hibernate."

David McDougall looked sad. "The cats will miss you," he said.

Tale # 20 -- A Story Party

The doorbell rang. "I wonder who that is," Dancing Bear said.

"Probably one of those kids who keep coming here," David McDougall said.

Dancing Bear opened the door. It was Ben.

"Hi, Dancing Bear!" Ben said. "Do you want to go for a walk?"

"I haven't finished my coffee," Dancing Bear said. "But if you can wait a couple of minutes, I'll be right with you."

"I don't mind waiting," Ben said. "May I come in?"

"Of course," Dancing Bear said.

Ben took off his shoes and came into the living room. He threw a worried look at David McDougall.

"It's okay," David McDougall said. "I'm not crabby today."

Ben smiled and sat down. "Thank you."

"Would you like a glass of milk?" Dancing Bear asked.

"No thanks," Ben said. "I had milk and cereal at home."

Soon Ben and Dancing Bear were walking side by side on the fitness trail along the river.

"I have to go home to my cave and hibernate," Dancing Bear said.

"Oh, no!" said Ben. "You'll miss Christmas!"

"I am never awake for Christmas," Dancing Bear said.

"Why don't you stay in town?" Ben suggested. "We can wake you up for Christmas."

"That's very kind of you," Dancing Bear said, "but I need my sleep. That's how bears are."

"Okay," said Ben. "I guess you know best. Can you wait until Tuesday?"

"I suppose I could," Dancing Bear said. "Why?"

"It's my birthday," Ben said. "I'm having my party after school. I want it to be a story party. Instead of bringing presents, I will ask my guests to bring a story."

"A story party!" Dancing Bear said. "What a great idea!"

Tale # 21 --Stacy's Story

"Okay, that's enough games," Ben said. "It's story time."

"I want to play some more," Charles said.

"But I don't," Ben answered. "I'm the birthday boy and I say it's story time."

"Oh, all right," Charles said. "Have it your way."

The children sat down in a circle -- Ben, his sister Carol, Stacy, her twin sister Tracy, Jeanne, her brother Charles, and Dorian, Ben's next-door neighbour. Dancing Bear sat down too. "This is just as much fun as playing games," she said to Charles. "You'll see."

"Who wants to go first?" Ben asked.

"I do," Stacy said. "I love balloons, so I wrote a story about balloons."

"Let's hear it," Ben said. "I can hardly wait."

"Okay," Stacy said. "This story is called Penny and her Flying Balloons."



Once upon a time, there was a girl named Penny. She loved balloons. One day, she had a great idea.

"If I can find enough balloons and fill them with helium," she thought to herself, "I could go up, up, up, and visit the moon."

She broke open her piggy bank and collected all her money. She went to all the stores in town, looking for balloons. She got 400 balloons and filled them with helium. She tied them together and made a harness of string. She put the harness on and flew up, up, up and away.

As she rose higher, the air got cold. The balloons started to pop. Pop! Pop! Pop! She started to sink closer to the ground. The wind blew her all the way to the North Pole. By this time most of the balloons had popped and she landed softly in the snow.

Some elves came along with a dog sled. "Who are you and what are you doing here?" they asked.

"My name is Penny," she said. "I was going to the moon, but I ended up here instead."

The elves took her to Santa Claus' house. He gave her some hot chocolate and a warm fur coat. Then he took her home in his sled.

"Where have you been?" her parents asked. "We were worried about you!"

"I tried to go to the moon," Penny said. "But I ended up at the North Pole instead."

"What an imagination!" her parents said. "You should be a writer."

"I want to be an astronaut," Penny said. "When I retire, I'll write about my adventures."

Tale #22 -- Charles' Story

When Stacy finished her story, all the children clapped. "Did you write that all by yourself?" Dancing Bear asked.

"I got some help from my big sister," Stacy said. "She's in high school."

"I helped too!" Tracy said.

"I didn't write my story," Charles said. "I found it in a magazine called Spellbound. This is a story the Inuit people tell. They live near the North Pole, just like Santa Claus."

"Let's hear it," Ben said.


How Light Came to the North

When the world was first born, it was always dark in the north. The people did not know there was such a thing as daylight until an old crow told them about it. They begged him to go and bring them some.

The crow flew for a long time until he came to a place where the sky was bright. He sat and rested in a tree beside a river. When the daughter of the chief of the nearby village came to the river for water, he turned himself into a speck of dust and rode on her shoulder into her father's snow lodge. He floated into the ear of the chief's young grandson and began to scratch. The little boy started to cry.

"What's wrong?" the chief asked.

"Say you want to play with a ball of daylight," whispered the speck of dust.

The chief told his daughter to fetch the daylight balls. He wrapped a string around a small one and gave it to the child. While the little boy was playing with it, the dust scratched his ear again.

"Tell your grandfather you want to play outside," the speck said.

As soon as the little boy left the snow lodge, the speck of dust turned into back into a crow. He grabbed the string in his claws and flew away with the ball of daylight.

When he reached the land of the Inuit, he let go of the string and let the ball drop. It shattered into tiny pieces, spilling light everywhere.

The people ran out of their houses. They could see in all directions! They thanked the crow again and again for bringing them daylight.

However, the ball of daylight was very small, so the people had daylight for only half the year. But they were grateful, and always treated crows with respect.


"Is that really true?" Jeanne asked. "Do the people up north have daylight for only half the year?"

"Yes," said Carol. "In the north, the summer days are very long and the winter days are very short. Above the Arctic Circle, there are days when the sun doesn't rise at all."

"I wouldn't like that," Jeanne said. "I don't think my mother would let me go outside to play in the dark."

"But there would be more time for telling stories," Dancing Bear said.

Tale # 23 -- Dancing Bear's Story

Soon all the guests had told their stories, except Dancing Bear. "What do you have for us?" Ben asked.

"I want to tell you a story from a First Nations culture," Dancing Bear said. "They are called the Haida. They live in British Columbia. This is about a man's visit to Grandfather Moon."

"Grandfather Moon?" Tracy asked. "Did the Haida believe that the moon is a person?"

"No," Dancing Bear said. "They thought a tribe of people lived on the moon. Grandfather Moon was their chief."


The Man Who Lost His Hair

There was once a young man who fell in love with a woman. She told him that she didn't like his hair, so he pulled it all out. When he returned to visit her, she told him that if he pulled out his eyebrows and eyelashes as well, she would fall in love with him. He was so much in love, he did what she said. Then she laughed at him, and told him she did not want him.

He was so ashamed that he refused to go out in the daytime. At night, he would sneak out to get the things he needed. To pass the time in his house, he began whittling arrows. Soon he had two boxes full.

When the moon was full and bright, he went outside with his two boxes of arrows and shot at the sky. The first arrow stuck in the sky. He shot again, and the second arrow stuck in the notch at the end of the first. He kept doing this until all his arrows were used up. The last arrow hung a bow's length from the ground. He began to climb the chain of arrows.

He arrived in the sky and found a town. He walked around until someone called to him from a big house. "Your grandfather invites you to come in."

Grandfather Moon treated the young man kindly, and invited him to sit on his right side. He noticed that the man's hair was gone. He called for a special box he had, and it was brought to him.

Grandfather Moon pulled the box apart. There was another box inside. He pulled that one apart as well. He did this five times, and took a comb out of the smallest box.

Grandfather Moon called for some water. He wet his hands and rubbed them on the man's eyes. The man became very good-looking. Then Grandfather Moon used the comb. Hair quickly appeared on the man's head. Soon he had hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, and a handsome moustache.

The man stayed with Grandfather Moon for many nights. Finally, it was time for him to return home. Grandfather Moon told him, "When you return, do not look at the woman who made you pull out your hair. Turn your back on her."

The man climbed down the arrows. He was no longer ashamed. He sat straight and tall in his father's house. Everyone came to look at him. He was the best-looking man in the village.

When the woman he had loved came to see him, he turned his back on her and found someone else to love.

"That's a weird story," Jeanne said. "Penny couldn't get to the moon with her balloons, but this man was able to make enough arrows to climb up."

"But it teaches an important lesson," Dancing Bear said.
"Never pull out your hair to make somebody love you," Ben said. "It won't work. If people love you, they love you just as you are."

Dancing Bear smiled at Ben. "I love you just as you are," she said. "Happy birthday."

Everybody yelled, "Happy birthday! Let's eat!"

Tale #24 -- Dancing Bear Says Good-Bye

"That was a wonderful party," Dancing Bear said to Ben. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Ben said. "Maybe you can come next year."

"I'd like that," Dancing Bear said. "Nobody ever invited me to a party before."

Dancing Bear walked back to 906 Alexandra and went to bed. In the morning, she got up, said good-bye to David McDougall and the cats, and went back to her cave in the forest.

"It's going to be quiet around here without that Dancing Bear." Bandit said.

"Peace and quiet are good," Oreo said. "I like to sleep without being disturbed."

"I guess so," Bandit said. "But this might be too much of a good thing. I can hardly wait for spring."

Tale #25 -- A Long Time Until Spring

"What's the matter with you?" Carol asked her brother Ben. "You're too quiet."

"What do you care?" Ben said. "I'm not bugging you."

"No, you're not," Carol said. "And that bugs me."

"I can't do anything right," Ben said. "You complain when I bug you, and you complain when I don't."

"Please tell me what's wrong," Carol said. "I want to help."

"I'm bored," Ben said. "Will you tell me a story?"

"You have lots of books and videos," Carol said.

"I know," Ben said. "But it's not the same."

Carol looked at her brother. "You really miss Dancing Bear, don't you?" she asked.

"Yes, I do," Ben said. He started to cry.

Carol got him some tissues. "Dancing Bear will be back," she said. "She really likes you."

Ben blew his nose. "Spring seems so far away!"

"Maybe you can make up a story to tell her when she comes back," Carol suggested.

"What would I tell a story about?" Ben said.

"Anything that interests you," Carol said.

Ben thought for a while. Then he said, "Last summer, Dorian went to a trip to Vancouver Island. He visited his grandmother in Parksville. When he got back, he told me about the Pacific Ocean. Do you think Dancing Bear would like an ocean story?"

"An ocean story sounds great!" Carol said. "Will it have a mermaid in it?"

"I'll see what I can do," Ben said.

Tale #26 -- Jacob and the Mermaid

Jacob lived in Ontario with his parents and his baby sister Alice. When his grandmother retired, she moved to Vancouver Island. Jacob missed her a lot.

"Cheer up!" his mother told him. "We'll fly out there for a visit soon."

When summer arrived, the whole family went to Vancouver Island. They flew to Victoria. Then they rented a car and drove to Campbell River.

Jacob was happy to see his grandmother again. He hugged her and told her about everything that had happened since she left. Then he hugged her again. She took him for a walk along the ocean and told him about the animals and birds who lived there -- seals and orcas and eagles and cormorants and dolphins. She also explained how the moon's gravity made the water of the ocean rise and fall.

"You have to be careful near the ocean," Jacob's grandmother warned him. "Sometimes the tide comes in very quickly."

One day, while the others were busy, Jacob decided to go to the ocean by himself. First he made a sand castle with a moat. Then he played on some rocks. He discovered tide pools full of crabs and starfish and sea anemones and lots of little fish. He was having so much fun that he didn't notice the tide coming in.

When he was ready to go home, the whole beach was under water. He was on a little island of rock, surrounded by waves! The shore seemed very far away.
"I wonder how deep that water is," Jacob said to himself. He was worried, because he wasn't a good swimmer yet.

Just then, a big wave washed over the rocks. Jacob fell down and hit his head so hard that he was knocked out.
When he woke up, he was lying on some sand in a cave. A girl with green hair was watching him.

"Are you all right?" she asked. Jacob noticed she had a fish tail instead of legs.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"This is my special hiding place," the young mermaid said. "You were washed into the ocean, so I brought you here. I know you can't breathe water like I do."

"Thank you for saving my life," Jacob said. "What's your name?"

"My name is Marinelle," the mermaid said.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Jacob said. "My name is Jacob Wisemann."

They talked for a while. Then Marinelle showed Jacob some stepping stones he could use to get back to shore. When his grandmother saw his wet clothes, she scolded him for being careless.

"I met a mermaid," Jacob said. "Her name is Marinelle, and--"

"You're grounded for two days," his grandmother said. "One day for almost getting yourself killed, and one day for trying to distract me with that crazy story." Before she let Jacob go near the ocean again, she made him promise to be more careful.

After that, Jacob went to visit Marinelle's special hiding place whenever he could. Marinelle helped him improve his swimming. She showed him all her favourite places along the beach.

"I wish I could take you home to meet my family," Marinelle said.

"Me too," Jacob said. "Maybe I can rent some scuba equipment when I'm older."

Marinelle had no clothes, so Jacob gave her one of his T-shirts as a farewell gift. If you happen to be cruising on the ocean near Campbell River, watch for a mermaid wearing a T-shirt that says HEARST -- MOOSE CAPITAL OF CANADA. If you see her, wave and yell, "Hi Marinelle!" Maybe she'll wave back.

Tale #27 -- The McDougall Dilemma

"Whatever are we going to do with that David McDougall?" Oreo asked Bandit. "He's impossible!"

Bandit yawned and looked up at Oreo. She was sitting on the back of the couch and he was stretched out on the floor. "You've been complaining all day," he said. "Can you please let me get some sleep?"

"He just sits there and stares at the television," Oreo said. "Sometimes it isn't even turned on."

Bandit yawned again and closed his eyes.

"He doesn't go out except to go to work," Oreo complained. "Nobody comes to visit. He doesn't talk to us. Sometimes he forgets to feed us. He hardly ever brushes me any more."

Bandit pretended to be asleep.

"WAKE UP!" Oreo yowled. "This is a serious emergency!"

Bandit opened his eyes, got up, and jumped onto the couch. He stared at Oreo eyeball to eyeball. "I am bigger than you, and you are getting on my nerves."

Oreo's fur stood on end all over her body, even her tail. She looked as fierce as she could. "You may have grown a little, but you are still nothing but a whippersnapper!"

She threw herself at Bandit. They fell off the couch and wrestled on the floor. Oreo squirmed away and ran down the basement stairs. Bandit followed her. He caught up with her in David McDougall's woodworking shop, and they wrestled in the sawdust on the floor. Oreo tried to bite Bandit, but all she got was a mouthful of fur. Bandit ran upstairs. Oreo was right behind him.

Bandit stopped suddenly. Oreo crashed into him and they both fell down. They didn't feel like fighting any more, so they just lay there.

"If I promise to do something about David McDougall," Bandit said, "will you let me get some rest?"

"Okay," Oreo said. "Just make sure you remember." She jumped onto the back of the couch. Bandit jumped onto the other end. They settled themselves comfortably and went to sleep.

Tale #28 -- Bandit's Excellent Plan

"Bandit! Oreo! What have you been doing?" David McDougall yelled. The carpet and couch were covered with sawdust.

The cats ignored him and pretended to go on sleeping.

David McDougall dragged the vacuum cleaner into the living room and plugged it in. Bandit and Oreo leaped off the couch and streaked down the stairs. They hated the sound of the vacuum cleaner.

"At least he's not staring at the TV," Bandit said.

"That's true," Oreo said. "Do you really have a plan to help him?"

"Yes, I do," Bandit said. "Watch and learn."

After supper, David McDougall settled down in his favourite chair. Bandit walked to the front door and meowed. Then he walked back to David McDougall and stared at him.

"You're not fooling me," David McDougall grunted. "I know you won't go out into the snow."

Bandit kept walking back and forth, meowing and staring. Finally, David McDougall heaved himself onto his feet. "This had better be a false alarm!" he said as he opened the door. Bandit sat down and stared until David McDougall got a broom and swept the snow from the porch. Then Bandit walked onto the porch, holding his fluffy tail proudly in the air.

"See you later," David McDougall said.

An hour later, David McDougall opened the door again. Bandit was gone.

"I guess he's gone visiting," David McDougall said to Oreo. She came over and sat on his footstool, purring. He started brushing her.

David McDougall kept going to the door all evening, but Bandit did not come back. When he was ready to go to bed, he turned on the porch light and called Bandit's name. There was no answer.

In the morning, David McDougall looked outside again. Still no Bandit.

"I have to go to work," David McDougall told Oreo. "If he shows up now, he'll just have to sit on the porch until I come home. He'll be cold, but that's his problem."

Oreo meowed.

"Do you miss him?" David McDougall said. "Poor girl."

Oreo jumped onto the couch and went to sleep. She wasn't worried. She knew that Bandit was carrying out his plan.

When David McDougall came home, Bandit was nowhere to be seen. But there was a message from Ben on the telephone answering machine.

"Mr. McDougall," Ben's voice said, "Your cat Bandit is at our house. Please come and get him. We live at 1431 Prince Street."

David McDougall got Bandit's pet taxi and went out to his truck. Half an hour later, he came back with Bandit.

"Did your plan work?" Oreo asked.

"Oh yes," Bandit said. "He invited Ben to come over after school tomorrow."

Tale # 29 --The Cat Who Wanted Boots

"When will school be out?" Bandit asked. He was getting bored.

"Relax, young whippersnapper," Oreo said. "Ben will get here when he gets here."

"What is that Oracle thing, anyway, and why does David McDougall want to take a course about it?" Bandit complained. "Doesn't he care about us?"

"It's something about computers," Oreo said. "It will help him with his work. He has to work so he can afford cat food for us."

"There's something wrong with the world," Bandit said. "We deserve more attention."

"At least David McDougall got Ben to cat-sit," Oreo said. "He does an excellent job of brushing me."

"I liked it better when Dancing Bear was here," Bandit said.

"Can you remember one of her stories?" Oreo asked. "That would help to pass the time."

Bandit thought. "Well, I remember one about a cat with boots."

"A cat with boots?" Oreo asked. "Why would a cat want boots? A cat with boots can't climb trees."

"I don't know," Bandit said. "Maybe his feet were cold."

"Tell me more," Oreo said.

"A miller had two sons," Bandit said. "When he died, he left his mill to the older son, and his cat to the younger one."

"What kind of mill?" Oreo asked.

"I guess it was a pulp and paper mill," Bandit said.

"Pulp and paper mills smell like rotten eggs," Oreo said. "The younger son was lucky to get the cat."

"This cat knew human speech," Bandit said. "He asked his master for a pair of boots. His master told him he had no cash. If he wanted boots, he'd have to come up with a plan for raising some money."

"So what did he do?" Oreo asked.

"He went downtown and snuck into offices and listened to people talking," Bandit said. "He found out which stocks were the best investment. On his way home, he danced in the street and sang some songs. When a crowd gathered, he passed his hat around."

"He had a hat?" Oreo asked.

"Of course he did," Bandit said. "Haven't you heard about the Cat in the Hat? He was in a movie."

"You mean to tell me that this was the same cat?" Oreo asked.

"Well, it could have been," Bandid answered.

"So, what happened next?" Oreo asked.

"The cat brought home a hatful of cash and took his master out for supper." Bandit said. "The next day, the man took out a bank loan and bought some stock."

"A bank loan?" Oreo said. "What did he use for collateral?"

"The cat, of course," Bandit said.

"And then?" Oreo asked.

"Well," Bandit said. "The stock went up and the man made enough money to get an apartment, some cat food, and a three-piece suit."

"What about the boots?" Oreo asked.

"Yes, yes -- he got the cat some nice red cowboy boots," Bandit said. "But when the cat tried to sneak into offices with his boots on, he made too much noise and everybody noticed him. So he only wore them when he went line-dancing. That's how Dancing Bear met him."

"Dancing Bear met the Cat in the Hat while they were line-dancing?" Oreo asked. "Are you sure?"

"Well, anything is possible, isn't it?" Bandit asked.

Tale #30 -- Ben's Christmas Story

"Would you like to hear a Christmas story?" Ben asked the cats. He had finished feeding them and brushing them and cleaning out their litter box, but he didn't feel like going home yet.

Ben sat down in the big chair where Dancing Bear used to sit. Oreo jumped on his lap, and Bandit sat on the footstool and stared at him.

"I guess that means yes," Ben said. "I wish I could speak your language."

"Me too," Oreo said. "I will have to figure out a way to teach him."

"Give him time to learn," Bandit said. "Sometimes he seems to understand quite well."

"I don't think he really understands," Oreo said. "It's just a conditioned reaction."

"Don't underestimate humans," Bandit said. "Some of them are quite intelligent."

"Do you want to hear the story, or do you just want to go on talking about me?" Ben asked.

"See?" Bandit said. "He's not as dumb as you think."

Oreo looked up at Ben. "Please tell the story. Tell us the story now. Do you understand? Dic statim nobis fabulam. Noli dubitare!*" She dug her claws in his leg.

"Ouch!" Ben laughed. "Take it easy. Patience is a virtue, you know."


*(Latin) Dic statim nobis fabulam. Noli dubitare! Tell us the story at once. Don't hesitate!


BEN'S CHRISTMAS STORY

A long time ago, a little girl named Cara lived in a cabin in the woods with her father. Her mother had died so long ago that she could hardly remember her. Every morning, her father would go to work cutting wood, and leave her alone all day. She kept busy cooking and cleaning and gathering branches for the fire.

One day, three men came walking past her cabin. They wore long silken robes and pointy hats. She was curious and lonely, so she invited them in and made them some tea. "Where do you come from, and where are you going?" she asked.

"We are from far, far away," the man in the green robe said. "Have you noticed a bright star in the sky lately? We are following it to see where it leads."

"What do you hope to find?" she asked.

"Well," the man in the swirling blue and gold robe said, "usually a bright new star means that an important person has been born, and the world is going to change."

"Really?" Cara said. "I would like that, provided it changes for the better."

The man in the black and silver robe said, "You are very wise for someone so young. A lot of people think all change is good."

"Would you like to come with us?" the man in the green robe asked. "I think you would be a big help."

"My father needs me here," Cara said. "He works hard all day. If I went away, he would come home to a cold and dark house every night."

After she went to bed that night, Cara couldn't sleep. She was thinking about the three men and the adventures they would have. Would her own life always be the same dull routine?

Finally, she cried herself to sleep. She had a beautiful dream about a baby in a manger. The three men were kneeling in front of him and giving him expensive presents. Some angels were singing beautiful songs. One of them looked just like her mother.

In the morning, her father asked her, "Why were you crying last night?"

Cara didn't want to tell him. She loved him very much and didn't want to hurt his feelings by telling him how lonely and boring her days were.

Her father asked her again. "Why were you crying last night? Please tell me. I want to know what's wrong."

"Three men came past the cabin yesterday," Cara said. "They were following the bright new star in the sky, looking for a very important person who will change the world. They asked me to go with them."

Her father gave her a hug. "Thank you for staying with me. Without you, I would have nobody to talk to in the evenings. I think about you all day while I work. You are my most precious treasure."

Cara felt warm inside. "It's all right, Father," she said. "I saw the special baby in my dreams last night. I know I can visit him whenever I want."

Tears came into her father's eyes. "I dreamed of him too," he said. "His name is Love, and he lives here with us."