Much-Loved Bears

A little while after we got home from our boat journey on the River Weaver, it was time for a visit to Grizzly's grandcubs.  We are always a little wary around human cubs because, although they love and cuddle us, they also tend to throw us around, drop us on our heads and pick us up by the ears.  Hanley Bear does his best to protect his ears by wearing his football hat but my hat has ear holes, so mine are still accessible.   

Human cubs don't mean to be cruel, I'm sure; they simply don't appreciate that these things hurt! 

Although there are a few risks to us bears when we visit Grizzly's grandcubs, there are also lots of fun things to do because they have some great toys.  We had hoped we could stay hidden in Polar and Grizzly's room during our visit, having daytime naps and sneaking out to play with the toys at night, but Grizzly took us to meet the cubs in a café, when they were coming home from school.

'Are you sure this is a good idea?' I asked him.

'Oh yes,' said Grizzly.  'The boys love you, little bears.'

They love Grizzly too, but they also jump on him, pretend he's a monster - and they pull his ears as well.

The cubs were pleased to see us.  We had chocolate brownies to eat, then we went to see the dinosaur statue in the village square.  Of course, we bears had to climb it but it was bronze and quite slippery to climb and I fell off.  The older grandcub picked me up and cuddled me, which made me feel better. 

When we got home, the humans had tea and we started exploring the toy box and shelf.  We found Star Wars things, including an X-wing fighter which the small bears could sit in.  We were having lots of fun with these when, suddenly, the grandcubs came in from the kitchen and picked us up.  We worried that we might get bounced or dropped or carried by the ears, but instead, the boys sat us nicely on the settee. 

Then they went to fetch all their small bears.  Soon, we were surrounded by new friends, all having a bear party together.  We felt very loved and welcome.

When it was bedtime for the human cubs, they decided it was bears' bedtime too, so we were all tucked up under a blanket together in a big, cosy hug.  Of course, as soon as the humans were asleep, we all got up to play with the toys.  Hanley Bear's favourite was table football.  He was always the red team and always won against other bears, but not when he was playing against the grandcubs the next morning.

'Boo!' he complained, although he didn't really mind as we were getting ready for another small bear adventure with them, which I will tell you about in my next blog post.