Maribeth & The Three Bears

Once upon a time in the land of lakes and mountains, there lived a girl named Maribeth. She lived in a house with her Hubby and two dogs, Fritz and Greta. She had a garden of vegetables and 35 fruit trees, which surrounded her house. Her life was quiet and good and she was very happy.

One cool, dark, night the small dog, Greta needed to be walked outside in the back yard.. So Maribeth got on her coat and slippers and went outside with little Greta on a leash.

Suddenly Greta stopped moving. Greta’s ears perked up, her nose started to sniff and then Maribeth could hear a low, slow, growl emanating from her throat. Fritz, the larger dog had nudged the door to the house open just a little and he had his head sticking out. Maribeth could hear a low, slow, growl coming from him as well.

Then a whooshing noise came from the field, and Maribeth knew something large was rushing toward them! Since a Mama Bear and two baby bears had been seen in the neighborhood recently, Maribeth quickly ran into the house, dragging a barking Greta, as quickly as she could!

Maribeth pressed her face against the glass of the door in an attempt to see what was out there. Greta and Fritz continued to both growl and bark. Something was out there!

Maribeth came back to the safety of her computer and tried to ignore the dogs. Perhaps, if they all ignored the critter outside, it would just go away!

An hour or so later, the dogs needed to go out again, and Maribeth couldn’t say no. As much as she feared the bear, she knew she must do this. Slowly, she opened the door. Stepping carefully outside with Greta on a leash, she inched her way toward the grass, her ears perked up, (Maribeth’s, not Greta’s) listening intently for any sudden noises. None came.

When both dogs had communed with nature, Maribeth came inside, closed and locked the door and then finally started to breath again.