WELL DO THEY?

****WARNING THIS POST IS LONG, YOU MAY NEED TO GATHER FRESHMENTS BEFORE YOU VIEW*****

Some of the bears are watching the Christmas adverts on the computer in Mr Dad's office.

"What's he doing? " asks Hugo
"Sniffing the air" replies Gloria
" Yes He want's to find out where the nearest burger king is" says Aimee
" NO he does not!" says Gloria sternly " he is sniffing the air because it's winter and he can smell the snow coming"
"Oh! " say all the other bears..

"What's he doing now? " asks Hugo
" Hibernating " says Gloria
"What's hifinating? " asks Hugo
" Hibernating " corrects Gloria " is when bears go to their caves and sleep through the cold winter months until spring arrives "

"Oh!" say all the other bears.....

"Hey! What's that rabbit doing? " asks Hugo
" That's Hoppit and he's come to do in Reuben who is sleeping in the cave!" laughs Mossy
" Mossy!" says Gloria sternly as poor Hugo starts to shake in fear " It's not Hoppit , it's the bears friend who is leaving him a Christmas present "

"Oh!" say all the bears...

"Look it's daytime " says Aimee "Why's he got his hand over his eyes? "
" Because he's got a head ache? "
" NO, he is trying to sleep "
"Oh!" say all the bears....

"Look! " says Hugo excitedly " The rabbit left him a present "
" Yes it's probably a bomb!" say Mossy
"MOSSY!" says Gloria
" Oh ok it's a jar of honey " says Mossy " Happy now ? " he asks Gloria

"Oh!" say the bears....

The advert finishes with the bear and his friends sitting round the Christmas tree.
" Oh that's so sweet " says Aimee
Some of the others agree and they start chatting about what they have seen.

"OH NO!" says Mossy suddenly making everyone stop and look at him " We have not been hibernating!"
" We've not? " asks Diggory who is never sure about anything due to his head wounds from having the dreaded Lucas decide to find his brain!!
"No" replies Mossy " we need to hibernate now ! Today !"

"Are you sure ? " questions Gertie
" Of course " says Mossy importantly " We are bears, he's a bear, you have just seen him go to sleep for the winter! " he puffs out his chest " So we must go to sleep for the winter!"

"Well " says Aimee to Gertie " I for one am not sleeping in no dirty smelly old cave on dead leaves and old grass"
Gertie shudders " No I'm not either !"

That sets off a debate about where they can sleep out the winter! Someone says about asking Drago if he'll share his lair in the garden but others refuse to sleep out with the dragon in case he gets peckish while they are sleeping!
Lots of arguing occurs until they all finally agree ......

Lila and Mossy lead the way.....

The Living room!!! Mossy and Lila nab the armchair knowing they won't have to squeeze up with all the others on the sofa.
They ignore Reuben who is locked in the bird cage on the side table.

 "Let me out!" demands Reuben from the cage
" Pretend you cannot hear him " Mossy tells Lila

Next in are Aimee and Gertie. Aimee gives Gertie a push up onto the sofa. " Have you put on weight ? " she asks puffing
" NO I have not!" says Gertie annoyed " It's not me who keeps having an extra honey sandwich before bed!"

Soon they are all snuggled up ready for their winter hibernation. Reuben watches them in amazement!

"What an earth are you lot doing? " demands Reuben "and let me out of this cage!"
"Ignore him " says Mossy , the others pretend they cannot hear his grumbling!

Finally Gertie and Aimee get fed up with Reuben keep asking questions and turn round and tell him what they are doing .
"Why Oh Why ! " sighs Reuben " do have to live with this bunch of idiots!"
"Cheek!" gasps Aimee " If anyone's an idiot it's you!"
"Yes " agrees Gertie " We are not locked in a cage to keep us from sending letters to Np girl's around the world!"
"Let me out!" says Reuben growling " NOW"

The girl's settle back down to sleep while Reuben growls . After a while he goes quiet and all the bears start to drift off to sleep then suddenly Reuben starts singing and he cannot hold a tune!!
" One thousand bottles of milk on the wall one thousand bottles of milk and if one bottle of milk should accidently  fallllll.... they'll be nine hundred and ninety nine bottles of milk on the wall"

"Be quiet Reuben !" " Give it a rest!" " SAVE ME!"
"Eight hundred and eighty four bottle of milk on the wall......"
The bears try covering their ears but Reuben just sings louder..

Finally Mossy can stand it no more and lets Reuben out of the cage! A triumphant Reuben swaggers off to wards the door.
" When I see that postman I'm going to pop his cork! " he grumbles " I gave him two shillings to post my letters and I found them thrown in the hedge "
"What's a shilling? " asks Hugo
" It's old English money which is why the postman probably threw his letters away! Well that and he probably did not want Hattie on his case!" says Gloria

At last the bears all settle down and all's peaceful..for a while...

Mossy is awakened by Edward pushing his arm " Mossy Mossy!  what's going on?"
A dazed Mossy looks at Edward " We are sleeping out the winter !"
" What an earth for !" asks Edward confused
" because we are bears!"

"So?" asks Edward
Mossy feels smug knowing something that Edward obviously does not
" We are Hibernating for the Winter ! It's what bears do!"
" Yes it is " confirm's Edward " Bear's do indeed hibernate for the winter months. Brown bears, Grizzly bears BUT and this is the important part " says Edward " NOT TEDDY BEARS!" he finishes loudly waking up all the others who take in what he's just said!
"But on the TV !" starts Mossy
" How many times have I told you not everything you see on tv is true!" sighs Edward " I bet you saw that advert with the bear and the hare!"
They all nod
" Why am I not surprised " Edward sighs again " and if you are hibernating what are you doing in the living room? We are about to start putting up the Christmas decorations! and what's more what about Christmas? That's when teddy's are needed the most! "
The bears all start to get up and head towards the door after a departing Edward..

" I knew that Mossy did not know what he was talking about!" says Aimee
"Then why are we here? " says Gertie
" Well I just fancied a lie down " says Aimee thinking quickly " But now I fancy a honey cake topped with fresh cream !"
" Oo that sounds lovely " Gertie smiles " maybe I should have one to, just to keep you company of course "
" Of course " agrees Aimee and the girls wander off to the kitchen

But what's this! Hugo the little bear is sound asleep.
"Are you coming to the kitchen for a honey cake with cream ? " Gloria asks Diggory
" No no you go , I'll stay here with the youngster until he wakes "
" If you are sure " asks Gloria
" Yes yes  you hurry along before those two eat the lot!"

Once everyone's gone, Diggory slips under the cover with Hugo and snuggles down " I may as well be comfy while I wait for him to wake up " he mutters.

Soon all is quiet save for the gentle snores of an old bear .............



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Hope you enjoyed this marathon of a post ! I did recommend you get a cup of tea or coffee at the start!