Goodbye Mama Bear

“Let's take a walk together,” said Mama Bear. It was very early, and the sun wasn't up yet. Little Bear rubbed his eyes and stretched big like a starfish. “Where are we going?” asked Little Bear. “To the moon and back, Little Bear,” whispered Mama Bear. “But it's so dark. How will we find our way?” asked Little Bear. Mama Bear led him to the window and pointed at the full moon that lit the night sky and danced in the tall grass below. They crept down the stairs and tiptoed out the front door. They walked paw-in-paw for what felt like forever. “Isn't it beautiful!” Mama Bear exclaimed. Her face was glowing, and she opened her arms to the sky. Little Bear thought about how beautiful his mother was in the moonlight. She picked up Little Bear and they spun around and around before falling to the ground.

They rolled over and looked up at the stars. “Are we going to finish our walk to the moon now?” asked Little Bear. “No, Little Bear, this is the part of our journey that I must take alone. Don't be afraid. I will always walk beside you in the moonlight and you can forever find me in the stars.” A tear ran down Mama Bear's cheek, and Little Bear started to cry. He didn't want to let her go because he knew that she wasn't coming back home. “I will hold your paw until you fall asleep Little Bear.” And she did.

Many moons have risen in the sky since then and Little Bear isn't so little anymore, but he still loves to run out into the tall grass under the light of the moon and talk with Mama Bear. Sometimes she answers him through the wind and whispers, “I love you to the moon and back Little Bear.”