Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Nine) Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

        Paul Bunyan’s home was in a giant cave set up with furniture and other really big things. Paul Jr. even had a little bedroom in a smaller cave to sleep in on weekends or during school breaks.   

        Lucas was beginning to feel like Jack after climbing up the beanstalk into the giant land.   Paul Jr. saw Lucas feeling nervous and knew exactly where to take him.

        “Follow me,” he invited

        Lucas followed him to see what his bedroom was like, and as they were walking Lucas noticed the corral for Babe, the giant blue ox. It was in a darker part of the giant cave, only it was empty. The only thing inside was some fresh food that lined Babe’s feeding box.

        “Where’s Babe?” Lucas whispered to Paul Jr., quietly, hoping Paul Bunyan did not hear him.

        Paul Bunyan was talking to John Henry in the main room, explaining the situation with Babe at the Hetch Hetchy dam.

        “They are talking about him right now, let’s go listen,” suggested Paul Jr.

        Paul Bunyan seemed worried about Babe, and was wondering if the government decides he is too dangerous, what would they do.

        “Babe left yesterday to find some apple trees to snack on,” Paul Bunyan explained to John

        Lucas could not resist. 

        “Do you just let him wonder?” asked Lucas. “Aren’t you afraid he might be seen?”

        Paul Bunyan reached down and picked up Lucas and Paul Jr., setting them next to John Henry.

        They all sat on a large table in front of Paul Bunyan.  His deep voice caused the table to rumble, startling Lucas a little.  

        “Babe is old and wise,” Paul Bunyan explained. “He’s probably grazing near the Hetch Hetchy lake.”      

        “Why did he crack the dam?” Lucas asked.

        Paul Bunyan smiled and moved a little closer to Lucas. Close enough Lucas could smell his peanut butter breath again.

        “We have both been a little upset about the damage the dam has caused to the Hetch Hetchy valley,” he explained. “Babe is a creature of Nature and he wanted to do the right thing, only he did it without thinking of the dangerous consequences it would have.”

        “Did anyone get hurt?” asked Lucas.

        “No, just a few feelings,” Paul Bunyan replied. “If Babe had really taken out the dam, thousands of lives may have been lost.”

        John interrupted.

        “Babe understands the danger now and will help fix his mistake,” he explained.

        “Does he talk?” asked Lucas.

        “No, but he understands,” John explained.

“The Hetch Hetchy dam is a touchy subject that affects the lives of millions, so millions need to decide its fate. It’s not up to us.”      

        Just then the smaller door leading to the top of the cave stairs opened and Ranger Pam walked in.

        “Hey everyone!” she shouted.

        She looked like she was a mile away, but for Paul Bunyan she was no farther than two large steps.

        “Ranger Pamahas! It’s great to see you,” Paul Bunyan said welcoming her into his home.

        He carefully allowed her to climb into his hand as he brought her down to sit next to us.

        “What a treat to have so many visitors,” Paul Bunyan said joyfully.

        “I come with a request from Talitha and the President,” she explained.

        “The President of what?” asked Lucas.

        Even Paul Jr, was a little confused.

        Ranger Pam removed her Ranger hat and read from a letter that was found rolled up inside.

        “That’s tomorrow morning!” Paul Jr. protested.

        “It sure is!” John Henry replied. “The path to Yosemite Falls is always full of people in the mornings, but I am sure security will make sure the area is clear.”

        Ranger Pam put her Ranger hat back on her head and looked up at Paul Bunyan.

        “Talitha thinks you may no longer be required to keep your life a secret,” she explained.

        Paul’s face immediately lit up with happiness.

        “You mean I would be free?” he asked.

        John cleared his throat.

        “Don’t get your hopes up too much,” he explained. “There is usually fine print to read before you get too excited.”

        Paul Bunyan walked around the room and sat in a chair next to the large fireplace.

        “I just am ready to stop hiding and live in a normal place,” he explained.

        “No more secrets!” added Lucas.

        “That’s right!” Paul Bunyan replied.

        John stood up and waived for Paul’s attention.

        “After learning about this Presidential visit, I think we need to get back to camp and prepare. Do you mind taking Lucas and I back to the spot you picked us up?” he asked politely.

        Lucas began feeling a little sad.  It’s not every day a kid is able to spend time with a giant.

        “Can’t we stay a little longer?” Lucas asked. “Paul Jr. was going to show me how they get electricity all the way up here.”

        “It will have to wait,” John replied. “I need to talk to mom and I can’t get a signal way up here.”

        “Mr. Paul Bunyan, can I ask you a question,” Lucas shouted as Paul was putting his massive feet into socks and boots.

        “Yes, little buddy,” Paul replied.

        Lucas hesitated a little before asking his question. He wanted to spend so much more time with Paul Bunyan.

        “I saw a cartoon once where you took the kids swimming. I know cartoons are not real, but I wanted to know if that ever happened?” he asked.

        “It did, a long time ago!” Paul replied. “I take Paul Jr. swimming all the time, but no children have seen me publicly in over a hundred years.” 

        “I am not sure if we will have time to swim here in Yosemite, but I promise to go swimming with you and your dad in the Grand Canyon, as soon as the dam is repaired,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        John looked up at Paul.

        “Let’s get going back to camp before we lose any more sunlight.” 

        Lucas tapped Paul Jr. on the shoulder.

        “How did Ranger Pam get here so fast?” he asked.  “She was just with my mom.”

        Paul Jr. chuckled.

        “Search and Rescue are always making trips up here, so we usually just ask for a ride,” he explained.

        After everyone was securely sitting on Paul Bunyan’s shoulders, Paul left his home to hike down the mountain to drop them off.

        “Hey John,” Paul Bunyan called as he continued to walk.

        “Yes,” John replied.

        “When do you leave for the Grand Canyon?” he asked.

        “Probably tomorrow after the President leaves,” John replied.

        “I probably will not make it for another few days, not until the crack in the dam is fixed,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        “We are going to need your help,” John insisted. “Kokopelli is not easy to find, and if we find her, we will need your help to get her into the basket.”

        “Did we find the basket yet?” asked Paul Bunyan.

        “My grandmother’s basket is in my living room,” Ranger Pam interrupted. “Safe and sound.”

        Lucas was completely lost.

        “I thought we were going to the Grand Canyon to go camping,” he told his dad. “And who is Kokopelli?”

        John smiled at Lucas calmly.

        “We are going camping there as promised. We just need to pick up Kokopelli to help us solve this climate problem we have been facing,” John explained.

        “Yes, but who is Kokopelli?” Lucas repeated.

        John continued to explain.

        “Kokopelli is very powerful and is usually resting between seasons.  She controls most of the elements that give us wind, rain, and snow.”

        “So, is Kokopelli the name of Mother Nature?” Lucas asked. 

        “It is the name she has been called for over five thousand years,” John replied. 

        Lucas finally understood a little better.  He was still frustrated having to leave Yosemite so soon.

        “Why do we leave tomorrow?” he asked.

        John was expecting this question all day.

        “We will be back next year,” John said joyfully, “And tomorrow you get to ride on a train called the Cannonball.”

        Lucas instantly felt better.

        “With Casey Jones?” he asked.

        “The one and only,” John replied.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Eight) Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake

        Back at camp, it was Lucas and John’s turn to clean up lunch as they prepared to meet Paul Bunyan. Paul Jr. watched Lucas with his father, wishing someday he could spend time out in the open with his own father.

        Lucy and Tali were both gone helping Ranger Pam rescue an injured mule on the trail to Merced Lake.

        The cold water had given Lucas a chill that would not go away, and he began shivering as the shade from the trees moved over and covered him.

        John noticed his teeth chattering.

        “Stand over in the sunlight and you warm up pretty quick,” John instructed.

        Lucas quickly moved back into the sunlight and raised his arms into the air trying to catch the heat like an antenna. 

        After a minute the warm light from the sun began to reach his bones. He finally stopped shivering.

        “You're right dad, I’m feeling warm,” Lucas said.

        Paul Jr. led the way as hundreds of people were hiking to Mirror Lake.  Lucas began to feel worried about how many people might see Paul Bunyan.

        “Do you think these people will see your dad?” Lucas asked Paul Jr.

        Paul Jr. chuckled.

        “My dad can sneak up on a tiger,” Paul Jr. explained. “He’s an expert at hiding, both day and night.”

        Lucas felt relieved and was happy as soon as John Henry picked him up to put him on his shoulders.

        “Your tiny legs are going to make us miss our ride,” John explained.

        They could hike much faster and make it to a hidden trail right past Mirror Lake, right inside the shadow of Half Dome.

        The trail abruptly ended leading right into a granite wall.

        Lucas looked up as far as he could see to the cliff of the mountain.

        “We don’t have to climb now do we?” he asked.

        “Not from here,” Paul Jr. explained. “Come sit next to this tree so you can see how we finish our journey.”  

        Lucas looked around anxiously for any sign of a giant man who is almost two hundred feet tall.

        As soon as they sat down on a large granite rock, the ground began to move.

        “What is happening?” Lucas called out. “Why is the ground moving?”

        Paul Jr. could not help his laughing. 

        “It’s just fine,” he explained.

        John took Lucas by the hand to keep him from running away.

        “He is here,” John said with a smile.

        Lucas squeezed John's hand as hard as he could, pulling himself closer into John’s chest to cover his eyes.

        The ground below abruptly began to lift straight up into the air like an elevator.

        “Are we moving, or am I just feeling dizzy?” asked Lucas.

        Paul Jr. was enjoying every second.

        “We are inside my dad’s hand,” he replied.

        Lucas quickly looked around for some proof, unaware that they were now over one hundred feet up in the air.

        “This is amazing!” he said, looking around at the world getting smaller.

        He felt a tickle in his tummy as they continued to rise into the air.

        Paul Bunyan’s giant fingers curled up around them, keeping them from falling.  Each finger was almost as big as John Henry.

        Lucas looked up to see Paul Bunyan’s smiling face. His teeth were hidden in the shadow of his thick beard, surprisingly clean for someone who could not use any regular toothbrush.

        His eyes were giant too, with eyelashes that looked like whiskers of a giant cat.

        “You are doing great,” John said. “How are you feeling?”

        Lucas did not even hear the question. He was still studying the largest human he had ever seen.

        “This doesn’t seem real,” Lucas whispered.

        Unexpectedly a giant rumble caused Lucas to sit quickly on his father’s lap. The rumble sounded like thunder was forming inside Paul Bunyan’s chest.

        “This must be our living LUCA,” boomed the Great Paul Bunyan in his deep booming voice. “I love him already.”

        Lucas noticed that Paul Bunyan’s breath smelled like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

        “What is a living LUCA?” he asked with a shaky voice. 

        Lucas was bracing for more rumbling out of Paul’s giant chest again.

        This time Paul spoke with a lighter voice, avoiding any rumble.

        “LUCA is the last universal common ancestor,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        “Don’t give him any more reason to stay up at night,” John Henry insisted.

        “We can teach you about that later,” Paul Bunyan explained.

        Lifting his giant hand, Paul Bunyan turned them around to get a better look at all of them.

        “Hey son!” he said once he noticed Paul Jr. was sitting next to them. “Happy to see you again today.”

        “I love you too!” Paul Jr. replied, pulling out his smartphone to play a game.

        John Henry reached back and gave a few smacks on Paul Bunyan’s giant thumb.

        “It is great to see you again old friend,” he said cheerfully.

        “I miss your company ever since you came out of hiding, John Henry. How is that great wife of yours, Talitha?” he asked. 

        “She is doing better than ever,” John explained. “Working on your case right now.”

        Lucas could not get over the overwhelming smell of peanut butter and jelly on Paul Bunyan’s breath.   

        “Did you have a PB & J sandwich?” he interrupted.

        Both John and Paul Bunyan began to laugh. 

        “Do you know why they really call them PB & J sandwiches?” Paul Bunyan asked Lucas.

        “That’s easy, Peanut Butter and Jelly.” he explained.

        Paul Jr. was even confused at why his father and John Henry were laughing.

        Paul Bunyan finally explained.

        “As one of the largest people alive, it has always been hard to eat enough food that will fill me up,” he explained.

        “Of course,” Lucas replied. “You could probably eat a hundred PB & J sandwiches."

        “That’s right!” Paul Bunyan replied.  “But back in those days, no one ever tasted one before your father and I came along.”

        “We started mixing the jam and peanut butter, and started a business selling sandwiches to railroad workers,” Paul Bunyan said proudly.

        John noticed that Lucas was still feeling confused. 

        “We named the business after the initials of our own names. Paul Bunyan & John,” he clarified.

        Lucas could not tell if they were telling him a joke or not, but both began laughing as hard as they could. 

        The laughter of Paul Bunyan was much scarier than Lucas imagined.  He was lucky Paul closed his fingers a little before anyone could fall out of his hand.

        A distant sound caught Paul Bunyan’s attention as he noticed a pair of hikers were on the hidden trail, getting closer to their location.

        Paul Bunyan’s eyebrows lifted giving him a slightly worried look on his face.

        “If you don’t mind, we must take this conversation to my home,” he whispered.

        John helped Lucas onto Paul Bunyan’s shoulder to allow him to use both hands as he climbed.

        Paul was quick climbing to the top of the steep granite cliff, holding on to trees and using large cracks in the walls to make it safely to the top of the cliff.

        Lucas loved the ride as his tummy tickled with every lift.

        It only took a few minutes to arrive at the tallest peak in the distance.

        Paul Jr. continued to play video games on his smartphone, while Lucas studied the giant clothes and boots Paul Bunyan was wearing. 

        He was wearing blue pants with a red and white checkered shirt with giant buttons down the front.  Each button was the size of a large pizza. His boots looked like the boots of a normal lumberjack.

        “Where do you live?” Lucas shouted over the loud breathing Paul Bunyan made as he walked really fast.

        “I have many homes in caves and hills all over the world.” Paul Bunyan explained. "Right now, we will go to my home right below Mt. Lyell,” he replied.

        “We are almost there!” Paul Jr. interrupted.

        John handed Lucas a water bottle. “Take a few sips to steady the effects of altitude discomfort,” he explained.

        A minute later Paul carefully lowered Lucas and John to the ground next to a small Lake with only grass and a few small trees.

        “This place is beautiful,” John said looking around at the endless views of mountain peaks.

        “This is the Lyell Glacier,” Paul Bunyan explained. “The main source of water to the Merced River you guys were floating in this morning.”

        The cool air reminded Lucas of how cold the river water was.

        “I forgot to bring a jacket,” he said as he started to shiver.

        “It will be warm inside the cave,” Paul Bunyan explained. 

        Lucas noticed he was barefoot the entire time, as Paul took one big step into the lake washing both his hands and feet.

        He carefully walked over to a shady side of the mountain full of rocks that were bigger than he was. 

        With the deepest voice Lucas ever imagined possible, Paul Bunyan spoke the password causing a giant rock-looking door to open.

        Past the door was a large set of rock stairs for Paul, and a much longer and smaller set of metal stairs for normal size people. 

        The cave made everyone, including John Henry, feel as small as a mouse.

        Paul quickly disappeared inside before the rest of them could even make it to the first step.  

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Seven) River Rafting

River Rafting

        After breakfast was finished, Lucas made sure everything that carried a scent was put safely away, while Lucy helped Tali and John pump air into the river rafts.

        Lucas noticed the life vest he was going to use was meant for a baby. 

        “Wasn’t there a vest without a baby giraffe on it?” he asked.

        John looked over to explain.

        “It was the only one they had that will fit. Don’t worry! You’ll grow out of it before you know,” he replied.

        Lucas hated being so much smaller than Lucy. He remembered the time he had to wear a baby’s suit and tie just to go to a wedding.

        “I can swim, I don’t need a life jacket?” Lucas claimed.

        “Of course, you do! It’s the law,” replied John. “I am even going to wear one and I have been swimming for many years.”

        Lucas looked around hoping no one would notice him putting on the life vest. 

        “Dad, why would you need a life vest?” Lucy interrupted. “Didn’t you out-swim the daughters of Nereus and Doris?” she asked.

        Tali quickly turned to look at John, surprised at the stories that he had been telling.

        “John Henry!” Tali teased.  “What have you been teaching our kids?”

        John simply scratched his head feeling just as surprised as Tali.

        “I don’t remember telling that story!” he replied. “I bet it was Pecos.”

        Lucas forgot all about his life vest.

        “When do we get to see Pecos again?” he asked.

        “He will probably show up one of these days.” John replied. “You never know with Pecos Bill.”

        “Let’s get going to the river. The water is perfect,” Lucy insisted.

        As they walked towards the river, John noticed Lucas started looking out into the trees, expecting to see something.

        “What is it?” he asked.

        “Do you think we will see Paul Bunyan today?” Lucas whispered.

        John noticed how worried Lucas felt and stopped to take his tiny face into his hands. 

        “Paul Bunyan is the nicest giant you will ever meet,” he explained. “He is my good friend and probably can’t wait to meet you.”

        Lucas still did not feel much better.

        “I just want to be prepared so I don’t get too scared,” he replied.

        “That's perfectly normal, maybe later you can come with me to find him,” John suggested.

        Lucas felt even more nervous.

        “Today?” Lucas asked.

        “Yes, I need to go right after we finish our trip down the river,” John explained.

        Tali and Lucy were right behind them as they set their boats in the ice-cold water.

        Tali lifted Lucas up and gave him a big hug.

        “Ranger Pam says Paul Bunyan is excited to meet you!” she explained.

        “How does Ranger Pam know Paul Bunyan?”  Lucas asked.

        “Rangers protect more than just National Parks,” Tali explained. “Like your father, Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe are National Treasures.”

        Without a warning, Paul Jr. came running up to the family as they were getting into the boats.

        “Hey everybody,” he shouted.  “How far down the river are you going?”

        “Who are you?” Lucas interrupted.

        Lucy blushed nervously.

        “This is my friend Paul, the one who helped me this morning with the bear cub,” she explained.

        “Paul Jr.,” Paul Jr. explained.

        Lucas couldn’t help himself.

        “A boy who is a friend?” he began.

        “Please stop!” Lucy interrupted.

        Paul Jr. began to laugh.

        “Have you gone down the river?” Lucas asked Paul Jr.

        “Not this week.,” Paul Jr. replied.

        “Can he come with us?” asked Lucas.

        “He can if his Mom doesn’t mind,” John said optimistically.

        Paul Jr. jumped into the boat next to John.

        “She won’t mind, this is going to be amazing!” he said looking directly at John. 

        “I’m rafting with John Henry,” Paul Jr. whispered to himself.

        Lucas heard him perfectly.

        “Lucy told Paul Jr. that dad is John Henry,” Lucas complained.

        “It was my dad,” Paul Jr. interrupted.  “My dad told me.”

        John laughed.

        “When did you see your dad?” John asked him.

        Lucas and Lucy were beginning to feel left out.

        “We just had lunch,” Paul Jr. replied.

        John was relieved to have Paul Jr. around, just in time to meet Paul Bunyan.

        “Paul Bunyan is Paul Jr.’s dad,” John explained.

        Lucy slipped and fell off the edge of the boat into the freezing water.

        “What?” she asked sharply, trying to stand back up.

        Lucas started to laugh.

        “Why are you so small?” Lucas teased. “You were born small like me,” he said cheerfully.

        Paul Jr. laughed, feeling a little confused.

        “Why were you born small?” he asked Lucas.

        “That is something we are still trying to figure out,” Lucas replied.

        “Don’t worry about your height, just enjoy any normal time you have while you have it,” explained John.

        Paul Jr. looked over at Lucas and looked back at John with one of the happiest expressions he had made all day.

        “I still can’t believe I am rafting with the mighty John Henry,” he cheerfully whispered.

        John laughed, while Lucas grabbed one of his arms feeling proud to have him as his dad.

        “I love you!” Lucas whispered to John.

        “I love you too, son!” John Henry replied.

        Lucy felt confused and a little sad as they all pushed off into the middle of the river.  Sitting behind her mother, she helped paddle the boat in a straight line.

        The water was calm and it gave Lucy a few minutes to ask Tali a few questions. 

        “Is Paul Jr. going to grow tall like his father?” she asked.

        Tali turned to wink at Lucy.

        “Paul Jr. will be tall, but I think he would be much taller by now if he was going to be two hundred feet tall,” she explained.

        Lucy quickly felt relieved.

        “How tall do you expect?” she asked.

        “His mother is a mystery and it has been told that she can change her height to match the height of any giant,” Tali explained.

        “That’s cool,” Lucy replied.

        In the other boat, the guys were beginning to hit the faster current in the water. 

        Tali could hear John’s laughter all the way across the river as the boys tried to keep the boat from running into the bridge.     

        None of them noticed a very large person looking down at them from a cliff right below Half Dome.

Paul Bunyan & Me in Yosemite (Chapter Six) Little Bear

Little Bear

        Lucy was the first one awake in the morning.  Her nose was sticking out of her sleeping bag feeling just how chilly the air was going to be as soon as she got out. The sound of the rushing river made Lucy need to rush on over to the bathroom.        

        The rest of the family was still asleep as the sound of the river grew louder and louder. 

        Lucy quickly unzipped her nice warm sleeping bag and felt the chilly air rush in.

        “My goodness!” she mumbled gritting her teeth.

        She quickly found her clothes and jacket, finally changing out of her pajamas as fast as she could.

        After returning from the bathroom, Lucy noticed how extremely peaceful and quiet the camp was. The perfect time for a bike ride.  

        She rode up to a large brown trash dumpster after noticing two short and furry black animal legs poking out of the dumpster door.

        “Those are bear cub legs!” she said, riding closer to see if they were real.

        She saw the legs moving and heard a familiar bear cub cry.  

        “Hold on little bear, I got you!” she grunted right as she took hold of the bear cubs legs, pulling it right out of the dumpster.

        “Stop right there!” called a voice from behind her.

        Lucy immediately froze while slowly turning around to see who it was. He sounded too young to be a grown up.

        “Who are you?” she immediately asked, trying not to look him in the eyes.

        She already noticed that he was around her age with and amazing smile and dimples.

        “You can’t just go pulling on bear cubs like that without getting attacked by its mother,” he explained. 

        Lucy ignored his warning, still mesmerized with the cute young man in front of her.   

        “Hello!” he called, trying to get Lucy to listen.

        Lucy felt the bear cub lick her hand, breaking her out of the boy’s spell. 

        “I couldn’t just leave it in the trash,” she said keeping it from climbing back in.

        “Why does it want to get inside?” asked the boy.

        When Lucy pulled the bear cub away from the trash, the cub cried out causing a large ‘BANG and a muffled roar to explode from inside the large dumpster.

        “I think that’s the mother inside,” Lucy said, almost opening the trash door to look inside.

        “STOP!” the boy shouted. “Now I know you are crazy. That bear could kill you,” he warned.

        “You’re right,” Lucy replied. “We need to find a Ranger.”

        The bear cub did not seem afraid of Lucy. Normally wild bear cubs just run away. This cub just looked up at her while sitting at her feet.

        Lucy reached down and started petting it causing the boy to freak out even more.

        “Who are you, the bear whisperer?” he asked. “A-AND You can’t pet bears; didn’t anyone teach you that as a kid?” the young man insisted nervously.

        “I know!” replied Lucy reaching down to give the cub a big hug.  “I always wanted to do this.”

        “You can’t hug them either!” he insisted nervously.

        Unexpectedly a large garbage truck came around the corner to empty the large dumpster with the mother bear inside.

        Lucy called the bear cub away from the road and began to wave her arms.

        “Help me warn the driver!” Lucy told the boy.

        The bear cub ran back over again trying to climb back into the dumpster.

        The trash truck driver finally saw them and climbed down from his truck and to see why they were making him stop.  As soon as he saw the bear cub he ran back to the truck to call for a Ranger.

        The trash truck driver called and reported the bear inside the dumpster with a bear cub just outside.

        The mother bear was starting to become very upset, making mean noises and pounding on dumpster from the inside.

        The boy took a few steps back, while Lucy stepped forward and put her hand on the side of the dumpster. 

        “That’s scary!” he said. “Don’t get so close.” 

        Lucy tapped the side of the dumpster again to get the mother bear’s attention.

        “It’s ok, we are going to get you out, and your baby is right here is just fine,” she explained hoping the mother bear would understand.

        The movement inside the dumpster immediately stopped. 

        Both impressed at Lucy’s gift of calming baby and mother bears, the driver and the boy both asked Lucy the same question, at the same time.

        “What’s your name?” they asked.

        Lucy giggled. 

        “I’m Lucy,” she replied. 

        The driver seemed in a hurry, so he immediately shook her hand.

        “Great work saving bears today!” he said right before turning to leave. “You guys need to wait for the ranger and stay away from the cub,” he added.

        The bear cub was now rolled over on its back waiting for Lucy to scratch its tummy. 

        “That is amazing!’ the boy said reaching down to scratching its fuzzy tummy.

        “Don’t pet the bear,” Lucy teased.

        “I’m Paul Jr.,” the boy finally declared, standing up to brush off his pants. “I could not resist the cuteness.”

        “He said I saved a life,” Lucy replied. “Why did he say that?”

        Paul Jr. looked over at the dumpster.

        “Right after each dump, the truck driver pushes a button crushing up everything inside,” he explained.

        “I am glad the river forced me out of bed this morning!” Lucy thought to herself while actually saying the words out loud.

        “I’ve never heard that one before, how did the river force you out of bed?” Paul Jr. asked.

        Lucy just realized what she just said.

        “I meant, it was a good thing I got up early to see the river,” she clarified.

        The truck driver smiled and waved as he drove past the two of them.

        Lucy and Paul Jr. began scratching the bear cub on the tummy.  It kicked its legs as if the cub was ticklish.

        “This may be the only time we ever get to pet a real bear,” Paul Jr. said while breaking his own rule again. 

        Lucy smiled, knowing that she was the one calming the cub in her mind.

        The bear cub rested its head by lying on Lucy’s leg. “Hey there, little cub. We need to give you a name,” she said, scratching behind its little ears. 

        “You can’t name bear cubs?” he warned. “You will become attached.”

        Lucy looked back at him like he was crazy.

        “I name him Elmer!” she replied.

        Paul Jr. covered his face with his hands.

        “You’re hopeless!” he mumbled. “Now I’m going to think of a bear cub every time I hear people shouting that name.”

        Lucy pulled his hands away from his face causing Paul Jr. to look at her.

        “Repeat after me!” she insisted. 

        Paul Jr. was not used to anyone touching him and was confused about Lucy’s request. 

        “Repeat what?” he asked.

        “When I am doing a good deed, I can, I will, and will not stop until I succeed.”

        Paul Jr. chuckled. 

        “That rhymes!” he celebrated.

        “Just say it back to me!” Lucy insisted.

        “I will not succeed until I bleed.” Paul Jr. said as fast as he could.

        Lucy laughed.

        “No, that’s not it,” she replied.

        “It rhymed, didn’t it?” Paul Jr. joked.

        Lucy repeated it one more time.

        “When I am doing a good deed, I can, I will, and will not stop until I succeed.”

        Paul Jr. listened carefully this time, trying to impress Lucy.

        “When I am doing a good deed, I can, I will, and will not stop, until I succeed,” he repeated perfectly.

        “You’re a fast learner,” Lucy cheered.

        “Who taught you to say that?” he asked.

        Lucy was proud to explain.

        “My mom always says that if we remember to always be positive, we will not need to say I can’t very often, and earlier you said I CAN’T, about five different times.”

        “I did?” Paul Jr. asked, feeling like an idiot. 

        “You-did!” Lucy teased. “Mom also taught me to do a good deed daily.      

        “How old are you?” Paul Jr. asked causing Lucy to blush.

        “I am ten. Why?” 

        “You sound smarter than any girl I know,” replied Paul Jr.

        Lucy blushed even more.

        Paul Jr. looked down to notice the bear cub asleep on Lucy’s lap.

        “There is something magical about you,” he told her. “I bet you did something to put the mother bear to sleep as well.”

        Lucy looked over and realized that he was right. The mother bear was completely calm inside the dumpster.

        “Do you know why Rangers tell us that it’s not safe to pet bears or other wild animals?” Paul Jr. asked.

        Lucy thought as hard as she could to give him a good answer.

        “No,” she replied.

        Paul Jr. was excited to finally prove how smart he was to Lucy.

        “Wild animals will feel comfortable with humans and start getting closer and closer to them. Eventually, someone will get hurt, and most bears are killed after hurting a human.”

        Lucy carefully set the bear cubs head on the ground before he said anything else. She just realized the danger she was causing this bear cub by petting it.       

        Finally, a Ranger with a ladder pulled up in front of the dumpster.

        “It’s Ranger Pam,” Lucy said. “Come and meet her, she is amazing.”

        “How do you know Ranger Pam?” he asked.

        Lucy stopped walking when she realized Paul Jr. knew her too.

        “She is friends with my mom,” Lucy replied. “How do you know her?”

        Ranger Pam stepped out of the truck before Paul Jr. could answer.   

        “I would never have guessed that it was the two of you,” Ranger Pam said cheerfully.

        Her ranger clothes were in perfect order once again, perfectly ironed with her long hair braided perfectly into a bun behind her Ranger hat.

        “Hi Ranger Pam,” Lucy called.   Ranger Pam pointed at the bear cub that was sleeping on the side of the road.

        “What is that?” she asked.

        “It’s the cub that was sticking out of the dumpster. I pulled him out,” Lucy explained.  “The mother is inside.”

        Paul Jr. backed up, trying to avoid Ranger Pam.

        Ranger Pam looked around the dumpster and found a little clip that was missing.

        “What is that for?” asked Lucy.

        “It keeps the bears from getting inside,” Ranger Pam explained. “Someone in this camp did not put the clip back on after dumping their trash.”

        Ranger Pam was beginning to feel angry.

        “Several bears have died this way,” she added.

        “I told her what happens when they get inside,” Paul Jr. interrupted.

        Ranger Pan turned and looked at him.

        “What are you doing out this early?” she asked.

        Lucy noticed how strange Paul Jr. was acting around her.

        “I was just riding my bike,” Paul Jr. explained to her. 

        “Well, I hope you finished your chores,” she warned.

        Lucy started to giggle.

        Lucy interrupted by tapping on Ranger Pam’s arm.

        “Is he your son?” she asked. 

        Ranger Pam looked at Paul Jr. causing him to blush.

        “I am his nanny, but he calls me mom!” Ranger Pam replied.

        “It’s a long story!” Paul Jr. insisted.

        Ranger Pam removed the ladder and started getting ready to help the bear out of the dumpster.

        Several other Park Rangers arrived to help keep any campers from getting too close. 

        “You two need to go back to your camps!” one of the Rangers insisted.

        Ranger Pam paused to tell them one more thing.

        “Finish your chores, Paul,” she demanded, then looked over at Lucy. “I will see you later Lucy.  Please tell your mom to call me when you return from the river.”

        Lucy waved goodbye and quickly jumped on her bike to ride straight back to camp.

        “See you later Paul!” she called out without looking back. 

        Paul Jr. smiled and quickly jumped on his own bike, riding towards the wooden pathway to cross the meadow.