Hibernation Megan Lewis

“Can you tell us a story, please, before bed?” the children asked.

“Okay, here is your story, but after it, it is time for bed. Here we go,” replied Dad.

It was a beautiful day in the forest, with snow on the ground and trees. BANG BANG BANG! “Wake up, bear, it is spring! Time to get up!” the hunters chuckled. The bear woke up instantly with all that racket coming from outside his den. With all the snow coming down, it was hard for the bear to see the hunters. The bear got even madder because he had snow all over his fur. Worse yet, his shaggy fur got in his eyes. This was not one of his best days.

Five minutes later, the hunters left and the bear wondered how he could fall back to sleep. “Maybe I could count sheep,” he thought. “1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7…This isn’t going to work…8, 9, 10…100. Nope, that didn’t work. I am not tired.” The bear started to get worried that he would not be able to hibernate this year. However, he kept telling himself that he would fall asleep sooner or later.

Now the bear tried to close his eyes while lying on his back to see if that would work. But, like counting the sheep, it didn’t work. The bear was getting pretty upset now. The bear thought, “Maybe food could help me think of an idea.”

He ate some roots for a bit and remembered that he could go on a walk like he did in spring and summer. If that didn’t work, he may have to give up on hibernation for this year. So the bear went on a walk, which soon turned into a jog and

then a run. When the bear stopped to take a breath, he turned around and stared into the eyes of the hunters. There was still a little daylight left, so he could see them. Unfortunately, it was like looking through a window with snow on it. The hunters were huddling and talking to each other about what they saw.

The first hunter asked the second hunter, “Is that the bear we woke up? What is he doing here?”

“WAIT!” How did the bear meet up with the hunters, Dad?” the girl asked.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t the one who made up the story. Your great great grandfather made the story. Now just listen, okay?” replied Dad.

“But it doesn’t make sense, Dad!” the little boy shouted.

“Just shush, okay! You wanted a story. I’m giving it to you. So be quiet!” demanded Dad.

“I don’t know if that is the same bear or not, but right now we have to run! You were the one making most of the noise. Maybe it followed us and now it is all your fault!” snapped the second hunter to the first.

“Oh, boy! That bear is fast!” the hunters quickly yelled at the same time. The hunters ran for their lives and fell a couple of times because the snow was really deep. Since the bear recognized them, he chased them for payback. From all that running the chubby bear lost some energy and was getting very hungry. But the bear was still not thinking that

he would hunt. He didn’t like to hunt. So he went back to his den to see if he had any more roots to eat.

Of course, he didn’t have any left because he had eaten them all while he was trying to brainstorm an idea to go to sleep. Then he discovered what he needed to do next. He was going to have to hunt after all. He was a smart bear and hoped that after he caught up to the hunters he could follow them to find berries to eat. Since he didn’t know much about winter, he thought there would have been a lot of food available when he got out of his den. When he got out, it was the complete opposite: no food in sight.

But eventually he found some berries far away from his den and somehow found his way back to his den and ate the sweet treat that he deserved. Then he fell asleep. He fell asleep in November and woke up in March. All the snow had cleared. Now he needed to find more food because the little he had left before falling asleep was rotting and smelled like stinky socks.

“Hey, Dad,” interrupted the little girl, “how did time go so fast?”

“Just be quiet and listen to the story!” yelled Dad.

With his food rotting in his den, he found honey, berries, and nuts to eat. Now that was a feast! He wasn’t hungry anymore. While he was outside in the fresh air, the bear looked around to make sure the hunters weren’t there. They weren’t, so he went on a little stroll. While he walked, he told himself, “This is the best hibernation I ever had. It was really fun and I had a good workout. I saw snow for the first time. I

also found the best berries I ever tasted.” The hunters never bothered him again.

“There, now you got your story. Time for bed,” said Dad.

But the children were already fast asleep on Dad’s lap.

Megan Lewis, Grade 5 Southview Elementary School, Waconia Teaching Artist, Stephen Peters