This was it, the day that Bernie Bear waited for all year. The party was over, the food eaten, the music had stopped and the guests had gone home. Yes, this was it!

 Hibernating day was a beautiful, sunny day with the trees covered in a light snow. Not a bear was seen as each rolled up in their favourite blankets to sleep until spring. Bernie Bear yawned and yawned as he fluffed up his pillow and set his alarm clock to spring; then he pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes. Soon a big "Zzzzz" followed. Hibernation had begun.

 Runner Deer looked into the cave. She had come to say "See you in the spring!" to her dear friend Bernie Bear. "I'll check to see that he is covered with his blanket," she thought, "because I don't want him to catch a chill."

 Into the cave went the deer to see the remainder of last night's party strewed around the floor. She quickly put leftover food outside to be eaten by the birds and small animals. She straightened up the cave and checked on Bernie Bear.

 Bernie Bear's blanket was still up to his chin, which was below a mouth that gaped open, emitting a snore that vibrated off the cave walls. His mouth was so big, you could see his tongue, teeth and tonsils.

 "Zzzzz."

 "You can't go to sleep with your mouth open like that, Bernie Bear," said Runner Deer, prodding the bear with no results. "Bernie Bear, shut your mouth. Something could fall in there." In fact, an elephant could have fallen into Bernie Bear's mouth, it was so big.

 Something had to be done. Bernie Bear could choke if something fell in there. Quickly, Runner Deer shouted to Warren Woodpecker, who was in a nearby tree, to call 911.

 Tapping loudly on the tree, Warren Woodpecker alerted the emergency team that came running to Bernie Bear's cave.

 "Zzzzz" came throbbing out of the cave.

 "What's the matter?" laughed the paramedics, "Noise pollution problem?"

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 "No, Bernie Bear's mouth is open. He can't go to sleep like that," said the deer frantically. "He could choke. If it gets cold, it could freeze like that!"

 Quickly, the team got Warren Woodpecker to tap out that they had an open-mouth problem and did the hospital have any suggestions at the other end? Wendell Woodpecker tapped back.

 "They suggested taping his mouth," shouted Warren Woodpecker. The team shook their heads no to that suggestion.

 "They suggested dropping a bit of snow into his mouth," said Warren Woodpecker, translating.

 This was tried, only to have Bernie Bear smack his lips then return to the original position. Back and forth tapped suggestions, but nothing worked.

 "My suggestion is to tickle him," said Warren Woodpecker.

 One of the paramedics tickled Bernie Bear on the corner of his mouth, then behind his ear, his neck, his arm and side. Nothing!

 "Maybe he isn't ticklish," said Runner Deer.

 "Try the bottom of his feet," suggested Warren Woodpecker.

 The paramedic tickled Bernie Bear's feet and suddenly Bernie Bear squirmed and his mouth closed with a big "whoosh".

 "The open-mouth problem is over," said the paramedics.

 All the animals left the cave and let Bernie Bear continue his hibernation in peace.

 Question about the story: Bernie Bear's mouth was so big, what could fall into it?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1, Moser River, NS BOJ 2KO or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answer.

posted on 02/02/10