Ralph Black Bear was catching fish by the river. Scooping his paw down through the sparkling water, he caught a fish as it sliced through the cool current. The weather today had been strange, as the morning had been hot and cool in the afternoon.

 Ralph Black Bear dipped once more and his catch this time was a turtle. Now the turtle had been minding his own business, resented the intrusion and was sure he wasn't letting any bear eat him. Quickly, Benjamin Turtle pulled his head and feet into his shell.

 "Hey! Come out here!" coaxed the bear.

 There was no reply from the turtle, so the bear held the little shell up to his eye. It was so dark inside that Ralph Black Bear couldn't see anything. The turtle should be home, so the bear shook and shook the shell.

 "Ooooooh!" moaned Benjamin Turtle as his body went up and down and side to side. Only holding on to his big sofa kept him from tumbling out at the bear's feet. Besides, he wasn't properly dressed, seeing he was in the process of having a bath when he had been so rudely interrupted.

 "I can't understand what is keeping that turtle in there. Maybe he isn't home after all," said Ralph Black Bear. "I'll get my flashlight to look inside."

 Ralph Black Bear left the riverbank and went to the nearby tree, which was the home of Sally and Susie Firefly. Whenever Ralph Black Bear needed to look in small places, those girls did the job with their little lightbulb tails. He was about to call the two sisters, when out of the sky zapped a flash of lightning, hitting the tree. Fire instantly curled from its trunk and Ralph Black Bear was paralyzed with fear.

 The shaking had stopped inside the shell, but Benjamin Turtle detected a weird smell. "That is smoke," he thought, peeking his head out through the opening. What he saw was the bear staring with glazed eyes, as the flames licked and snapped around him. "What is the matter with him?" thought the turtle.

 "Hey! You better move, or you'll get burnt," shouted the turtle.

 There was no answer from the bear who stared off in space.

 "Hey! Hey you!" shouted Benjamin Turtle.

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 Sweat poured from Ralph Black Bear's forehead, but not a word could he say, or not an inch could he make his feet move from the heat that was scorching his back.

 Benjamin Black Bear had seen that fear once in a rabbit caught in a trap, watching as the hunter approached nearby. Flames were now falling from the tree onto the dry grass below.

 Popping his head from the hole, Benjamin Turtle called to the bear, "I know you are afraid, but you must jump on that fire that is falling on the ground. Many lives depend on your actions. Put one foot beside the other and JUMP!"

 From far off, the bear could hear the turtle, which was his only lifeline to safety. Slowly, he pulled his two feet together and jumped on the flickering flames in front of him, quickly smothering them.

 Animals gathered to douse the flames and all was safe. Ralph Black Bear thanked the tiny turtle for his encouragement and gently placed his shell where he had found it.

 Winner: Melissa Morton of RR#1 Blockhouse received a prize in the mail for sending in the answer to a story.

 Question about the story: What was the bear afraid of?

 Send answers to Storytime, c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS B0J 2K0 or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answer.

posted on 08/24/10