The New Girl in Town

by Stan

  “Arrow? What arrow?”

  “Cupid’s arrow. It’s stuck deep in your heart.”

  “Aw, cut it out,” Brother mumbled. He walked away and sneaked one last look at Bonnie Brown.

  Teacher Bob introduced Bonnie to the class. Loud whistles and a lot of whispering filled the classroom. Teacher Bob made the class quiet down. Then he showed Bonnie to her seat. It was just across the aisle from where Brother Bear sat.

  Brother couldn’t help it. He had to sneak another look at the gorgeous new girl. His heart pounded so loud he thought the whole class could hear.

  “All right, cubs,” said Teacher Bob. “Who can give us the first answer to last night’s math homework? Brother Bear?”

  Brother didn’t move. He was still staring at Bonnie out of the corner of his eye.

  “Brother Bear? Are you with us?” asked Teacher Bob.

  But still there was no answer. Cousin Freddy was sitting behind Brother. He leaned forward and poked Brother in the ribs with the eraser of his pencil. That woke Brother up. There was Teacher Bob, gazing down at him with his arms folded across his chest.

  “Er…huh? What?” asked Brother.

  “Never mind, Brother. But you had better pay attention next time. Anyone hear my question?”

  Babs Bruno waved her hand and was called on. “The answer is forty-two,” she said.

  “Very good, Babs,” said Teacher Bob. “And what formula did you use to get that answer?”

  “Length times width, of course,” said Babs.

  “And length times width is the formula for the area of what?” asked Teacher Bob. “How about a second chance, Brother?”

  Brother’s eyes had drifted back to Bonnie Brown. But he heard the question. “A heart,” he said.

  The whole class laughed wildly. Babs looked back at Brother and stuck out her tongue. Teacher Bob tried to quiet everyone down.

  Still, Brother sneaked another look at Bonnie Brown. His heart skipped a beat. Bonnie had turned, and she was smiling at him! It wasn’t a mocking smile. It was a friendly, kind, sweet smile.

  With his ears burning and his collar steaming, Brother broke out into a full-strength tomato-red blush.

  Chapter 4

  Bonnie to the Rescue?

  Brother was waiting for his turn at bat in the morning recess fistball game. Suddenly he noticed that Babs and her two friends were watching from the sidelines.

  “First time I’ve seen Babs watching a fistball game,” Brother said to Cousin Freddy. “Why do you think she’s here?”

  “Stop worrying,” said Freddy. “You know she has a crush on you. She probably just wants to moon at you while you get a hit.”

  But Freddy was wrong. As Brother stepped up to bat, Babs and her friends started shouting at the top of their lungs, “Brother’s in love! Brother’s in love!…”

  Brother turned bright red and missed the ball.

  Babs and her friends danced around the schoolyard, singing, “Brother’s got a girlfriend! Brother’s got a girlfriend!”

  “Boy,” said Freddy. “You’re in big trouble.”

  Brother didn’t answer him. He ducked behind a bush. Then he ran through a torn spot in the schoolyard fence and walked through the woods to an old rock pile. He sometimes went there to think things over. Brother sat slumped among the rocks.

  He stayed there until he knew recess was almost over. Still he didn’t budge. Brother was about to play hooky for the first time in his life.

  “Brother? Are you there?”

  It was a girl’s voice. It came from behind the rock pile. The girl stepped forward. It was Bonnie. Brother couldn’t believe it!

  “B-Bonnie?” he said with a gulp. “What are you doing here?”

  Bonnie sat down in front of him. “I saw the whole thing,” she said. “I watched where you went and I followed you.” When Brother didn’t answer, she added, “I feel bad about what happened.”

  “Why should you feel bad?” Brother asked.

  “I just do.”

  “But it’s not your fault that you’re so…cute.”

  Bonnie smiled. “Do you really think I’m cute?”

  Brother looked off into the woods. “Please, let’s not talk about stuff like that.”

  “Look,” said Bonnie. “It doesn’t help to hide from things. Listen to me. They’re teasing you because they know they can get to you. Be cool. Act as if you don’t care. Top them!”

  “But how?” asked Brother.

  “Well, they all say you have a girlfriend. So why not have a girlfriend?”

  “But who?” asked Brother.

  “What about me?” said Bonnie.

  Brother felt his ears getting bright red again. He tried to catch his breath. “But…” he said.

  “Well, I’m a girl, aren’t I?” Bonnie asked.

  Brother shuffled his feet.

  “And we’re becoming friends, aren’t we?” said Bonnie.

  Brother swallowed deeply.

  “So come on. We’ll go back there holding hands. Everyone will see us. Don’t be nervous, Brother. I’m just trying to help you out—as a friend. Besides…” Bonnie leaned closer. “I think you’re cute, too.” She kissed him on the cheek.

  Brother turned an even brighter shade of red.

  Bonnie sat back and sighed. “But we’re going to have to do something about that blushing,” she said.

  Chapter 5

  A Friendship Torn Apart

  Brother and Bonnie went back to school holding hands. It didn’t stop the teasing. But it made Brother feel much better. Now he had someone on—and at—his side. And such a cute someone! When Bonnie asked him to walk home from school with her, his answer was yes.

  “Thanks for coming to get me in the woods,” Brother said as they strolled along. “If I had had to face all that teasing alone, I might have played hooky instead. I hope I can help you out, too, sometime.”

  “You can help right now,” said Bonnie. “You can tell me more about this spring play that’s coming up. What kinds of plays does the drama club put on?”

  “Oh, the usual,” said Brother. “Robin Hood and His Merry Bears, Grizzlystiltskin and the Straw of Gold, King Arthur and the Bears of the Round Table—that sort of thing.”

  “It sounds like fun,” said Bonnie. “I’m glad I came to Bear Country in time to try out. You know, I do some modeling—and a little acting, too. I hope you’re going to try out, too. It would be great if we could both be in the play!”

  Brother felt a lump in his throat. He could hardly speak. He just swallowed hard and nodded.

  Soon they came to Squire Grizzly’s mansion. Brother felt very small as he looked up at the huge building.

  “Have you ever been inside?” asked Bonnie.

  “Once, when I was a tiny cub,” he said. “I went along when my dad delivered some furniture he’d made for the Squire. But I really don’t remember much.”

  “It’s quite a place,” said Bonnie. “Come on in.”

  “You sure it’s okay?” asked Brother.

  “Of course!” said Bonnie. “I live here. And you’re my guest!”

  Brother and Bonnie walked up the long path to the front porch with the big white pillars. Bonnie rang the doorbell.

  A servant opened the heavy oak door. “Good afternoon, Miss Brown,” he said, and bowed. Then he saw Brother and broke into a smile. “My goodness,” he said. “Could this be Master Brother Bear? Why, I haven’t seen you since you were a little cub!” But suddenly he looked worried. “Uh…maybe I should…tell the Squire you’re here.”

  “You don’t need to tell the Squire we’re here,” said Bonnie. “I just want to show Brother around.”

  “Well, yes… I guess so…for a few minutes,” said the servant. He stepped back so the two could enter.

  The entrance hall was two stories high! A large spiral staircase wound down from the second floor to the first. Large paintings of past squires covered the walls. At the foot of the stairs was a shiny suit of ar
mor. With sword in hand, it seemed to be guarding the mansion.

  “Gosh!” said Brother. “What a neat house!”

  “Come on,” said Bonnie. “I think my parents are in the sitting room. I’d like you to meet them.”

  Just then someone appeared at the top of the stairs. It was Squire Grizzly. Brother didn’t remember him from that first visit, but he had seen so many pictures of him over the years in the Beartown Gazette that he knew who he was. The Squire had great side whiskers. He was wearing riding clothes and carrying a leather riding crop.

  “Hello, Bonnie,” he called out in a friendly voice.

  “Hi, Uncle,” said Bonnie.

  He began walking down the stairs. “Who is that with you?” he asked.

  “It’s Brother Bear,” said Bonnie.

  “What?!” bellowed the Squire. He raised his monocle and looked more closely. “How dare you bring that…that…that Bear into my home!”

  “But, Uncle—” said Bonnie.

  Brother felt his heart rise to his throat. He stumbled backward toward the door.

  “Called me a milk poisoner, his father did!” roared the Squire. He continued down the stairs and waved his riding crop. “Now get out of here—this second!”

  “Uncle!” cried Bonnie. “He’s my friend! You can’t throw him out!”

  But Brother had already run out the door.

  “And stay away from my niece!” boomed the Squire.

  “It’s the old feud!” Brother thought. He couldn’t believe that this old grown-up fight was happening again right here—NOW—and to HIM!

  He ran down the long path to the front gate. Suddenly Bonnie called after him. She was leaning from a balcony and waving.

  “Brother!” she cried. “Don’t go!”

  Brother walked back toward the balcony. “I…can’t stay where I’m not welcome!” he called.

  “Then take this with you!” Bonnie begged. She reached out and plucked a large white flower from a vine. Then she tossed it to Brother.

  “See you in school tomorrow!” she said.

  Chapter 6

  A Fight Breaks Out

  Mama Bear was fixing dinner when she heard Sister come down the stairs humming. “Sister,” she called, “is that brother of yours home from softball yet? I have a phone message for him.”

  Sister came into the kitchen wearing a sly smile. “He didn’t really play softball today,” she said. “He’s been up in his room all afternoon gazing at a flower. He’s in love.”

  Sister went on to tell Mama all about Bonnie and what had happened at Squire Grizzly’s mansion.

  “Oh, my goodness,” said Mama. “Where did you learn all this?”

  “Everybody at school knows about Brother and Bonnie. And Brother’s so mad about what the Squire did that he spilled the whole story to me. Bonnie’s really mad, too, he says. All they are is friends. They just met today. But now that the Squire has ordered them to stay away from each other, I think they want to go steady.”

  “Go steady?” said Mama. “Why, just yesterday Brother was moaning about all the romance ‘mush’ that’s going on.”

  “You haven’t seen Bonnie,” said Sister. She grinned. “It was ‘mush’ at first sight.”

  She turned to Papa, who had come in the door a few minutes before. He looked as if he were about to explode.

  “What’s the matter, Papa?” said Sister.

  Papa had been listening to the story of Brother and Bonnie. “What’s the MATTER?” he said. He raised his voice again. “I’ll tell you what’s the matter! Brother’s got no business spending time with a member of that no-good, high-hat Grizzly clan! And he would have to pick Squire Grizzly’s niece! I don’t care how sweet he is on this Bonnie. It’s just cub love, a silly little crush—!”

  “Hold it,” said Mama. “I think this feud business has gone too far! Didn’t you make a big enough fool of yourself yesterday running out of gas miles from nowhere? Not to mention the terrible example you’re setting for the cubs. As for me, I’m glad Brother is starting to get over his shyness toward girls.”

  “Shyness!” bellowed Papa. “I just can’t believe my ears! Here I am trying to protect the honor of the family—of the great Bear clan—and you say you’re worried about SHYNESS!?”

  Just then Brother walked into the kitchen frowning. “Hey, what’s all the yelling about?” he asked.

  But before anyone could answer, much louder sounds came from outside the tree house. There was angry shouting and the rumbling of a large machine. And above everything, the wailing of a police siren, growing louder and closer.

  The Bears hurried outside to see what was going on. There was a fight in the clover meadow! Farmer Ben was using a bulldozer to knock down Squire Grizzly’s fence. The Squire had climbed onto the bulldozer and was hitting Ben with his riding crop. At the same time, Mrs. Ben was trying to poke the Squire with a hoe handle. And Lady Grizzly, all dressed up for afternoon tea, was shaking her parasol at Mrs. Ben.

  “Take that, you no-good Bear bum!” cried Squire Grizzly.

  “Why, you rotten Grizzly milk spoiler!” shouted Ben.

  It was quite a scene. Farmer Ben’s cows even stopped eating the onion grass to watch the action.

  “Hang in there, Ben! I’m coming!” cried Papa. But Mama stopped him in his tracks. Chief Bruno and Officer Marguerite had just arrived.

  “Better let the chief handle this, dear,” Mama said.

  The Bears stood in the sweet-smelling clover and watched Chief Bruno and Officer Marguerite break up the fight. Finally, the Grizzlys stalked off to their mansion, and the Bens stalked off to their farmhouse.

  “This feud is getting scary,” Mama said to the chief. “I’m worried.”

  “YOU’RE worried,” said Chief Bruno. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “This is our sixth feud call today!”

  Brother and Sister looked at each other and shook their heads.

  Chapter 7

  Choosing a Play

  News of the “Clover Meadow Melee,” as Bear Country historians later called it, spread faster than onion grass in a meadow. Many hoped that it would make the warring clans see how silly they were being. But that is not what happened. Instead, things got worse.

  Minor traffic jams turned into shouting matches. Neighbors who had been friendly suddenly wouldn’t talk to one another. Someone even heard that a couple of elderly bears at the Bear Country Senior Citizens’ Home were fighting in their wheelchairs.

  Some of the kindest bears became mean and nasty. Biff Bruin put a big cardboard sign in the window of his pharmacy. It said Grizzly Clan Members Not Welcome.

  And then there was Ralph Ripoff, who was always looking for ways to make some fast money. This time he made a bundle going door-to-door selling “feud buttons.” To the Grizzlys, he sold his “Grizzly Pride!” buttons. To the Bears, he sold his “Bears Stand Tall!” buttons.

  In the meantime, Teacher Bob’s Drama Club met at the Bear Country Playhouse to decide on a spring play. “Does anyone have any suggestions?” asked Teacher Bob.

  “How about King Arthur and the Bears of the Round Table?” asked Cousin Freddy.

  “Snow White and the Seven Cubs!” shouted Babs Bruno.

  “Robin Hood and His Merry Bears!” said Too-Tall Grizzly. He pretended to shoot an arrow from a make-believe bow. Everyone knew who he thought should play Robin Hood.

  “Those are all good plays,” said Teacher Bob, “but I have a better idea. Isn’t there something very troubling going on in Bear Country right now? What do you cubs think about what is going on?”

  “Do you mean the feud?” asked Brother. He looked at Bonnie Brown, who was sitting right next to him. She nodded.

  “Yes, exactly,” said Teacher Bob.

  The cubs all said that they didn’t like the feud. But they didn’t see what it had to do with the spring play.

  So Teacher Bob held up a large book called The Plays of William Shakesbeare. “Tell me, what do you cubs know
about Shakesbeare?” he asked.

  Queenie McBear stood up. “I know that he’s for grown-ups. And that means he must be really boring,” she said.

  The class broke out in giggles. Teacher Bob raised a hand to stop the laughter. “‘Boring,’ you say?” Then he grabbed a piece of chalk and wrote Romeo and Juliet on the blackboard. “Does anyone know what this play is about?” he asked.

  No one answered.

  “Well,” he said, “it’s about two young lovers. Now does that sound boring?”

  “No way!” said Babs Bruno from the back of the room. “That sounds like two cubs we know!”

  Loud hoots, hollers, and laughs filled the room. Everyone looked over at Brother and Bonnie.

  “Hey, look at him blush!” shouted Queenie.

  That made Brother’s face turn beet red.

  Too-Tall started to kiss the back of his hand with sloppy, loud smacking noises. “I love you! I love you!” he moaned.

  Brother stood up and shook his fist at Too-Tall. “You had better shut up about Bonnie and me!” he yelled.

  “Oh, yeah? And what if I don’t?” Too-Tall yelled back.

  “Then I’ll knock you right on your big tin can!” said Brother.

  Brother started to move toward the bigger cub, but Teacher Bob stepped between them. “You two sit down right now and pay attention!” he said. Brother and Too-Tall did as they were told. Teacher Bob wrote on the blackboard: “sword fights, poison, death!” The cubs’ eyes opened wide. “All of these things happen in Romeo and Juliet,” he said, “because of a feud between two clans—the Capulet family and the Montague family.”