by Stan
The cubs were all very quiet for a moment.
Then Sister Bear cried, “A feud! A feud between two clans! That sounds just like what is going on in Bear Country!”
“Right!” said Teacher Bob. “Now, all the grown-ups will be coming to the spring play. Maybe if we do a good job of putting on this play, we can show them just what could happen if they keep fighting.”
Every cub in the room voted for Romeo and Juliet for the spring play.
Chapter 8
The Blushing Champion of Bear Country
Tryouts for the part of Juliet were held first. When Bonnie Brown got the part, Brother knew he had to try out for Romeo. He was embarrassed at the thought of playing Romeo while Bonnie played Juliet. But the thought of anyone else playing Romeo was even worse. So he tried out.
Even though Brother’s reading for the part was a little shy and clumsy, Teacher Bob gave Brother the part. He knew that everyone in the class wanted Brother to play Romeo, since Bonnie was playing Juliet.
One by one, the other parts were filled. Too-Tall Grizzly and Queenie McBear got the parts of Lord and Lady Capulet, Juliet’s parents. Frank Furry and Lizzy Bruin got the parts of Montague and Lady Montague, Romeo’s parents. Babs Bruno was to play Juliet’s nursemaid. Barry Bruin would play a character named Mercutio.
Cousin Freddy was happy as both stage manager and set designer. He even built some of the sets by himself. He was especially proud of the wooden balcony he built for the famous scene where Juliet looks down from the balcony at Romeo while he looks up at her and tells her he loves her.
The first rehearsal went well—until the famous balcony scene. When Bonnie set foot on the balcony—CRUNCH—it fell apart!
“Romeo! Romeo!” Bonnie yelled as she came crashing down. But luckily, she fell straight into Brother’s arms! She didn’t even have a scratch! All the members of the cast clapped wildly for Brother, who turned beet red and gently lowered Bonnie to the floor.
At first, Freddy couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. “Let’s see, now,” he said. He scratched his head and picked up a few pieces of the broken balcony. “I believe that the gravitational forces pulling Bonnie down were greater than the structural supports holding the balcony up, and…”
Freddy finally figured it all out, and the scenery crew worked late into the night making repairs. Finally, Brother and Bonnie were able to rehearse the balcony scene without any surprises.
Bonnie played Juliet beautifully. Brother had some trouble at first but then quickly got the hang of acting. It helped him to be so crazy about the leading lady. In fact, ever since her uncle and his father had said they couldn’t see each other, Brother’s crush had gotten even stronger. He was able to put all his true feelings into the role of Romeo.
There was only one problem. It was a big one. No matter how many times Brother rehearsed the kissing scene with Bonnie, he couldn’t stop himself from blushing.
Brother’s blushing became such a problem that Teacher Bob started to worry that the audience would laugh. If that happened, Romeo and Juliet would no longer be a tragedy. It would become a comedy. And the whole point would be lost. The feuding grown-ups wouldn’t learn their lesson.
A few days before opening night, Bonnie came up with a plan to stop Brother’s blushing. “Meet me after school at the old rock pile in the woods,” she whispered to Brother after rehearsal.
Bonnie was waiting for Brother as he came through the woods. “What’s up?” he asked.
“We’re going to break you of your blushing habit,” said Bonnie.
“Okay, but how?” asked Brother.
“It’s simple. We’ll just keep kissing until you get used to it and stop blushing!” said Bonnie.
“Gee, I don’t know about that, Bonnie. I mean, I’ve never kissed a girl before… I mean, in real life,” said Brother.
“Then it’s time to start,” said Bonnie.
“But I don’t know about our meeting here like this…in the woods…to practice…uh…kissing,” said Brother.
“Good grief! You’re blushing already!” said Bonnie. “Besides, we’re not practicing kissing, really. We’re rehearsing for a very important play. Opening night is only two days away. If you don’t learn to stop blushing when we kiss, the whole play will be a big joke. And if that happens, the stupid grown-up feud will go on and on and get worse and worse. And we won’t be able to be friends anymore. It will be hard for any Bears and Grizzlys to be friends anymore! What do you think of that, Brother Bear?”
She looked Brother right in the eye. “Well?” she said with her hands on her hips. “What are we going to do about it?”
“I guess we’re going to kiss,” said Brother.
They kissed.
Brother blushed.
They kissed again.
Brother blushed again.
They kissed again and again and again.
Brother blushed again and again and again.
Bonnie sighed. “It just isn’t working,” she said. But she wouldn’t give up. “There must be a way.” She thought for a second. “Wait!” she cried. “I have an idea!”
Brother didn’t know what to say. He didn’t have any ideas. He felt as if his brain had turned to mush from so much kissing. “What’s your idea?” he asked.
“Remember how hard you blushed at that first Drama Club meeting? When the whole club ganged up on us?” asked Bonnie.
“So what else is new?” said Brother.
“Think back,” said Bonnie. “When Too-Tall came on a little bit stronger, you stopped blushing.”
“Yeah,” said Brother. “The big creep got me so mad that I forgot all about being embarrassed.”
“That’s it!” said Bonnie. “Every time we kiss, just think about knocking that big creep on his tin can! Now think hard—”
Brother and Bonnie held their breath and kissed once again. It worked! Brother thought about being angry at Too-Tall, and he didn’t blush one bit!
“You see?” said Bonnie. “It’s all a question of mind over matter.”
“Don’t you mean mind over mush?” said Brother, grinning. He and Bonnie had a good laugh. Then they hurried back to school to tell Teacher Bob that the play was saved.
Chapter 9
What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks?
It was the night of the spring play! The cast waited nervously backstage while the audience took their seats.
Most of the Grizzlys came into the theater through one door and most of the Bears through another. Farmer Ben and Squire Grizzly got into a snarling spat even before they had reached their seats.
Luckily, Chief Bruno had provided extra officers. This stopped any real trouble from breaking out. Finally, the whole audience was seated.
When the curtain rose, everyone had a big surprise. Cousin Freddy was still onstage touching up the scenery! And he had no idea that the curtain had risen. But suddenly he turned around. There was the whole audience, staring at him! Freddy was so shocked that all he could do was look for his parents in the crowd and say, “Hi, Mom… Hi, Dad!” Then he waved and ran quickly off the stage. The audience broke into laughter. Luckily, that took away some of the tense feeling in the room. The play was ready to begin.
The cubs did a wonderful job. The audience seemed to be under a spell. They barely moved in their seats. There were cries of shock and horror as the Capulets and Montagues fought with one another for no good reason. There were shrieks and gasps when the brave Mercutio was killed in a sword fight. And there were sighs of happiness when Romeo and Juliet met secretly.
During the balcony scene, Papa Bear, the Bens, and Squire and Lady Grizzly all had huge lumps in their throats. So did Cousin Freddy—but for a very different reason!
Even the kissing scene between Brother and Bonnie went smoothly. Teacher Bob had been afraid that that scene would make Papa Bear and Squire Grizzly leap up onstage to pull the two lovers apart. But that did not happen. And Brother didn’t blush!
By the e
nd of the play, the audience was in a state of shock. There were Romeo and Juliet, dying in each other’s arms. And it was all because of a feud between their families. The audience was silent and still.
The curtain came down and the lights came up.
All through the audience, Grizzly clan members and Bear clan members turned to one another and smiled. Many reached out and shook hands warmly. Then they began to clap.
Soon the applause became so loud that the curtain rose once again.
The cast took another bow.
The grown-ups of Bear Country were so thankful. They clapped for so long that the cubs took ten curtain calls!
Then Teacher Bob was called up onstage to take a bow.
Chapter 10
The Party
After the play, Queenie McBear held a cast party at her house. There was lots of music and food.
Everyone was in a good mood for two reasons. They knew they had done a fine acting job. And they knew that their parents had ended the old feud of Bear Country.
Brother Bear and Bonnie were drinking sodas and talking about the play when Queenie rushed over to them. She had a big smile on her face. “Congratulations, you two!” she cried.
“Thanks, Queenie,” said Brother.
“Yeah,” said Bonnie. “You were great, too.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean your acting,” said Queenie with a wink.
“No?” said Brother. “Then what did you mean?”
“Now that the feud between the clans is over, you two are free—free to go steady! See you later, lovers!”
Queenie dashed off. Brother and Bonnie looked at each other in surprise.
“She’s right, you know,” said Bonnie. She looked Brother straight in the eye.
Brother felt a little confused. Bonnie was as cute as ever—that was for sure. But something was bothering him. It had been great being in the play and getting rid of the feud. And he knew that Bonnie was a terrific cub. He really liked her. But he wasn’t so sure about this “going steady.”
It seemed strange to Brother that when he wasn’t allowed to see Bonnie, she was all he could think of. It had been exciting and daring to see her. But now that they were allowed to see each other, well…it just wasn’t the same. It felt sort of dumb. He remembered something Gran had once said about forbidden fruit tasting the sweetest. He couldn’t figure out what she was talking about at the time, but now he understood.
“I think I know what you are thinking, Brother,” said Bonnie suddenly.
“Huh?” said Brother. He was thinking so deeply that he had forgotten Bonnie was there.
“You’re thinking you’re not so sure about going steady,” said Bonnie.
Brother felt he should tell Bonnie she was wrong. But before he could, Bonnie grinned and said, “It’s okay, Brother. I sort of feel the same way.”
“You do?” said Brother. “Hey, terrific!” He couldn’t believe how things were working out. He wouldn’t have to miss the season’s soccer and softball games?
“Positively,” she said. “I need a friend a lot more than I need a boyfriend.”
“And I need a friend a lot more than I need a girlfriend,” said Brother.
The two smiled at each other. Brother breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then Queenie said it was time for a kissing game—post office. “This game is in honor of Bear Country’s great lovers, Brother Bear and Bonnie Brown,” she said with a big smile.
“What do we do now?” asked Brother. “Everyone thinks we’re great lovers. How can we let them down?”
“I’ll take care of that,” said Bonnie. “Just leave it to me.”
One by one, the girls took turns inviting their favorite boys into the “mail room,” which was really the McBear laundry room. At last it was Bonnie’s turn.
Brother took a deep breath.
“I have a bunch of special deliveries,” said Bonnie, “for… Brother Bear!” The other cubs hooted and hollered and whistled. Frowning, Brother followed Bonnie into the “mail room.” He closed the door behind them.
It was dark inside, but a little light crept in around the door. Outside, the gang was yelling, “Hey, wherefore art thou, Romeo?” and “Okay, guys, let’s get it on! Ready! Pucker up! Smacko!”
“So what are we going to do, Bonnie?” asked Brother. “I’m all kissed out from the play.”
“Me too,” said Bonnie with a giggle. “But here’s what we’ll do. You moan and groan, and I’ll take care of the ‘special deliveries.’ We’ll send the cubs home happy.”
Then Bonnie pressed her lips to the back of her hand and made loud smacking noises. Brother moaned as if he were having a great time. After being silent for a few seconds, they finally came out of the laundry room. The other cubs cheered and howled and clapped wildly.
With a big smile, Brother put an arm around Bonnie’s shoulder and said, “Nothing to it, gang. Nothing to it.”
And he didn’t even blush.
About the Authors
Stan and Jan Berenstain began writing the Berenstain Bears series in 1962, with The Big Honey Hunt. Since then, more than 250 Berenstain Bears books have been published and sales of the series are nearing 300 million. Stan and Jan have left behind a legacy of arguably the best-selling children’s book series ever. Making the books has long been a family affair, with son Mike Berenstain writing and illustrating new stories about everyone’s favorite bear family. You can visit the Berenstains online at www.berenstainbears.com.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.
Chapter 1
Massive Milton
As towns go, Beartown was a rather small one. That made Bear Country School, as schools go, a pretty small school. Most of the cubs there knew each other, and most of the new cubs each year were the incoming kindergartners who were the brothers and sisters of cubs in the higher grades.
But every once in a while, a different kind of new cub appeared at school: a cub whose family had just moved to Beartown. To such a cub, every other cub in the school was a total stranger. That made it kind of hard to adjust to school life. And it was especially hard for a new cub who looked unusual in some way. No cub knew that better than Harry “Wheels” McGill. Harry’s legs had been injured in an auto accident when he was a little cub, and he had to use a wheelchair to get around. That made other cubs uncomfortable around him at first. All except for Too-Tall and his gang. They weren’t uncomfortable around him—they just teased him without mercy.
Ever since his difficult experience, Harry had taken a special interest in helping other new cubs adjust. But he suspected that his wheelchair made new cubs uncomfortable, so he usually teamed up with Brother Bear and his friends, the cubs who had helped him in his own ordeal. That’s why, at this very moment, Harry was steering his wheelchair across the crowded school playground to where Brother and friends were talking.
“Hi, Wheels,” said Brother. “What’s up?”
“Something’s comin’ down, that’s what’s up,” said Harry.
“I object,” sniffed Ferdy Factual, peering through his thick lenses at Harry. “A thing cannot be both up and down at the same time. It’s a contradiction in terms. Unless, of course, you’re speaking about quantum physics—”
“I’ll give you a contradiction right in the nose, Ferd,” said Harry good-naturedly. “No time for wordplay. We’ve got to act fast.” He pointed across the playground to a cluster of girl cubs gathered closely around a boy cub who stood head and shoulders above them.
“Wow,” said Brother. “Kinda tall, isn’t he?”
“That’s not all he is,” said Harry. “He’s also wide. Very wide. His name’s Milton.”
“Milton?” said Barry Bruin. “He’s gonna get teased about that name.”
“Not to mention his weight,” said Harry. “And, to top it all off, he’s also very shy. Look, Too-Tall and the gang are coming up the road now. I want you guys to make friends with Milton befor
e they get here and start messin’ with him. But no remarks about his weight. Or his clothes. Got that?”
The cubs nodded. “Don’t worry,” said Brother. “We’ll all just say, ‘Hi, Milton. It’s very nice to meet you.’”
“Good,” said Harry. “A little stiff, but good. Come on.”
As they approached the cluster, they could hear the girls’ voices, high and shrill. Queenie McBear: “Oh, Milton, you’re such a big bear on campus!” Babs Bruno: “I’m sure you’re just as big-hearted as you are big, Milton!” Bermuda McBear: “May I put my arms around you, Milton? Never mind, I don’t think they’ll go all the way around!” Each tease was greeted by a gale of squeals and giggles and by a deeper reddening of Milton’s broad face.
“What are you girls up to?” scolded Harry.
Queenie looked over her shoulder at Harry in mock surprise. “We’re just havin’ a little ol’ blushing contest,” she said. “With Milton as the only contestant!” More squealing and giggling.
“Well, break it up,” said Harry. “It’s time for Milton to meet some of the guys.”
The cluster of girls parted, revealing Milton in all his glory. Brother could see why Harry was concerned for the poor guy. He was wearing a pair of overalls. And he wasn’t just tall and wide. He was enormous.
Brother stepped forward to be introduced first.
“Milton,” said Harry, “I want you to meet a good friend of mine, Brother Bear.” Milton thrust his meaty hand at Brother as Harry continued, “Brother, this is Milton Chubb.”