by Stan
“Hey, Barry, where ya goin’?” teased Queenie, hurrying after him.
“As far away from you as I can get,” said Barry. “Your boyfriend’s giving me the evil eye.”
“Hey, Barry,” said Brother Bear. “I hear Too-Tall wants to work out with you in the gym.”
“Why?” said Barry.
“So he can turn you into his punching bag,” said Brother. Everyone laughed. Except Barry, that is.
“Come on, Barry,” whined Queenie. “Play along for a little longer. At least until the big guy realizes I’m just trying to make him jealous.”
But it looked as though Too-Tall had already come to that realization. Suddenly he gave Queenie a big grin, blew her a kiss, and turned back to his gang.
“Humph!” said Queenie. “That big lug’s getting harder and harder to string along. What we need around here is a new face or two for me to flirt with—” Suddenly Queenie broke off. She was looking out toward the front gate. “Well, hello,” she purred. “What have we here?”
A sleek black limousine had pulled up to the gate, and a uniformed chauffeur was opening the rear door. Out stepped a cub dressed in a suit and tie.
“Who’s he?” asked Barry.
“Beats me,” said Queenie.
“Why’s he all dressed up?” asked Sister Bear.
Cousin Fred shrugged. “Maybe he’s a substitute disciplinarian for Mr. Grizzmeyer.”
“Or the poster boy for some new dress code Mr. G’s about to announce,” cracked Lizzy Bruin.
But it was Bonnie Brown who had a serious answer to Sister’s question. “Judging from the chauffeured limousine,” she said, “I’d guess the expensive suit and tie are just another way for that cub’s parents to show everyone else how much money they have.”
“Very logical, Bonnie,” said Ferdy Factual. “You are, no doubt, correct.”
“How’d you know that?” asked Sister.
“Don’t forget,” said Bonnie, “Squire and Lady Grizzly are my uncle and aunt. Every now and then they drop a hint that I should wear some fancy dress to school.”
“Hmm,” said Queenie, gazing dreamily at the new cub as he entered the schoolyard, elegant leather briefcase in hand. “I wonder if he has a girlfriend. If he does, he probably buys her lots of expensive gifts. And if he doesn’t, it’s about time he got one…”
“Really, Queenie,” scoffed Ferdy. “Don’t tell me you’ve decided to go after him just because he’s rich!”
“And why shouldn’t I?” said Queenie.
Ferdy folded his arms and gave a bored yawn. “Because money isn’t important,” he said.
“Oh, is that so?” said Queenie. “And what is important?”
“Brains,” said Ferdy.
“That’s just what bears say who don’t have a lot of money,” said Queenie.
“And that,” said Ferdy, “is just what bears say who don’t have a lot of brains!”
Queenie shot Ferdy a nasty look.
“I say go for it, Queenie,” urged Barry. “Anything to get you off my back.”
But Queenie didn’t need any urging. She was already skipping off toward the new cub.
Chapter 2
A Name for the Face
It had been hard not to notice the gleaming limousine at the front gate, and now practically every cub in the schoolyard was watching as Queenie spoke to the new cub. She frowned when he answered her. He spoke again, and she put her hands on her hips.
“I wonder what he said,” said Sister.
“I don’t know,” said Lizzy. “But Queenie sure looks frustrated.”
“Uh-oh,” said Barry. “The new cub is about to meet our local gang leader.”
Too-Tall stomped over to the new cub and glared down at him. But as soon as the cub spoke up, Too-Tall grinned and pointed over to Brother and Sister’s group.
“He’s coming over here,” said Cousin Fred.
“Wonderful,” said Ferdy sarcastically. “Try to look rich, everyone.”
The new cub approached the group and looked from one girl cub to another. “Which of you is Bonnie Brown?” he said. He didn’t say it as if he were asking for information. He said it as if he were demanding information—as if he had a right to know and the cubs had an obligation to tell him.
“That’s me,” said Bonnie.
The new cub smiled warmly at her. “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” he said. “Let me introduce myself. I am Ronald Grizzington III. But you can call me Ronnie.”
“Hi, Ronnie,” said Brother, putting out his hand to shake.
The new cub looked down at Brother’s hand as if it were covered with some icky fungus. “That’s Ronald to you,” he said coldly, then turned back to Bonnie with another warm smile. “My father, Ronald Grizzington II, is Squire Grizzly’s new business partner. They’ve joined forces to build a new multiplex movie theater across from Bear Country Mall. My father has built them all over Bear Country, you know. You might have seen him recently on that television show ‘Lifestyles of the Rich and Well-Known.’ Anyway, it’s very nice to meet you.” He glanced around at the others. “And your groupies, too, I suppose. See you later, Bonnie.” He walked off to stand all alone by the fence.
“Groupies?” said Sister. “What do you suppose he meant by that?”
Bonnie sighed. “I hate to admit it,” she said, “but he thinks you’re all just hanging around me because my aunt and uncle are rich.”
“What?” cried Brother. “That snob!”
“He’s obviously a cub with a very shallow personality,” sniffed Ferdy.
“Shallow personality, deep pockets,” said Queenie, who had just rejoined the group.
“Empty deep pockets where you’re concerned,” Barry teased.
“Okay, I admit it,” said Queenie. “I did my best, but he just kept asking where Bonnie was. Guess I don’t stand a chance with him.”
“Don’t give up hope,” said Bonnie. “He only wanted to meet me because his father is my uncle’s new business partner.”
“Don’t be so sure,” said Queenie. “You’re the only cub he’s shown the slightest interest in since he got here. Maybe he wants to date you.”
The bell rang, and the cubs headed for the front door. I sure hope not, thought Bonnie as she followed her friends into school. Because I don’t think I like Ronald Grizzington III.
Copyright
THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND QUEENIE’S CRAZY CRUSH
Copyright © 1997 by Berenstain Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins ebooks.
EPub Edition © 2012
ISBN 978-0-06-218881-6
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Originally published in 1997 by Random House, Inc.
EPub Edition © DECEMBER 2012 ISBN: 9780062188816
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