The Big Brown Bear

It was deep in the jungle in the dead of night. All that could be heard was the trickling of water from a nearby stream, and the chirping of crickets. Most of the inhabitants were sound asleep, cuddled up to their partners and young. Yet, far in the background, leaves began to crunch as a great big brown bear walked over them.

            The bear walked along the dark forest path with a longing in his eyes. His immense furry legs moved with purpose, illuminated by the pale silvery light of the Indian moon. Suddenly, he stopped. The bear cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out where the purring noise he was hearing was coming from. As he turned to the right, he saw a black panther, comfortably asleep on a log. A soft roar emitted from the bear’s snout as he approached the panther. His roar got louder as he placed his clawed paw on the panther’s back. “RAAAAAWR”, the panther exclaimed, jumping off her log in surprise. She dug her razor sharp claws into the brown bear’s shoulder and scampered off into the jungle. Clutching his wound with one paw, the big brown bear hung his head low and continued on his way.

            The big brown bear was starting to get hungry. He grabbed a banana from a nearby tree and as he ate it, threw the peel up into an adjacent tree. An “AIEEEEEE” came from it as a rudely awakened orangutan jumped down, waving his fists as he yelled. “Roar!” responded the big brown bear, running towards the angry creature with his arms outstretched. But the orangutan was faster, and was in the tree pelting bananas at the bear before he could get his paws on him.

            Down the path the bear strolled, his furry head hung even lower, splattered with mushy banana. On and on he went, until he encountered a herd of elephants. The massive creatures lay sound asleep, their enormous bodies silhouetted in front of the glimmering black lake behind them. The big brown bear’s eyes’ opened wide, and a smile began to form on his snout. He ran towards the herd, roaring. And just like that, the cool night air was filled with the sound of thousands of pounds of elephant gallivanting off into the distance, of water splashing every which way, and of deafening trumpet-like blows that resonated throughout the entire jungle.

            The big brown bear was getting tired. He sat down, staring at the reflection of the moon on the dark water; whose surface was now rough and disturbed by the elephants’ abrupt exit. The big brown bear wiped a tear from one of his big brown eyes. It’s too bad no one spoke bear; all he wanted was a hug.