Lifetime Supply

Once upon a time there was a bear named Ted E. Bear. He lived in the forest with his mother and father, Mrs. and Mr. Bear.

It was a sunny July morning. Ted E. got up and dressed quickly. He drank his orange juice in one big gulp and grabbed a piece of toast.

"Where are you going?" asked Mrs. Bear calmly.

"Bobby Bear said he has a brilliant idea and is dying to tell me about it. He said to meet him at Sunny Stone Park at ten on the dot. I'm already late."

"Well, be back before dinner. And look both ways before you cross the street," said Mrs. Bear.

"OK!" yelled Ted E. and ran out the door.

When Ted E. came to the park, Bobby was walking around the bench impatiently.

" I thought I would burst with anxiety if you didn't come," he said.

Bobby Bear was Ted E.'s best friend. The families of Bobby and Ted E. were the only bear families who lived in the forest. The forest was old and beautiful with oak trees as big as 30 feet. The forest was close to the city and the city was close to the beach. Most of Ted E.'s friends lived in the city. The beach was a popular meeting place. Ted E. and his friends usually biked or roller bladed to the beach.

"You know that it is almost Flippy's birthday and we need some extra money to get him a present..." started Bobby, "Well, I have an excellent idea. You know Spot who works as the dickie-dee and sells ice cream...I got a new red bike yesterday. Now, all we need is a big box and a small freezer to keep the ice-cream cold..."

"Hold on, hold on!" interrupted Ted E. " You mean we could help the dickie-dee."

"Right," said Bobby, "We could ask Spot for half of his ice-cream and..."

"...sell in the other part of town." finished Ted E. "We will get paid and it will be fun!"

"Look, the dickie-dee!!! I will ask him now," yelled Bobby and ran toward the slowly moving colourful ice-cream bike.

Spot thought it was a great idea. He couldn't sell his ice-cream by himself and needed help. He also said that they could keep half of the money they made. He promised to help them to make an ice-cream bike. They decided to meet back in the park after supper. When Ted E. came home from supper, he told his mum and dad about Bobby's idea.

"Sounds good!" said Mr. Bear.

"Be careful," added Mrs. Bear, who was searching for a big box and a plastic container that Ted E. asked for.

"Oh, I will," promised Ted E.

He was so excited, he could not even finish his favourite honey-berry soup.

When he came to the park, Bobby, with his bike and some sleigh bells, was already there. After a few minutes came Spot dragging the mini freezer. The box which Ted E. brought they painted yellow and put the sticker on it saying, "Dickie-Dee" and showing all kinds of ice-cream. Spot's mini freezer perfectly fit into the box. The plastic container for the money was taped on the top.

" We are done," said Spot.

"Wow! That looks cool!" Bobby jumped with excitement.

"One more thing," Ted dived under the bench and pulled out the shining bells.

"This is the most perfect ice-cream bike I have ever seen," said Bobby looking admiringly at their work.

The yellow painted box glittered like a jewel on the dark green of the park trees. The silvery colour of the bells was now bright orange in the slowly setting sun. They jingled softly in the light evening breeze from the lake. And the colourful pictures on the sticker now looked so tempting that both bears started to lick their lips.

"Earth to Ted E., earth to Bobby!" Spot's voice broke the evening charm.

"Oh, sorry, but doesn't that ice-cream look delicious..."

There was a little bit of disappointment in Ted E.'s voice.

" You can start tomorrow," announced Spot.

That night Ted E. could not sleep, all he could think about was ice-cream, tons and tons of ice-cream...

The next day Ted E. got up early. He hardly touched his cereal. He left a note on the fridge saying that he will be back for supper. He put on a blue t-shirt saying "Dickie-Dee Ice-Cream," which Spot gave him, took his lunch, and ran to meet Bobby.

Bobby Bear, wearing exactly the same t-shirt, was coming with the ice-cream bike, which looked even more beautiful than yesterday evening. Good thing Bobby's bike had a banana seat! Together they rode off. Ted E. busy with ringing bells, noticed out of the corner of his eye Flippy and Jumbo coming their way.

"Look, Ted E. and Bobby!" shouted Jumbo.

"Your bike looks awesome!" Flippy's eyes became round with surprise. "I've never known that you guys sell ice-cream!"

"We've just started, today is our first day," answered Bobby.

"Do you want to be our first customers?" asked Ted E.

"Sure!" answered Jumbo and Flippy together.

From that day everyone bought ice-cream from the dickie-dee Spot, and his helpers Ted E. and Bobby. Spot got more money than he had ever made before. Ted E. and his friend Bobby had not only a lot of fun that summer but also their first earned money. They did very well. They even had their own song:

"Ice-cream, ice-cream, buy, buy,

ice-cream of any kind,

we will, we will supply,

whatever you have in mind."

And talking about supply...Spot's boss was happy, too. He was so happy that he gave Ted and Bobby a LIFE TIME SUPPLY of ice-cream! Now they had a birthday present for Flippy. The best present of all!!!

©1994 Marcelina Maciejewski