Bear’s surprise party

BEAR’S SURPRISE PARTY

By Kaydin Hamby

THE NARRATOR: One day in the woods, Fox was scheming to sneak up on Bear. They enjoyed such playful games together. Little did Fox know that Bear had another surprise planned.

FOX: I’m gonna get that beast so good, we’ll both be rolling over!

BEAR: Tra- la-la, fiddle-dee-dee, nothing in the woods to frighten me. Nobody here but me and the bees!

FOX: Bear doesn’t suspect a thing! Now’s my time to pounce. Ready… steady…

BEAR: Surprise!!!

FOX: AH! … Huh?...  I’m not the one who's supposed to get snuck up on!

BEAR: Surprise! I’m throwing a surprise party and you’re invited!

FOX: A surprise party! Oh boy, oh boy, I love surprises! Who’s it for?

BEAR: Shh… That’s the surprise. 

FOX: Oh, I see. Well then, when’s the party?

BEAR: That’s a surprise, too. You better run and get everybody together as soon as you can.  We don’t want to miss it. And tell them to bring a surprise, too. It’s a potluck.

FOX: Oh, a potluck. I’ll bring my favorite…

BEAR: (Interrupting) Don’t say it! You’ll spoil the surprise! 

FOX: You’re so smart, Bear. I wasn’t even thinking. 

THE NARRATOR: And off Fox went to invite everyone to the surprise party. First came Possum.

FOX: (With intense excitement) Possum! Bear’s throwing a surprise party! And you’re invited! We need you to bring a surprise to the party, like, YESTERDAY!

POSSUM: Right now? But I don’t have anything to bring with me! Oh, how rude of me. What a terrible party guest I am. Oh dear.

FOX: Hm, not to worry, my friend. The woods are full of surprises if you know where to look. See that bush? It’s growing yummy berries. And those grasses? There are funny little onions underground if you dig them up. And if you’re really lucky… look! A patch of mouth watering mushrooms!

POSSUM: Mushrooms? 

FOX: These are the best mushrooms in the whole woods. Pick them and bring them to Bear’s. Ta-da!

POSSUM: But Fox… Aren’t some mushrooms poisonous? And some make you see and hear weird things…

FOX: Some of them, but not these mushrooms. I eat these any chance I get, and look at me! I’m a perfect specimen of mental clarity. 

POSSUM: That’s really not as reassuring as you think it is. 

THE NARRATOR: Bear had returned home and began making preparations for the party. 

BEAR: Hooray! A potluck party. Better get my lucky pot. My biggest one I’ve got will hold all the surprises my friends may bring. 

THE NARRATOR: Bear hoisted an enormous pot onto the stove and lit a fire underneath. 

BEAR: Hmm, but what will I bring to the surprise party? How am I supposed to keep a secret from myself? I wonder…

THE NARRATOR: A brilliant idea struck him!

BEAR: I’ve got it! I’ll close my eyes, reach deep into my pantry and grab a jar. Then, I’ll pour the jar into the pot without looking!

THE NARRATOR: Bear did just that, very satisfied with the clever solution. Just then, Raccoon was sniffing around outside. 

BEAR: Raccoon! Come inside, quickly!

RACCOON: Hey, Bear. I just found some tasty looking grub! At least to me, I think everything looks like food. I was wondering if you wanted some…

BEAR: (interrupting) Don’t say what! We’re having a surprise party and how perfect, you’ve already got a surprise! Add some to the pot on the stove, but don’t let anyone see.

RACCOON: I mean, I found these laying around outside. My standards aren’t exactly high. You want me to just throw them in? What a concept. You’ll really just eat whatever? 

BEAR: That’s the beauty of a surprise party!

THE BEES: Bzz…

BEAR: Oh my, the bees. They mustn't find out…

THE NARRATOR: As Bear and Raccoon were busy preparing, Fox arrived at the Deer’s house and quickly became distracted from the original purpose of the trip when a heavenly scent drifted from the window. 

FOX: My dear Deer! Something smells delicious. What’s cookin’?

DEER: What a lovely surprise to see you Fox. I’m baking bread! What brings you to my door today? You look like you’ve been chasing something all over the woods.

FOX: Oh yeah, Bear’s having a surprise party and you’re invited! We need you to bring a surprise to the party as soon as you can!

DEER: A surprise party, oh my! I’m in the middle of making bread and I can’t possibly leave it while it’s baking. 

FOX: Hmm, why don’t you bring the bread to the party once it’s ready?

DEER: That’s a wonderful idea, Fox. I’ll do just that. I’ll bring it right out of the oven. It’ll still be warm by the time I get there.

FOX: I’ve got to get a bite of those buns. I can’t wait! But first I’ve gotta head to Rabbit’s house. It’s not going to be easy getting that bunny to budge. 

THE NARRATOR: Fox bounded off to Rabbit’s house. Meanwhile, Possum was on the way to the party, but was getting increasingly nervous about the surprise.

POSSUM: Oh dear, what if I poison all my friends? What if I totally ruin the party? How terrible. How awful. Oh, no!

THE NARRATOR: Owl was flying overhead and noticed Possum in distress.

OWL: Hey Possum, are you alright? 

POSSUM: (On the verge of tears) Oh Owl, I’m so glad I ran into you. You see, Bear’s having a surprise party and everyone’s invited.

OWL: Well that’s good news! Parties are great fun! And a surprise too! So, wait… Why are you so upset? 

POSSUM: Well, Fox told me to bring a surprise to the party, but I didn’t have anything, so we picked these, and I’m just not sure what they are.

OWL: No worries, Possum. I have a reliable book in my library that I use for identifying all sorts of things in the woods. I can head home and have a look, then I’ll be on my way to the party. 

POSSUM: Oh, that would make me feel much better. Please, Owl, go check for me. Meet be back at Bear’s with your own surprise too.

THE NARRATOR: As Owl hurried away, Possum was slightly relieved, but still not totally convinced of the safety of the mushrooms. Fox soon arrived at Rabbit’s house with great fervor. 

FOX: Rabbit, oh Rabbit!

RABBIT: Fox! Be careful! I’m harvesting my vegetables and the stems are still very delicate. All that tromping around could do some serious damage.

FOX: Harvest time, perfect! You can bring your veggies to Bear’s surprise party.

RABBIT: Bear’s having a surprise party?

FOX: Yes indeed-y! And you’re invited. We need you to bring a surprise. It’s a potluck. 

RABBIT: A surprise party? And a potluck too?  I haven’t had any time to prepare anything, maybe…

FOX: (Interrupting) No time to prepare, cotton tail. The party could start any minute, so we gotta get back to Bear’s as soon as possible!

RABBIT: As soon as possible? Oh goodness, oh gosh, I was right in the middle of gardening.

FOX: The garden will be here when you get back, Rabbit. Hop to!

RABBIT: Okay then, I would hate to be late to a social engagement. 

FOX: I’ve gotta get my surprise figured out before it’s too late. I plan on keeping it totally top secret. 

THE NARRATOR: Everyone was invited to the surprise party. Guests began to arrive at Bear’s house, Possum the first among them. 

POSSUM: Hello Bear, and Raccoon too! Fox told me about the party, and I sure was surprised! 

BEAR: That’s the whole point, Possum. 

RACCOON: What did you bring for the potluck? 

POSSUM: Well, since I didn’t know, I …

BEAR: (Interrupting) Shh! Don’t spoil the surprise. It’s good you had it hidden up in your pouch, that helped keep it extra secret. 

THE NARRATOR: Before Possum could object, Bear threw the mysterious mushrooms into the pot. 

BEAR: Into the lucky pot the surprises go! What will we make? Nobody knows!

POSSUM: Bear, noooo!!!!

BEAR: Don’t worry Possum, we’ll all get to share in the surprise once everyone arrives. And look, here comes Rabbit.

RABBIT: I hardly had any time to prepare for the party, Bear, I was in the middle of gardening. All I could bring were these…

BEAR: (Interrupting) Into the stew they go! 

THE NARRATOR: Just as before with Possum’s offering, Bear blindly added Rabbit’s ingredients to the pot. 

RABBIT: Bear, you can’t just throw things together willy-nilly! That’s not how cooking works! You’re going to end up wasting it all. 

RACCOON: Come on, Rabbit, lighten up. This is Bear’s party. 

BEAR: There’s Owl now!

OWL: I hope I didn’t miss the surprise! I bought something from my own stash to share. 

BEAR: Thank you, Owl. You can dump it right into the pot. Everything is already simmering. 

RABBIT: Oh, heavens. Some of us have a more discerning palette, I suppose.

OWL: And Possum, my research led me to an answer for you. 

POSSUM: Oh good, Owl, what did you find out? 

OWL: The specimen that you showed me was absolutely, with one hundred percent certainty… a mushroom. 

RACCOON: Aw, you gave away Possum’s surprise!

POSSUM:  Owl, you crazy old hoot! I obviously knew it was a mushroom! I wanted to know if it was safe to eat or not!

RABBIT: You … put a mushroom… in the pot… that you didn’t know was safe to eat? 

POSSUM: Well, Fox apparently eats them all the time.

RABBIT: That’s really not as reassuring as you think it is.

FOX: Did somebody say Fox?!?!

BEAR: Oh, Fox! Thank you so much for inviting everyone. There have been so many wonderful surprises so far. 

FOX: And I’ve got one more for you. In this bottle is a top secret saucy concoction made with a super surprising ingredient. 

BEAR: Finally, someone who understands the spirit of a surprise party. 

FOX: Foxes are known for their ability to surprise people. It’s no fun sneaking up on somebody who sees you coming!

THE NARRATOR: Fox uncorked the bottle and emptied its entire contents into the pot. The concoction was bubbling away. The aroma was so strong that the bees outside began to show interest. 

THE BEES: Bzz!

BEAR: Not yet, bees, we aren’t all here yet. We’re still waiting for Deer to get here. 

POSSUM: The bees are going to be here? 

BEAR: I can’t keep them away with all the honey I’ve got here at my house. 

RACCOON: Here comes Deer now! 

DEER: Hello everyone! Sorry I was running late. The invitation, well, caught me by surprise. 

RACCOON: Yeah, join the party.

BEAR: You’re just in time, Deer. Quickly, now that everyone is here, we all must find a hiding spot. It’s time for the surprise. Here, behind the bushes and trees. (Whispering) Now, on the count of three, everyone jump out and yell surprise. One… Two... Three..

ALL: Surprise!

THE NARRATOR: They all looked around, still unsure who they were celebrating. Who was the party for?  Had Bear totally lost it? All they heard was the buzzing of the bees.

THE BEES: Bzz?

BEAR: Surprise! I wanted to throw a party to thank you all for your generous gifts. 

THE BEES: Bzz!

BEAR: Yes you! Without you there would be no honey! And without honey there would be no me!

THE BEES: Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!

RACCOON: Oh, Bear.

RABBIT: A party for insects? Ridiculous. 

DEER: Everyone deserves to feel appreciated, Rabbit.

FOX: Makes no difference to me. After all this running around, I’m ready to chow down. 

BEAR: Ooh yes, my tummy has been rumbling all day. 

RABBIT: Now hold on one second. All we have to eat is this crazy concoction that you threw together? You don’t even know what’s in it! It’s probably disgusting! It very well might be poisonous! It might—hmph!?!?

THE NARRATOR: Fox shoved a spoonful of the pot’s contents into Rabbit’s mouth. Rabbit was stunned, then outraged, then all the flavors started to be revealed.

RABBIT: It’s… I can’t believe it… the herbal notes…

OWL: That’s my contribution.

RABBIT: The earthiness….

POSSUM: Must be my mushrooms.

RABBIT: Crunchy nuttiness…

RACCOON: Sounds like what I must’ve put in.

RABBIT: A spicy heat…

FOX: That’s my super secret hot sauce! The secret ingredient is hot hot hot peppers. 

RABBIT: And the carrots from my garden, all glazed in sweet glorious… honey!

THE BEES: Bzz!

BEAR: Oh, honey! That must be what I put in. I just reached into my pantry and grabbed a jar without looking.

RACCOON: But all you have in your pantry is honey, Bear. 

BEAR: I guess so, Raccoon, but I even fooled me. 

DEER: The bread that I baked will be perfect for dipping.

OWL: See Rabbit, it all came together.

BEAR: Quickly everyone, get a bowl before the bees swarm the pot.

POSSUM: Yipes!

THE NARRATOR: Everyone was served a delicious portion of the honey, infused with flavors from all over the woods. 

DEER: You know, we have the bees to thank for more than just the honey! They helped to pollinate all the plants that went into it. 

POSSUM: Wow, Deer, you’re right. Thank you bees!

THE BEES: Bzzz!

RABBIT: Did they just… Did you hear that? 

THE BEES: Bzz Bzz! What a surprizzze!

OWL: I definitely heard something…

THE NARRATOR: They couldn’t believe their ears as they all began to hear whispers among the droning buzz.

THE BEES:  Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!

This prezzzent izzz much apprezzziated.

Our delizzziouzzz honey izzz made eeeven more tazzzty with thezzze indreditentzzz.

Weee the beezzzz grant you immunityyy from our stingerzzz from now until eternityyyy.

FOX: See Possum, I told you these mushrooms were really something!

POSSUM: Fox, I…

RACCOON: And Owl, what herbs exactly did you say you put in?

OWL: Well…

BEAR: Not to worry everyone! Now you all have the same connection with the bees and their honey as I do! 

THE NARRATOR: In the end, it was a wonderful surprise for everyone. After the party, they all went home with full bellies and warm hearts thanks to their friend, Bear, who brought them all together.