Courting2

Jane Marie proudly presents

Martha Bear® and Wink E Bear

in Bear Come a Courtin'
Part Two - The Anticipation

Admittedly, Martha Bear® was anxious. As a result, her ears involuntarily twitched. This affliction had been going on since her last visit from Wink E Bear, a gentlebear of good standing. Everyone at the manor, in the Pine Tree Place and Amelia Island town knew such a condition meant something was amiss.

While examining her reflection in the mirror over the washstand on the morning of her date for the Spring Sing with Wink E, Martha couldn't help but be distracted by the duel movement of her auditory members.

"Come along, Martha,” Airborne, her hopper companion, urged. "Let's read your e-mail. It will take your mind from tonight's activities.”

"A splendid plan, my friend, but after lunch, we must finalize preparations for this evening. Jane Marie has promised to help me get ready and she never breaks a promise.”

Shocked at such a distasteful and impossible possibility, Airborne mimicked Martha, using her own words, "My stars and whickers! Don't even suggest such a thing!” For added drama, he stood tall on his hind legs and raised his little front legs to his cheeks in feigned shock.

Airborne was particularly proud of his powerful rear hopper legs because they were generously covered with hair wires that, when rubbed together, made for a lovely chirping - much lovelier than the average hopper and, thereby, most attractive to the lady hoppers.

Martha chuckled at him and herself. "Thank you, Airborne. I can see the minutes until noontime shall pass quickly with you about.”

Together they padded down the hall past the closed door of Story Central, Martha's nickname for the room where Jane Marie creates her articles and delightful stories, as well as her dramatic prose for her romantic books. They could hear fingers flying at the keyboard. "I believe Jane Marie is writing brief biographies of Breelan Dunnigan and Waite Taylor, the principal characters in The Goodbye Lie,” Martha whispered.

"I must tell you,” Airborne confessed, "that historically romantic story has inspired me to ask Hedda Mae Hopper to the Spring Sing. She's agreed that I may be her escort.”

Amazed that Airborne had made such a bold endeavor, Martha composed herself before she let on her surprise. She said simply, "How very lovely. Hedda Mae will be the envy of all the other girl grasshoppers. Of that, I'm certain,” and she watched Airborne's little chest swell with pride at the unexpected compliment.

Climbing onto the church pew in the dining room next to the kitchen, which contained Martha's favorite thing above all things, food, she opened the lid to her laptop. Thinking a moment, she climbed back down and went into the kitchen to see what leftovers were being held captive in the refrigerator. Knowing full well they would prefer being consumed rather than to wither into a frozen state of decay, Martha felt it her duty to eat them.

"Ah, I see one serving of Jane Marie's Green Apple Chicken Salad. It's not enough for the whole family and clearly, it's taking up valuable space in the refrigerator, so I think it best that I eat it. Anything for you, Airborne?”

"A small crumb of cheese would satisfy.”

It's a little known fact that grasshoppers secretly consider cheddar a necessary delicacy. While any flavor of cheese will suffice, the particular oil in cheddar keeps hoppers' knees greased and thereby carries them into old age, still able to leap lively.

Having consumed her salad whilst standing instead of sitting in an effort to burn extra calories, Martha was soon back at the table reading her e-mail. "Why, here's one from Bear With No Name. I wonder what he's been up to.”

She soon found out that one thing he was up to was not minding his own business. She read: "Howdie dodie, little cutie! I understand you and Wink E Bear will be attending the Spring Sing as a couple. The question is: A couple of what? Hee, hee! Ho, ho! If you decide to dance in the aisles, be sure you don't squish the short fellow with your flat feet! They might be good for climbing trees, but will smash the jelly out of him if they land just right! Hey, are you done proofing the latest issue of GraciousJaneMarie, the newsletter yet? Perhaps you need to focus more on your professional life instead of your personal good times. Have a great day and an even greater night! Wink, Wink, and I do mean wink, as in Wink E Bear. Your forever-fettering friend, Bear With No Name."

"Oh my stars and whickers!” Martha shouted in despair. "How on earth did No Name know I was going to the Spring Sing, and with Wink E Bear, of all bears? You did know they've had a rivalry for sometime now, didn't you, Airborne? I think No Name is insecure because Wink E has the one thing he craves, a fine reputation.”

She looked to her shoulder, the hopper's usual perch, awaiting his empathetic response, but he wasn't there. He had flown to the windowsill and was looking outside, whistling softly.

"Airborne? Did you hear what I said about No Name? He's such a disagreeable bear at times. How did he ever come to learn I was ...?”

"I confess. I confess!” Airborne wailed as loud as a hopper can. "Please, don't torture me with your accusations,” he pleaded.

Martha was a bit confused as to the accusations reference, but she listened patiently.

I casually mentioned to Antuneio Toad that I was going to the show with Hedda Mae. That led to saying you were going with Wink E and, well, Antuneio must have told Mrs.Squawkhouser, the new chicken in town taking signing lessons from him. Every bear and bug already knows she can't keep a secret, especially if the least inkling of romance is involved and ...”

Martha stopped him. For a hopper of few words, he'd said a mandible full. "It's alright, Airborne. I realize your own excitement is the culprit. You never had any intention of telling No Name anything private about me. I'm a big bear and I can handle it. I believe the best way to deal with him, as most times, is to just ignore his sarcasm and it will go away.”

With one furry bear finger, she deftly hit the delete key and erased No Name's e-mail. "See. All gone.”

Airborne flew to Martha's shoulder and landed there, glad to be at peace with his best friend. Together they worked until just before noon when Jane Marie exited Story Central and joined them.

"Say, are there any bears or hoppers or kitties or birds who could stand a few lunchtime nibbles?”

At that moment, and as no surprise to anyone, Mr. Buzzbee and Spew stretched from their morning cat naps to join in a cacophony of purrs, glad growls and chirps, which crescendoed throughout the manor. That irregular chorus continued to sound until Jane Marie had filled everyone's cheeks to bulging.

Later, the dishes cleared, Jane Marie announced, "It's time to make our final decision as to what Martha Bear will wear to the Sing tonight. All the girls come with me. All the boys stay in the parlor. You men can help judge which would be the most appealing outfit for the occasion. I've come up with three selections.”

That seemed reasonable. Bird accompanied Martha and Jane Marie into the bedroom, while Airborne, Spew and Mr. Buzzbee took comfortable positions all around the parlor, in ready mode for their assigned task.

After a few minutes, Martha appeared wrapped in a daisy patterned bath towel, wearing a clear plastic shower cap atop her head. "Beary fashionable, Martha,” Mr. Buzzbee decided, "But I'm sorry to say it doesn't work because the shower cap needs to be more colorful. From a distance, it will appear as if you are wearing nothing on your large white head. I assume you want some color up there to accent your huge ears. Am I right?”

Martha nodded. "Yes. My ears, when they're behaving themselves, are one of my best assets, if I may be so bold. Thank you, Mr. Buzzbee. I'll take that under advisement. Any more comments?” she asked the rest of the panel. None were forthcoming. "I'll be back in a jiffy.”

Martha soon reappeared, awakening Spew, who had fallen asleep sixteen seconds into the first viewing. Earlier, as Senior Feline Editor, he'd assisted Mr. Buzzbee, Production Manager, in getting the snail mail out in time for the morning's post by licking the sticky yet tasty glue on three separate envelopes. In addition to that laborious task, Spew had witnessed ants carrying stale breadcrumbs into their hole for a late afternoon's private birthday party. All that activity had worn him out. He began licking his front paw with the intent of washing the sleep from his eyes, but when he saw Martha in her second outfit, he forgot what he was doing. He forgot not because her get-up was so spectacular, but because his brain was a tish too small for his body. He often didn't finish what he began since he didn't remember starting anything in the first place.

This time Martha was wearing a long white lace curtain draped toga style over her right shoulder so her silver heart-shaped brooch would show, positioned as it was, over her own heart. Encircling her ears for a Roman-type effect was a trailing philodendron vine.

Through tired, squinting eyes, Spew commented, "I like it, but it might rain tonight. If the weather is natty (nasty), your train will drag and get all muppy (muddy).”

"I can confirm that. I spoke with Papa Dove while he was waiting for Mama Dove to finish feeding the new babies,” said Airborne. "He commented it feels like it just may rain later.”

"Oh my. Oh my, my. I did so like this outfit, but I must use good sense. I wouldn't want to soil this lovely curtain. Did you boys know this very curtain was what Jane Marie used to line the bottom of the wicker basket that held the tussie mussies she made as favors for her child's wedding?”

While Martha went back to Jane Marie's bedroom to don the final outfit, the fellows determined the tasty tidbit concerning the lace curtain had been lost to them during the busy nuptial preparations a few years back. All being lovers of family history, they we're pleased to have learned something new.

"Tweet, sing-sing, tweet.” Bird came flying into the parlor, announcing Martha's last offering.

The bear appeared in a pink and blue horizontally stripped number whose hem was covered in blue and pink netting. The thin straps holding the bodice set off the full curve of her shoulders. Between her wiggling ears was a floral bow of the same colors.

The audience gasped and cried in unison, "That's it! That's the one!”

With those assurances, Martha's ears stood up still and strong. "Do you think so? I know I'm pleased with it. Jane Marie is so very creative. Oh, you don't think it makes my bottom look too small does it? The material is stretchy, you know, and holds me in as if I were wearing a girdle.” Such frank discussion of her physique was somewhat awkward, but Martha bore the embarrassment in an effort to reach the truth.

"No, ma'am,” responded Mr. Buzzbee. "Why if I were a bear, I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen with you.”

"Ne (me) neither,” added Spew.

Martha thought a moment and decided Mr. Buzzbee's comment had been meant as positive, so she thanked him. Jane Marie watched, pleased Martha felt pretty in what had been the author's very first tap dancing costume. Since Martha had stylishly short legs for a bear, the tutu portion of the garment just covered her ankles and made a perfect looking formal for the occasion.

The critters and human all went their separate ways. Martha decided she couldn't concentrate the rest of the afternoon, so she and Airborne retired to the shade of Pine Tree Place to listened to the soothing dribble from the dragonfly fountain in the screened porch. While she swilled refreshing honey water, he concentrated on straightening the hair wires on his hind legs to insure he would be ready for his evening with Hedda May.

"Anxiety is often squelched,” Martha pronounced, her poise having returned since she was pleased with the night's choice of eveningwear, and replaced by cheerful anticipation when a bear is properly and comfortably attired. Cheerful anticipation is a better thing, you know, Airborne."

TO BE CONTINUED ► Part One Part Three

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