Wisdom

My Mum was helpful and supportive. As Ellie had left her cub in her care for some time,she asked me to instruct young Leo in his tree climbing, and then we sat on the porch while she Dispensed Advice.

You mustn't live solely on donuts you know," she told me, rather as I suppose your Mum has told you. "A young and active bear needs plenty of pizza, and you can never eat too many fried clams either. And stay away from brussels sprouts if you know what's good for you. Too many cruciferous vegetables will dull your mind." And then she reminded me to always dress appropriately, and to be kind to animals, and to call home often, but not during Red Sox games, or televised football. She provided me with addresses and telephone numbers of Boyds and Bears all over North America, and told me which ones were to be depended upon and which ones were "a little odd." She warned me about Auntie Maisie Bearington's pomegranate and rice fudge, and asked me to let her know immediately if I ran into Great Uncle Leon Leonwood, and then we ordered Chinese take-out and listened to the baseball play-offs, and then settled in for a good night's sleep.