CLAWS

There was a time when bears had no CLAWS and rainbows ended at a pot of honey. Bears were  thinner and always hungry. They loved salmon, but even more, capturing them was a team effort.

Each morning, high in the mountain ridges, where the whitewater streams were salmon highways, a group of five bears formed a line, from the stream to the shore. The lead bear reached into the icy water, with his furry paws, and butted th He salmon into the air. He could not grasp the slippery fish.  As the next bear batted it skyway, it sailed from bear to bear till it landed on dry land. Their batting average was not high.

They never ate enough to hibernate, so everyday was a day at the stream. The little cubs played along the shore, watching the sun reflecting on the silvery fish, eating berries til enough fish were caught get their share.

Booker was a young cub who spent his time floating in the streams on a log, trying to catch his own salmon. He paddled with his paws and reached down and snatched a passing fish.  He only managed to pat them. In fact, they seemed to like it, as they swam alongside the log.

Trying didn't matter. He was still trying to catch his first salmon.

Somedays he became so involved his log drifted very far into the stream and it took him an enormous amount of energy to get back to shore. He wished he had paddles like the beaver ( he thought they called them "oars"). He wanted 'oars' instead of paws, to make his life easier.

In this time,when bears were 2 years old, they were granted one wish from the magical bear,  who lived in a cave, high above the forest.

One night, when the moon was full and turning orange, the bears trekked to the Grand Cave, with their cubs. In the moonlit darkness, a huge bear crept out of his cave and sat Buddha like over his tribe.

Each bear cub went to a round patch of leaves directly below the magic bear,  made his wish,and departed with his treasure. Since the young bears were always hungry, they all made a wish for a pot of honey or a fat salmon. " Intelligence was not a bears main  attribute. This treasure was gobbled up so fast, his parents never saw a scrap left.

When Bookers turn came, he was starving from smelling so much.salmon and honey, but he took a deep breath and made a different wish.  He held up his paws and said in his best voice , "Oars".

The magic bear almost zapped him another salmon...Barely listening to the limited menu of requests, he was taken by surprise. Happy for a chance to use more of his  magic, he didn't ask Booker to repeat his wish, as long as it wasn't  for more food.

Booker felt a tingle and looked down, ...There were claws...on his paws. He opened his mouth to repeat his wish,  but the bear just said, 

"Next!"]   

Embarrassed, he turned his paws downwards.  Luckily his claws retracted and he was able to go back with the other bears.They all assumed he had eaten his wish.

The next day he awoke, his face scratched, still not used to his claws.

He told his mother that he had gone through a thicket .

Booker was glad to be alone. Dreamily he reached down and patted a salmon as usual, but an odd sensation went through his paw. He pulled it out of the water, and to his amazement, a salmon was stuck to his claws. He thought about it for a second...bears only think for a second...then he ate it.

He did It again and again. It was the first time in his life he had ever felt full. 

All the activity was noticed by all the other bears. Booker soon became known, valued and overworked. Till another season of wishes came, he was the chief fisherman, with a village of bears to feed.

When the next time of wish fulfillment came, the momma bears fed their cubs before they made their wishes, to be sure their old habits didn't take hold and, the cubs would wish for what they needed, not what they wanted!

And oh yes...Booker was remembered as the first bear to have CLAWS...   And ...HIBERNATE!

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