In the crisp air of autumn, when the leaves turned to a mosaic of colors, something special began to brew in the heart of the Friendly Forest. Benny the Bear, known for his warm smile and loving nature, strolled through the woods pondering on how the year waned. The other animals moved with purpose, gathering food and preparing for winter, but Benny had another idea blooming in his heart.
Turning to his friend Harriet the Hare, who was nibbling on a particularly crunchy carrot, he exclaimed, “We should have a grand party to celebrate all the good things of this forest! To thank our friends for their company this year, and to spread joy before winter comes.”
“Oh Benny,” sighed Harriet gently. “You have the kindest heart, but don’t you think it’s a bit late to plan something like that? Everyone is so busy preparing for the cold months ahead.”
Benny’s smile blinked for just a moment but then beamed again. “I know, Harriet. But we can make it a simple afternoon gathering. Just a small treat and some games. I am sure everyone would love to join!”
As the hare pondered over the idea, Benny continued on his way. He met Clara the Crow and shared his plan. “A Party? How unnatural!” she cawed, nudging her head at Bonnie the Badger. “Do we not know that winter is upon us? Who will want to leave their den to attend a foolish assortment of desserts and games?”
“Well said, Wilbur,” replied Bonnie. “I must concentrate on my own family now, thank you very much.” With that, the old badger lumbered along, leaving Benny to trudge onward.
Disheartened but not defeated, Benny made one more effort. He communicated with Jenny the Jay, who was renowned for her beautiful singing, and asked her to invite her friends as well. But all he received was “Not now, Benny!” from her flitting friends.
Finally, Benny found Molly the Squirrel. Surely she would lend an ear! “Away with you, Benny!” she chattered. “Can’t you see I am busy? Where do you think all the acorns go when snow covers the trees, eh?”
So, after much despair, Benny returned home. While the other animals fussed and prepared for winter, the big bear sat in failure to play over and over in his mind.
The next morning, Benny woke to a brisk breeze sweeping through the Cozy Grove, scattering his carefully tidied acorns everywhere. He grunted and shook off the leaves and twigs that built due to the night winds around his thick coat. He felt a little shiver creep in, telling him that perhaps he should collect some of the food he had neglected, for, in truth, he hadn’t stored a scrap for himself for the winter.
Yet, brightening with the idea, he arrived at his usual clearing and soon collected both nuts and berries in an untrimmed basket. Then he came across a great kettle that he thought to boil a pudding in. On further thought, “It will be too heavy to carry home,” he said, feeling grumpy again. “No, I will cook it right here instead.”
So, Benny scraped a hollow place in the ground under a beautiful Sweet-gum tree, set the kettle there, added fresh nuts and berries, and water from a stream, and then set his brown paws to dig a burning fire from twigs and leaves above. Soon the kettle began to bubble. His pudding was very sweet indeed.
No sooner was the pudding cooked to cover with a great plate than a gust of wind blew through the trees and overflowed the sticky pudding onto the ground!
“Too sweet for my taste,” grumbled Benny. “Oh for a big bowl!” But, as if answering his whim, Jenny the Jay, with a great flutter of blue wings around, came screaming, “Benny! Benny! Come see!”
The genial bear stepped out from his work-shed and delighted when he saw the party of animals arriving peacefully to his grove. Upon discovering his great kettle of pudding overturned, they all began to hop and dance like mad little things.
“Ever so much better than the party you ordered us together,” flitted little Jenny, with beak full of the berries.
“A Party at Last”
Then they all carried pudding to the woods, scattering it round, decked with slippers of red and gold. And back came Wilbur the Wolf, who sobbed with joy at the wonderful feast.
“I didn’t think Benny would be so kind,” he panted, dropping down. And he hid his tearful head in the friendly bear’s lap.
So that was how the Friendly Forest came to be justly named, how so many animals had courage enough to remain always close neighbors, how winter always felt like springtime deep within the woods where friendly hearts beats together in harmony.