Olga and the Banana Nut Bread
After her snow adventure, Olga was famous for some time. First, the local papers and television wanted to hear her story. Then, people called from places Olga could not find on the map. And neighbors came to thank her for helping their children or just because she was famous. Soon, she did not want any more attention.It seemed like such a fuss over a brief walk in the cold and snow. Also, she was still worried about her friend, the Black Bear.
That night, when all the others were sleeping, even Nosey, she sat at her window and looked into the darkness to see if she could see her friend but he did not get close to houses. Several days passed and the visitors and callers stopped. Olga decided to see how much was in her bank and would then visit Ms. Hasty and Jasper. Then she realized that all her coins were from her old city.
She did not know how much they were worth but she thought that she could only use them in banks or coin stores. Olga felt quite sad. The sun rose and she could see no footprints in the snow, she and Nosey went down for breakfast.
Her father and mother and little brother were already sitting at the table eating waffles with blueberries. There was honey and also maple walnut syrup to cover them but she was not very hungry.
After eating some of the waffle, she helped her mother clean off the table and the phone rang. Olga hoped it was not another reporter but knew she would have to talk to her or him. Her parents explained that along with her fame came certain responsibilities. But, when she said hello, she heard a friendly voice.
Ms. Hasty asked if Olga could help her with a few items in her kitchen and she would gladly pay her. After talking to her parents, everyone agreed that Olga would go over in the afternoon and spend some time. She was looking forward to seeing Jasper and was sure he needed a few sticks to chase. Plus, Ms. Hasty’s house always smelled like a bakery. It was warm from an oven and there were many sweet aromas.
When her father dropped her off on his way to town, Ms. Hasty waved from the window to both of them and Jasper came out with a stick. Olga giggled and threw it until her arm became tired. It made her happy to be out of the house for a while and with friends.
Her duties would be to help Ms. Hasty prepare her treats by mixing flour and other ingredients as she was told. Ms. Hasty told her many tales about how she learned each recipe. Some were from her mother or her grandmother and some from friends and neighbors. A few were ones she invented. Each seemed related to some event or special occasion. Some were birthdays, a few religious holidays and many were ‘just because’.
There were so many desserts and so many events that Olga began to think that she was very, very old. But it would not be polite to ask such a question, especially on her first day at ‘work’. Ms. Hasty wiped her hands and sat in her chair next to the stove and leaned on her cane. The cane was very old and had an animal head at the top. When Ms. Hasty saw Olga look, she told her the story of the cane.
Many years ago, the people decided to honor the oldest person in town with a cane to help them get to meetings, church and everywhere. This was before autos so some people rode on horses or in wagons. Most walked. The cane was handed down each time the eldest passed into the next life and eventually fell to Ms. Hasty.
Hers was the longest time anyone had held the cane. “And”, she proudly smiled, “I still plan to keep it a while longer”. They both had a good laugh but Olga was not sure why.
Then it came time to decide what Olga should get for pay. Ms. Hasty wanted to be very generous and was quite shocked when Olga asked only for banana nut bread for one of her friends.
Ms. Hasty laughed again and said that was too little and she would have to accept a few dollars as well. So it was agreed. Olga was almost skipping when her father came to pick her up and she could not wait until the next day to pick up the cake. She just hoped that the Black Bear was not too injured or perhaps he had decided to sleep through the rest of winter.
Her parents were glad Olga enjoyed her new ‘job’. When the subject of pay came up, Olga had to tell them about the banana nut bread. Olga did not like to lie so when her parents asked who it was for, she told them it was for a friend who was injured during the storm and hoped the bread would bring them a little happiness. Thankfully, they did not ask which friend.
The next day, the sun was shining and the roads were nearly bare so Olga was allowed to walk to Ms. Hasty’s and agreed that if the weather turned bad or it became dark, she would call for a ride.
It was unusually warm for winter and as she walked to Ms. Hasty’s, she passed Rin and Yumi who were taking a walk. She told them about her new duties and Yumi commented on how happy she was to see Olga smile again. She was very happy to hear the cry for help above the storm that day. Olga was glad her voice was heard but Yumi said it was not her voice. It sounded like Mr. Bean, the bus driver or some other man, but Yumi was not sure. Perhaps it was the wind.
Olga knew whose voice was strong enough to roar louder than wind but did not dare tell Yumi or Rin. She had a big smile as she saw Jasper waiting for her and they said their goodbyes so Olga could throw the stick.
When she got to the door, Ms. Hasty looked very sad and had been crying. It made Olga sad as well but she could only ask, “Are you okay?”
Ms. Hasty tried to smile and just said, “You are a little too young to understand, I fear. Sometimes I think of lost love and get sad. But a bout of cooking can easily cure that”. Her smile seemed more real as she headed to the kitchen.
“Today”, she said, “we are going to make a couple of lemon meringue pies for a party tonight.” First, Olga learned about making the crust and then about the wonderful lemon filling and finally how to beat the eggs until they looked like the top of waves in the nearby ocean on a windy day. It was hard work to do all the stirring and mixing but the aroma was well worth it. She even got to lick the spoons and get a taste of the lemon filling.
The only other task was a batch of macaroons for a new neighbor who had just moved in down the road. Ms. Hasty was not sure but thought that his name was Drouin and that he wrote about designing buildings or something.
After “testing” a few macaroons, Olga decided she did not like coconut that much and thanked Ms. Hasty for her pay. It was only when she got to the door that she remembered her bread. Ms. Hasty was smiling and handed it to her. It was wrapped in pretty silver foil and had a red bow on it.
“I heard all about your adventure and if your friend was hurt, perhaps the pretty paper will cheer him as much as the bananas and nuts.” Olga thanked Ms. Hasty and it seemed that she knew more than she said.
Olga ran down the road and waited by the stump for some time. The day was passing quickly as it did in the winter and she started looking for her friend and his cave. She saw one or two trees that looked familiar but it was now day and she only remembered her visit at night. She thought she was lost. Her fear over the Black Bear and her weariness from so much cooking got the better of her and she sat down and cried.
After a few minutes, she started to feel better. Perhaps she needed to do that for longer than she knew. But her tears certainly stopped when she heard a familiar voice behind a tree or shrub.
“How can anyone be so sad with such a delight in their hands?” It was followed by what Olga imagined must be a bear laughing. No, it was a Black Bear laughing.
Then he came from behind a bush and seemed to bow. Olga had no idea if it was a smart thing or even a polite thing to do but she ran to the Black Bear and hugged him. At least she tried to hug him, but her arms would not reach. When he hugged her back, she began to cry again. This time her tears were from happiness that he was okay.
“There, there, little one”, he said. “There is no need for a waterfall here.” He chuckled again and then softly said, “I am very glad to see you again.” Olga wanted to say, “Me too” but just could not speak.
Then Olga remembered her gift and picked it up where she dropped it when she first saw him. She handed it to him and said, “You are a very good friend. You took care of me twice and so this is for you. To say thank you.”
He thanked her and asked her to help him unwrap it. “I have been smelling that banana nut bread since you came into the forest. You are a very good friend to remember my favorite dessert!”
Olga opened the wrappings and was going to put them in her pocket but he seemed to enjoy the sparkle from the little wrinkles in the paper. She folded the paper neatly and placed it in her pocket and broke of a large piece of bread and a small piece. It was odd to see an animal enjoy a sweet as the Black Bear did. When he finished, she gave him another. Then, after he refused a third piece, she gently brushed the crumbs that had fallen from his mouth to his chest.
“I apologize for being so messy”, he said. Then Olga listened while he told her about the stormy day. He had heard the bus go off the road and ran to see if everyone was okay. He almost came onto the road when Olga got off the bus but remembered that other people were there. So he crossed behind the bus while Olga crossed in front. By the time she was a few feet up the road, he was already alongside her in the woods.
“I am not sure why I did so, but I asked the spirits of the weather to tell someone to help you. Sometimes, I remember strange things and I am not even sure if weather has spirits, but it seemed the thing to do. I was happy that you got to the top of the hill but the storm seemed angry and the wind pushed you. I tried to catch you before you hit the post but I am sad to say I am not as fast as I once was. I wanted to drag you near the house so you could be warm and then the man with the metal wagon and thunder maker tried to hurt me.”
Olga hugged the Black Bear again and did not want to let go. “I am sorry that he did that”, she said. Then she told her part of the story. She woke to Yumi, the constable and doctor. Then she told their story. The constable did not understand the difference between bears and Black Bears. He also did not understand how some animals are polite and some are not. Just like people. Then Olga remembered the blood and asked what happened.
The Black Bear chuckled again and turned his head. She saw that his ears were both rather sad looking. Then he said, “I think they match, now.” They laughed about his matching ears and she hugged him again. She thought it was like hugging a really large Nosey. Then she decided she hoped the Black Bear did not purr! The noise would be very loud.
After they exchanged stories, Olga made the Black Bear eat the rest of the bread so it did not get stale and he rubbed his belly, like her father often did after a big meal. Olga remembered how his eyes sparkled at the silver paper so she took it out and folded it into the shape of a crane bird in a way Yumi taught her. He was quite amused at that and she gave it to him for his cave.
The Black Bear held the tin-foil bird more gently than Olga imagined. Then, he placed it on a nearby limb and said, “I fear it will soon be dark so we should get you home. I will gather my bird on the way back.” Olga agreed and started looking in all directions, trying to remember which way was home.
Seeing this, the Black Bear started in the correct direction and told her how to travel by sun or stars, how to mark places you will recognize and other useful tips. As they reached the clearing near her house, Olga promised to leave snacks as often as she could, perhaps some fruit as no one should eat only treats, and if possible, she would visit. The Black Bear was indeed an odd sight as he sat there looking like a statue with funny ears. When she reached the driveway and turned, he was gone.
Olga’s parents thanked her for returning before it was dark and asked about her day at work. Olga showed them her pay and told them she had stopped and delivered her treat before coming home. Her brother seemed to have a cold and was coughing and crying. Olga talked to him for a few minutes but of course, he was too young to speak yet.
When Nosey rubbed against her legs, Olga picked him up and said she needed to nap before she and Nosey fell asleep standing up. Her parents chuckled and she and Nosey had a nice warm nap on the sofa next to the fireplace.
When she woke, it was already dark outside and it looked like it was snowing again. This snow was a very gentle snow, one that is good for making snowmen or snow angels, but not at night. She heard her father and mother talking to the doctor. He said her brother would be fine in a day or two and to be sure he had plenty to drink. They thanked him and her father wrote him a check for his fees.
Olga’s mother asked if she wanted to set the table and Olga wiped the sleep from her eyes as she went to the hutch for plates. As she neatly placed the plates and silverware, she realized that there was a very new and exciting smell in the kitchen. Her mother brought in some rolls and butter and a big bowl with a reddish soup. When she looked in the bowl, she saw some familiar vegetables; potatoes, peas and carrots but there were hunks of meat she did not recognize.
When everyone was seated, mother announced that her new recipe was a favorite of the ‘locals’ called “Bear Claw Stew”. Olga was at first disgusted to think anyone would eat bear meat but then wondered whose meat it was. Her father noticed her expression and told her not to worry. There really was no bear meat in “Bear Claw Stew”. It was lobster and scallops from the local fishmonger. For some reason, the locals always misnamed their dishes with ingredients that were not there. Olga liked seafood so she decided to call it “Seafood Stew” instead.
She was surprised at how tasty it was. She was also surprised to find she was hungry enough to eat two bowls. She told her mother how delicious it was and hoped she made it again. After her second roll, Olga could eat no more. She helped clear the table and offered to help with dishes but that was something her mother and father always did together. There would be no stargazing tonight so she went to her room and played ‘string’ with Nosey until they were both too tired to play anymore.
In school that week, several teachers and even Mr. Akers; the custodian; stopped Olga and told her how happy they were to know her and that she was very brave. Many had now heard about the bear and believed Constable Henry about how fierce and horrible a beast it was. She wanted to tell them about Jn'im jilsik but did not dare. If she received this attention for a short walk, imagine how they would treat him for helping her twice! Perhaps they would have a celebration in the town with a Black Bear parade. She chuckled to think of him sitting in a car waving to all the people or marching in front of the high school band. She decided that it would be best not to speak of him. He would not like so much attention.
At the end of the week, she was happy to know she would be helping Ms. Hasty again and wondered what treats would be made. She also looked forward to a chance to visit with her friend. Saturday morning was warm and hinted that spring was near. There were birds singing and Olga saw a few trees with yellow or pink buds. Soon the lilac bushes would turn purple, pink and white and give off their fragrances. Olga enjoyed seasons. Winter could be harsh and summer was sometimes too hot but the spring was pretty with all the new plants and the fall was very beautiful when many of the leaves turned from green to yellow and red and orange.
She left two apples on the stump on her way to Ms. Hasty’s house but saw no sign of the Black Bear. Of course Jasper was waiting at the end of the driveway with a big stick and Olga gladly threw it while she walked to the house. She saw Ms. Hasty wave from the living room window and it looked like she was smiling.
Together, they made a mince-meat pie; another treat that really had no meat in it. They also made an apple/cinnamon pie with a top crust that looked like the crossword puzzles her father liked. There were also a few dozen chocolate chip cookies. Jasper sat in the doorway with a stick in his mouth waiting. After the pies and cookies were in the ovens, Ms. Hasty sat in her rocker and again leaned on her cane.
“I hope your friend is better”, she said. “Perhaps his banana nut bread made him a little happier?” Olga said that her friend was again well and was very grateful for the treat. She thought it was his favorite. Ms. Hasty said, “I used to leave banana nut bread out for the animals but am no longer able to walk like I once did. It was always gone the next day so I guess the animals and birds enjoyed it.” Olga did not want to tell her about the Black Bear but agreed that it was very tasty and any animal would be happy to get a slice.
Then Ms. Hasty asked her a very odd question. “Do you believe that people can talk to animals?” she asked. Olga was surprised but answered that she believed that some did. Without thinking about it, she mentioned the legend of Jn'im jilsik and Prudence that she read in her school. Ms. Hasty seemed a little sad and said she knew the story well. Her grandmother had often told her about it when she was young. Her mother also taught Ms. Hasty how to talk to animals. Ms. Hasty’s grandmother told of how she used to talk to animals and that the tradition should be followed. So she began walking near the woods and talking to the animals. Most listened and a few were willing to eat from her hand.
Ms. Hasty said that she thought Olga might have the same gift. Along with her pay, she gave Olga some chocolate chip cookies and asked her to deliver them to the animals on her way home. Olga was very happy to do this. She promised to always keep the road in her sight and not try to pet the animals unless they asked. Olga waved goodbye. Jasper seemed too comfortable on the floor near the stove and did not even pick up his stick.
Olga walked a small way and saw a small clearing. She walked into the middle and sat down. She could see the road and felt she was safe so started humming a song she knew from her old home and started breaking the cookies into little pieces. After a short while, a few birds swooped in and rudely grabbed at the cookie pieces. They did not stay to chat. Then a squirrel came by and took a big chunk. He sat on his hind legs and stared at Olga as he nibbled the treat. Little by little, different animals came forward and took pieces. Some sat near Olga and seemed to enjoy her song and others were still a little frightened and sat further away.
When a deep voice said, “I hope there is one in there for a hungry Black Bear”, most of the animals returned to the trees or the forest. Olga jumped up and gave the Black Bear a hug. Then she realized this might not be polite so she apologized. The Black Bear laughed. “Of course it is polite to hug friends.” He said. “Bears invented hugs.” They both chuckled at the idea and Olga was grateful that she had two cookies left for the Bear.
“If you do not mind” he continued, “please go on singing. You have a very pleasant voice that all the animals seem to enjoy. For some reason, it makes me very happy and also very sad but it is good to hear.”
Olga wondered if her singing and feeding the animals did not stir some ancient memory of Jn'im jilsik and Prudence. That would explain his sadness but she did not wish to talk about that. When she finished singing the songs she knew, she hummed for a few minutes but then the sun fell behind the trees and she knew it was time to go home.
She told the Black Bear that Ms. Hasty chose her to deliver her treats since she was no longer able and that she would be happy if the Black Bear joined her on the weekends. He was happy and said they were becoming good friends, even without the cookies and cake.
Olga gave him another large hug and he walked beside her until she reached the turn near her driveway. As usual, he was a large figure that seemed to disappear suddenly and she was still humming when she waved to Nosey and her father. He was working on some new project next to the porch. Olga hoped it was the observatory he always discussed but was willing to wait until it was complete to know.
When Olga got to school the next day, she got a very pleasant treat. The principal came over the intercom and said that there were several members of local tribes who would talk to each class about their communities and history. There were Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Mi’kmaq representatives and would be around soon.
A little later, their math was interrupted when three people came in to her class. Two were dressed in ceremonial clothes and one was dressed the way most people dress. The Passamaquoddy and Penobscot spoke for a while about their gods and their history and a few of their legends. They passed around many photos, most were black and white, of how their people dressed and their houses and some examples of their art.
Then the Mi’kmaq talked about how the tribe once numbered nearly thirty thousand but that some wars and diseases had made their numbers much smaller. They were still a small tribe but would someday grow again. At the end, children were encouraged to ask questions. Several classmates asked about food or holidays but when Olga raised her hand, she asked the plain looking man about Prudence and Jn'im jilsik. He had a large smile on his face and thanked her for knowing such a beautiful but sad legend. He then told the class about the two who spoke with animals and how their tribes made them separate. Some in the tribe believed that Jn'im jilsik had taken his life out of sadness and joined the spirits but some thought he still searched the forests for Prudence.
When there were no more questions, the teacher and students thanked all three men for visiting. Just before they left, the Mi’kmaq gave Olga a very beautiful stone called an “eagle’s eye”. “This is considered by many to be a good luck charm. Some say it has magical powers. Please accept this with thanks for knowing about our legends.” Olga showed the stone around and several others were a little jealous but then the teacher reminded them that math was still waiting.
She put the stone in her pocket and wondered if it was really magical. The next day, the teacher asked if she would relate the story to her classmates so Olga stood at the front and talked about what she read. She did not mention her friend in the woods or his fondness for snacks. She could not even mention how polite he was. But the other students enjoyed the story although they thought it a little silly that people and animals could talk to each other.
Thankfully, the rest of the week passed quickly and Saturday morning she was happy to visit with Ms. Hasty and Jasper. The weather was chilly but the roads were clear. She arrived early and she and Ms. Hasty had a long talk about the animals. Ms. Hasty laughed quite loud when Olga told how the squirrel sat up to eat and how impolite the birds were. Then she asked if Olga had seen any deer or bears. “The deer are the most frightened of all” she said. “And the bears can be troublesome if you do not bring enough. But all in all, I would say you have a talent for animals. Always remember that animals can be wonderful friends as long as you treat them well.”
They made a marble cake for Mrs. Bean’s birthday and some cookies for a church sale. Finally, they made a few more cocoanut macaroons for Mr. Drouin. After they were all out of the oven, cooling, they sat a little longer and chatted. Ms. Hasty told her more of how her grandmother and mother before her had talked to the animals and given them food. Ms. Hasty did not know for sure how the tradition started. She had never married and had no children so she was happy that Olga would be able to keep that tradition.
After a few tosses of the stick for Jasper, she left with some brownies and found her little spot along the road. Just as she arrived, Constable Henry drove by and tooted at her and waved. Olga waved back and pretended to continue walking to her house until she was sure the car was gone. Then she sat on the ground and started breaking off pieces of brownies.
First, the squirrel arrived, he had spoken to his friends as there were two others sitting back, waiting for their turn. Next, the birds swooped down and did not even chirp “thanks” before disappearing with their share. Except for a small eagle that seemed to flap a hello. Olga saw a small animal that she later learned was a vole. It looked a little like a field mouse. He was brave enough to take a piece out of Olga’s hand. Then she was pleased to see a deer near the trees. He did not come too close so Olga tossed him a piece. He ate it and then disappeared back behind the tree.
“I smell brownies!” came a familiar voice. The other animals did not run away this time and the Black Bear came up to Olga and sat down. “I did not hear any music but I could not help but smell those treats”, he said. Olga realized that the animals had come to visit even without her singing or humming. Now, it seemed a little late but she started to hum as she gave a brownie to the Black Bear. She could tell he enjoyed it and had to laugh when she realized that the crumbs did not show up since they were the same color as his fur.
He finished eating and said, “You songs have given me dreams, I think. I do not know if they are dreams or wishes but I think I remember long ago when Ms. Hasty and her mother and her mother’s mother would sing. It was a beautiful sound in the woods. I was very sad that Ms. Hasty stopped visiting. Of course I never came out when they were around. I was not sure if they liked Black Bears. But I am glad you can also sing.”
Olga talked briefly about the men who visited her school and the Black Bear told her that he remembered times when there were only a few people. Most lived in small huts, not much bigger than his cave, and few were fair skinned, like Olga. They shared many things, including the fish in the rivers and lake. He thought he also got fish from the ocean but that was before they tore down trees and made room for the wagons.
As the Black Bear finished his second brownie Olga thought she heard a burp. It was very loud and although she should not have done so, she laughed. The bear seemed a little puzzled. As polite as he was, he did not know that a burp was sometimes considered impolite. Olga did not tell him. She had once read that in some areas, it is considered a compliment to the cook.
Rude or not, the noise frightened the smaller animals and the deer and all left as quickly and quietly as they had arrived. Olga finished humming and thought she heard a snore. The eyes of the Black Bear were firmly closed and his belly went up and down as he breathed in and out. Olga felt happy that he trusted her to protect him while he slept so she did not want to leave. In the distance, a siren started. She thought perhaps Constable Henry had caught a speeder. She hoped it was not an ambulance on the way to some accident. The siren woke her friend.
“My, my! How rude of me to fall asleep. My apologies but your voice is so soothing and it seems like some time since I slept.” The Black Bear continued, “I hope I did not snore too loudly!” Olga said he did but the only ones who heard were the other animals. Both knew it was time to go home so they started on their usual route, along the road but not quite on it, until they reached the turn near the end.
As she waved goodbye, Olga was happy to have such friends and knew she would often visit the woods to feed and serenade the animals. Perhaps someday, she would learn to cook as well as Ms. Hasty but for today, she was tired and anxious for bed.
When she got to the porch of her house, she noticed her mother had a sad look on her face but did not understand why. Her mother gave her a big hug and asked her to set the table. After dinner, when Olga was ready for bed, her mother came in to tuck her in. This was usually the time her father read to her so it made Olga a little frightened.
“I have some bad news, Olga. Earlier, I received a call from Yumi. It appears that Ms. Hasty has had a fall of some sort and was taken to hospital. It may not be serious but we do not know for sure. Tomorrow, and for a few days, father and you should check on Jasper to be sure he is fed and given some love. I hope that Ms. Hasty will soon be well but she is very old and one never knows. Please do not worry for now. In the morning, Yumi and I will drive to the hospital in the city and see if we can visit.”
Olga was shocked. It was difficult to think of life without Ms. Hasty. There were so many things to talk about. Along with those tasty recipes, Olga was curious why Ms. Hasty had been sad that day and why her mother and her mother’s mother sang songs to the animals. Perhaps she would never know. Even Nosey cuddling up against her could not make Olga happy. She remembered reading about the spirits and how to ask them for help so she spoke to the Gods her parents taught her and then asked the native spirits to please help Ms. Hasty get well. The thought of not helping in the kitchen was so sad that Olga cried herself to sleep. Even Nosey seemed sad.
In the morning, Olga was up, cleaned and dressed before anyone else rose. She sat in her rocker on the porch and wished her friend the Black Bear would visit. But he never came this close to a house, except perhaps to help her. Just when she thought she would cry again from sadness, her father came out. He asked if she was ready and she said she was.
Since mother and Yumi would need the car, Olga and her father walked to Ms. Hasty’s house. As she passed the stump, she hoped no one would notice the figures on it. The little clearing came into view and several small animals had already gathered. Finally, she got to Ms. Hasty’s house and ran up the stairs. Jasper was inside the door jumped on her and started licking her face. She almost fell over. Her father chuckled that Olga seemed to have a way with animals. Olga chuckled too but only because her father did not realize how true this was.
Olga showed father where the dog food was kept and after he was fed, they went outside for some exercise. Playing with the stick seemed to cheer up both Jasper and Olga and even her father seemed a little less worried.
There was a long rope between the house and a tree so Olga tied Jasper to it with another rope. This device was called a ‘run’. It would allow Jasper to sleep on the porch or chase bugs and rabbits while he was alone. He would be able to roam, but not too far. Father agreed that they should come back before dark and be sure he was fed and warm inside for the night. Just before she left, she took some cookies and decided to tell her father about her new job, feeding the animals. She felt a little silly to say she sang to them and hummed but at least he waited while she put some small morsels out. She saved two hermits for the stump. She was sad that she would miss her friends this morning but perhaps she would see them soon.
The clock on the mantle ticked loudly but it seemed each time that Olga looked up from her books or computer that time did not move. Even when the sun moved from the rear of the house to the front, she felt that time did not move. She and father snacked on some fruit but Olga did not really enjoy her lunch.
Finally, their car pulled into the driveway and her mother took her baby brother out of the back. As she walked to the house, Olga could tell from her smile that Ms. Hasty would be well. It was hard not to run to her mother and ask those many questions that came and went that long day but she was patient.
“It was as we heard last night,” her mother said. “Ms. Hasty fell trying to reach something and injured her hip. Thankfully, nothing seemed broken although she is quite sore. The doctor wants her to stay in hospital for a few days or until the x-rays confirm that she is okay. I told her that you and father would tend to Jasper until she is well enough to do that. I hope you do not mind.” Of course mother knew that Olga did not mind.
“We also thought that when she gets home that perhaps you could stay with her for awhile, until she is better. You will still need to go to school and I will visit with her during that time but she has a nice little bedroom already prepared for guests”.
“She said something I did not understand. She asked me to remind you to feed the animals. I thought of Jasper but did not know of any others. Perhaps it was the medicine she took for the pain. Do you think this is something you might like to do?”
Olga answered that of course she would be happy to feed Jasper and also to help Ms. Hasty when she got home. Olga was very happy that her friend would soon be well. Her father mentioned the morning snacks she left and explained to her mother that it was no doubt why Ms. Hasty said animals instead of Jasper.
In the afternoon, her father sat on the porch in his rocker and Olga sat next to him. “Please tell me about feeding the animals”, he asked.
Olga was a little worried that he would not approve. Many places tell visitors not to feed animals as they fear the animals will forget how to get food for themselves but her father thought this was not much more than a few crumbs.
So Olga told him how Ms. Hasty had been taught to feed the animals by her mother and her mother by her grandmother. She was not sure when it started or why, perhaps she never would. But Olga had promised Ms. Hasty to do that small job for her since she was not able to walk that far anymore. Now, with her injury, it would be even harder for her to get out.
Her father got up and went to Olga and hugged her. “I am very proud to have such a wonderful child! You make friends easily and are honest and unselfish. Any parent would be happy to live with you. If the weather is bad, I will take you to Ms. Hasty’s for now. If not, you are welcome to walk over to tend Jasper and to dally with the animals on the way home. Perhaps when bad weather comes, we will have to build a huge house for them to stay. He smiled and wiped a tear of pride from his eyes before he went into the house.
It was difficult for Olga to imagine how much had happened to her since she moved here. She met some wonderful people from many places, she had been a celebrity for a short time and most importantly, she had made friends with most of the animals near her. And now she would be able to visit them as often as she liked, especially that polite Black Bear.