Olga and the Eagles Eye
After several days of caring for Jasper and her friends in the woods, Olga heard that Ms. Hasty would soon return from the hospital. Her mother and father helped her make the house ‘as clean as a whistle’. Olga did not understand why Ms. Hasty and the other locals said that but it means very clean. They brought some clothes and books for Olga and her mother made some ‘Bear Claw Stew’ to welcome Ms. Hasty home.She seemed very happy to be home and laughed a lot. Everyone agreed that it was difficult to tell who was the happiest; Ms. Hasty, Jasper or Olga. She thanked Olga’s parents for making the house so neat and was very curious about the aroma from the stove.
They talked for a while about her fall and her time in hospital, how Jasper had behaved and talked about Olga staying until Ms. Hasty felt she was able to be alone. Then they enjoyed the soup. Everyone thanked Olga’s mother for such a tasty dinner and even Jasper had a small bowl after it was cool. When they were done eating, Olga’s father sat back and rubbed his stomach. Olga giggled to think of how much he and the Black Bear would look sitting together at the table, rubbing their bellies.
After a while, Ms. Hasty mentioned something Olga had forgotten in all the excitement. She reminded Olga that tomorrow was a school day. She also said she was very tired and everyone knew Ms. Hasty needed some rest. Olga’s parents quickly finished the dishes and Ms. Hasty and Olga went to bed. She was very sad to think she would not see her family as often and wake up in a ‘strange’ bed for a while. Then she remembered that it was only a few minutes walk to her house.
The spare bed was very old and high but it was also comfortable and smelled of lilacs. It did not have springs like most beds but was stuffed with feathers. Finally, Olga fell asleep. She thought that she woke up and heard some sadness but was not sure. By the time the sun decided to say it was morning, Olga was already awake and ready for school.
She fed Jasper and took him out and reminded him to be quiet so he did not wake Ms. Hasty but when they went back in from playing, Ms. Hasty was in her rocking chair with her cane in one hand and a cup of tea in the other.
Ms. Hasty looked a little tired but smiled and set her tea down to scratch Jasper behind his ears. “Thank you for staying with me. If I become a burden, you must tell me. I think we have become good friends and I do not wish to damage that.” Olga wanted to say that it was okay but Ms. Hasty just waved her hand.
“Thank you very much for feeding our friends while I was gone. They have been without treats for too long. Perhaps tonight we will talk more about this but there is not enough time before your bus. Of course we will have to bake some more as the cupboards are nearly empty”.
Olga had become fond of Ms. Hasty’s stories and hoped that she would talk more of the family who spoke to animals. They talked about feeding Jasper and the other animals, except for the Black Bear. Olga was sure Ms. Hasty would approve but did not know how to say her best ‘customer’ was especially fond of banana nut bread or that he was very polite when he spoke.
Then her mother arrived and Olga hugged them both before walking to the road.
The sun was very warm and bright for so early in the day and Olga remembered a local story from her reading.
The sun and the wind were talking one day and the wind decided that he was much mightier than the sun. Father sky was not there to settle the argument. When the wind saw a man walking along the road, he told the sun, “I can show you how powerful I am. I can easily make that man remove his coat.” The sun smiled and waited while the wind chased the man and blew at him in a very angry way. But the more he raged, the closer the man held the coat to keep warm. After some time, the wind became tired and said nothing.
The sun then looked at the man and started to shine as best as she could. The air became much warmer and the man slowly released his coat. A few more minutes of the sun warming Mother Earth made the man start to perspire and he had to take off his coat to cool down. The wind agreed that indeed, the sun was more powerful.
It was an odd legend and Olga did not know if it had more meaning that what she read but it was how today felt. It was still early but the sun wanted to tell everyone, “Today I will make it very warm.” School seemed to last forever and every time Olga looked at the clock, it seemed stuck. After learning some new words to spell and some more math problems, Olga learned in the history books about many different wars. Olga did not like war. At lunch, many of the children and teachers took their lunch into the playground and talked about the shapes of the few clouds.
Finally, the warning bell rang and everyone put away the school supplies before getting on the bus. For some reason, Olga decided to sit at the rear of the bus after all the other children were seated and they started for home. As they left the school, Olga felt very strange, as though she were catching a cold or like the times she bumped her head. It was an odd feeling as though she were there but not there.
A little wind ran through the windows and Olga snuggled and put her hands in her pocket. When her hand felt something hard in her pocket, she remembered the eagle eye stone the Indian man who visited her class had given her. Then she saw the Black Bear walking down the aisle of the bus. He was not really on the bus because she could see the trees and bushes behind him. Had it not been her friend, Olga would have been very scared. It was as though he walked through seats and children like a spirit or ghost. When he reached Olga, she was also in the woods. The bus and the other children were gone as was Mr. Bean.
The Black Bear asked her not to be afraid. He did not understand why they were together as he thought he was sitting behind Ms. Hasty’s house, worried about her. But sometimes he would have these dreams or visions and even when he did not understand their meaning, he knew he was safe.
Olga got up and hugged the polite Bear. She was scared and confused to be somewhere and then suddenly be somewhere else. But her friend was correct. They were friends and there was nothing fearful about them talking. She sat back down with legs crossed and the Black Bear sat on the ground in front of her. His head was down a little and Olga wondered if bears could cry.
“Please forgive me for these things but I must tell you that this it will soon be a difficult time for you and I and many of those we love. It is a time of change. For me, my life as a Black Bear will soon be over. I do not know why I know this or even how. But this is not why I am sad. I am sad because Olga is no longer a little girl. Today is a very important day. Today, you start to become a woman. “
Olga was very sad that her friend talked of such sad and frightful things. It did not seem fair. The Black Bear continued, “This does not mean you will be a different person, I hope. Only that you will now look at the world through different eyes. But the eyes are not as important as the heart. If the feelings for your family and friends remain, the rest is not so important.”
“Soon, we will both start to look different. Again, I apologize that I do not understand what this means. I only know that I must tell you these things. My heart will hurt if they make you sad but this is why I am here today.”
Olga got up to hug the Black Bear again. She was still sad and confused but now her friend was also sad. When she reached for a tissue from her pocket, she dropped the stone. The Black Bear saw it and stared at it. It almost seemed to glow.
Suddenly, Olga understood why her school was visited and why she was given the eagle’s eye. Perhaps this is why she found the story of the Prudence and Jn'im jilsik. She knew that she was to give the stone to the Black Bear.
The sadness left Olga and she smiled at her friend. She knew in her heart that they would always be friends. She took his hand and placed the stone in it and closed his big, furry paw. Then for some reason she felt silly and said, “The is not banana nut bread so do not carry it in your stomach.”
The Black Bear sat up straight and laughed. Then he stood up and hugged Olga. He turned away and started walking toward his cave and just as he reached the hole, he disappeared. Olga was suddenly shaken and was back on the bus. It had just hit a “pothole”. This was a local term for a hole in the road caused by all the snow and ice. Many times they were large enough to fit a cooking pot inside so the name was used. She looked around at the other children and all were facing forward, laughing or talking. Perhaps she had another of those odd dreams.
At each bus stop, parents, babysitters or neighbors met the children. Soon, Mr. Bean stopped by Ms. Hasty’s driveway. Her mother and Ms. Hasty were both on the porch in rocking chairs doing needlework. Her little brother was curled up with Jasper, taking a nap. Olga wondered if she should talk about her dream but when she reached into her pocket, the stone was gone. It was possible she left it on the bus or dropped it but Olga smiled and knew where it was. She just did not know why.
After showing her mother her schoolwork, Ms. Hasty said there were still hours left in the day and many macaroons to make. Olga’s mother left for home after putting her brother safely in his car seat and Olga hugged her goodbye. Jasper seemed much too comfortable for sticks so Olga and Ms. Hasty went into the kitchen.
From the aroma, Olga knew that the oven had been working all day and she could smell chocolate and some type of fruit, no doubt some type of ‘erry’. Ms. Hasty put a few bowls and some ingredients on the table and started measuring them into cups or bowls.
“Today” began Ms. Hasty, “we will make a special treat. This is something I make only for the animals in the woods and those who feed them. It has been some time since I have made it but I am sure most will remember the smell and I think you will find many visitors by the time you reach the clearing.”
“There is a legend that goes with this recipe so for now, why not have a little milk and a snack while I tell you about it.” Olga poured a glass of milk and decided on a banana. She wondered if she had been eating too much of Ms. Hasty’s treats as she seemed a little larger here and possibly a little smaller there.
“When my great grandmother moved here from across the ocean, there were very few people here. Many caught fish from the ocean to sell in the big cities to the south and some cut timber to use for building boats. The other residents were a local tribe of Indians. At first, there were a few battles but after they realized that there was ample room for all, they decided to become neighbors. The English and French would bring large amounts of fish and many tools to trade for fruit and vegetables. But they still were not trusting enough and the two people did not often mix.”
“One winter, there were few fruits or vegetables left from the harvest and the fish were becoming scarce. The elders of the tribe and the town decided that they must work together to survive until spring. It was a difficult task and sadly, many became ill or died of diseases. There were adequate deer, moose and beaver so meat was available and enough flour for bread, but little else.”
“Finally, the chief came to the town hall and told the leaders that it was soon to be a special day. It was called “End of Year Day”. It was a good time to say goodbye to the cruel weather and welcome the spring as a new beginning. There would be a large feast in town and many of the remaining foods would be used. Within a week, some of the plants would start blooming and if the spirits were willing, a ship would arrive with more provisions.”
“My great grandmother was just a young woman but was old enough to do much of the cooking. She remembered a traditional dish from her home called “bubble and squeak”. It was usually served right from the oven and the ingredients were still bubbling and making odd noises.”
“After the feast, the chief said it was the tastiest dish he had ever eaten. Since no one thought him a very thoughtful person, this was considered quite a compliment. When he asked how it was made, my great grandmother was very happy to tell him. The chief thought that the few who had stayed at the village to protect it from animals would enjoy this so she made a few pots of the remaining meal and told him to reheat it over the fire. Knowing how scarce some vegetables and spices were, the chief declared that she was now allowed to visit tribal land to look for mushrooms, chicory and whatever she needed. It was unusual to make this offer to someone from another tribe, especially a woman so she was quite proud and honored.”
“The spirits or Gods must have enjoyed seeing these people gather without hatred or distrust and it seemed they made the winter leave early. The ships started arriving from ports to the south and from Europe with more food, clothes and supplies. Within a short time, people in the town forgot how horrid it had been and also forgot how important a meal they had eaten. Sadly, the Indians rarely ventured into town. But Prudence did not forget.”
“When the leaves were full on the trees, she packed a small lunch and went to the woods to search for mushrooms, berries and even a few of the flowers. It was a long walk and she found a quiet spot to sit and rest. There was a noise in the trees and she became frightened. Then a beautiful deer stuck his head through the bushes as if to ask who had visited his home.”
“She slowly held out a piece of cake she brought for desert and was surprised that he did not run away. After sniffing for a bit, he gently took a nibble and backed away. But he did not stay away long. When he moved forward for another bite, Prudence heard more noises and before long, there were squirrels and a beaver waiting to see who this person was that had such tasty food.”
“Sadly, she did not have enough for all of them. She apologized to the animals and promised to bring more for the next time they met. It was as though the animals understood her. Many bowed and returned to the woods surrounding the clearing. Prudence noticed that it was getting late in the day and started home. It was only when she reached the town that she realized she had no plants. But then she smiled because it would give her a reason to return another day. Eventually, her journeys to the woods became frequent but since she always returned to town with fruits or vegetables, no one seemed to notice.”
Olga had a difficult time not jumping for joy. She always felt that Ms. Hasty knew more than she said but did not want to interrupt her story or her cooking. So she was related to Prudence. Perhaps she knew more of the legend or what had happened to Prudence and Jn'im jilsik.
By now, Ms. Hasty had finished mixing all of the ingredients and poured them into two pans and put them in the oven. They were only in for a few minutes before Olga recognized that they were a cake with lemon and pecan flavoring. It sounded like an odd combination but if it were like any of the other recipes, it would be very good.
“To celebrate her new friendship, Prudence made what she called “Forest Cake”. Because of all the nuts and fruits, it might not be pleasant to the townspeople or the Indians but she knew it would be well liked by the animals. She took both cakes and went to the woods. Not long after she arrived, she started humming as a way to let her new friends know she was there. More animals arrived than before. None seemed frightened and a few of the smaller animals even sat at her feet. Two deer were there as well as squirrels, birds, a fox and some animals she did not recognize.”
“After they all had a belly full of cake, Prudence sang a few songs for them and wondered if there was anything more blissful that sitting with animals. Of course there was always butter to churn, bread to bake and other chores but they seemed unimportant to her. The forest was quiet, except for the noisy birds that never seemed silent and an occasional frog from some nearby pond. But she had to leave before darkness so she would not get lost.”
“Dear me” Ms. Hasty said. “I hope this is not a boring story. I think the cakes are nearly done and I have been talking for quite some time.”
Olga smiled and said she was interested but did not mention that she already knew the sad ending to the story. She did not want to spoil it for Ms. Hasty. She finished her milk and helped Ms. Hasty cut the fresh cakes into animal sized bites and then wrapped them in a basket to keep them warm.
“It is nearly 5:30 so you will not be able to feed all of our friends today but I know that they will talk, as animals do, and tomorrow, there will be many more to eat these treats. If you are still interested when you return, perhaps I will finish the story. For now, I must rest. I am not as young as you and must be careful. Please do not stay out too late.”
For a reason Olga did not know, she hugged Ms. Hasty and took some of the cake to her little glade. Almost immediately after she started singing, animals arrived. Some came right to her as though they remembered how tasty the forest cake was. A few remained on the sides to see if Olga was truly a friend. One by one the animals stepped forward and allowed Olga to feed them some of the cake. After, some rubbed against her to show affection [and leave an aroma] and some wagged tails or chirped their thanks. But the friend Olga most expected to see did not appear. There was no sign of the Black Bear.
After their strange talk on the bus or in the forest, Olga was a little worried about him but noticed that the sun had started to set and wanted to return before it was dark.
She got to Ms. Hasty’s house and had time for a few throws of the stick with Jasper before she went into the house. Ms. Hasty was still in her room and seemed very peaceful so Olga made sure was very quiet when she washed the dishes and went to bed. In the morning, her mother had already arrived and helped her get ready for school. The idea of classes usually made Olga very happy because she enjoyed learning but today she wished she could stay home and hear Ms. Hasty finish the story of the forest cake and Prudence. But not long after finishing her breakfast, she heard Mr. Bean toot the school bus horn and she hugged both women goodbye.
It was a long day and Olga had a hard time concentrating on her schoolwork. Thankfully, there were no tests or quizzes. Each second seemed to last a minute and each minute, an hour. After lunch, she went to the library but the book she wanted was not there. The librarian checked on the computer and it had been checked out a few days before. She would have to wait to surprise Ms. Hasty with it until it was returned. The next day was Saturday so the book would not be available until the following week.
Finally, the bell rang and Olga gladly stuffed her books into her desk and nearly ran to the bus. The weather was warm and there were little clouds in the sky. Olga talked to the younger students about the different shapes they could see. All seemed to Olga to be big White Bears. Nothing she said or did kept her from worrying about her friend. She knew his fondness for sweets and yet he did not come to the glade.
All the children on the bus were cheerful. For most, it was a long weekend. There was a national holiday of some type on Monday so school was closed for three days. Olga was much more interested in the animals and perhaps going on an adventure to find the Black Bear. She remembered how to find his cave but also wanted to hear the end of Ms. Hasty’s story.
Mr. Bean finally stopped at Ms. Hasty’s driveway and wished Olga a happy long weekend. Of course he also had three days of rest so he was anxious to get home. Jasper was waiting at the end of the driveway with a very large stick but Olga found a smaller size and threw it while she walked up the driveway.
Ms. Hasty and Olga’s mother set down their needlework and waved. Her brother was on a blanket and was playing with some blocks that Olga’s father made in the shed. They were odd because on one side were letters from her new alphabet and on the back, letters from her first language. On the other sides were pictures of animals or the sun and moon that her father had clipped from magazines. They were very well crafted.
They all went into the house and were chatting about schoolwork when there was a loud knock on the door. It sounded almost rude so Olga’s mother looked out the window before opening the door. There stood one of the tallest men Olga had ever seen. He looked very frightful but Ms. Hasty spoke to him.
"Hello, Mr. Drouin”, she said. “I don’t think you’ve met your other neighbors. This is Olga and Elsa Wischerfeldt. They live in the house at the end of the road.” She turned to Olga and her mother and said, “This is Mr. Drouin, our new neighbor in the fancy house. He is an architect, I think.”
Mr. Drouin smiled and said, “I am very pleased to meet you. Actually, I am an archeological writer. It means I often travel to interesting places and help write about the history there.”
Olga and her mother were relieved that this tall man was a friend and neighbor.
“I am ashamed to say this but last evening I had a few friends over and before I knew it, all of those delicious macaroons disappeared.” With the number of guests, I thought they may last but everyone found them delicious and many promised to start new diets today.” Everyone laughed at his funny way to describe things and his frequent smile.
“I would like to order another batch for next week. I will be leaving for the far north shortly and will be gone until Thursday. I hope that is enough notice.”
Ms. Hasty said it was more than enough time and that she would order the cocoanut and spices in the morning. He tipped his hat to all three and said, “I hope you have a pleasant holiday weekend”. Then he quietly left.
They all agreed that Mr. Drouin was a little strange but after talking about it, they decided that if one spends so much time away from home looking at things that are very old and often broken, they might act a little odd also. Ms. Hasty called it ‘off-center’.
After giving Olga a big hug, Olga’s mother gathered up her sewing kit and her son and mentioned that Olga should plan on a day in the town on Monday. There would be a parade with many floats, a pie eating contest and in the evening, fireworks. It sounded like a lot of fun but Olga was too concerned with the end of the story and finding her friend.
When the car pulled away, she sat at the table and waited for Ms. Hasty to finish pouring a cup of tea. When she turned, she said, “Olga. I swear you get prettier every day. It seems you were just a little girl when you first played with Jasper but you seem older now. I suppose it will not be long before you start thinking about other things besides cooking and talking to animals”. Olga was not sure what other things there were but decided not to ask.
“Perhaps I should finish my story quickly so you can set about your chores of feeding our friends.”
Olga smiled and sat quietly while Ms. Hasty sat in her chair.
“Now, where was I?”
“Ah yes. I remember. As often as she could, Prudence would take her forest cake in a basket and go to her spot. She never worried about being disturbed because if was far from town and far from the Indian village. Very few people went there. So naturally she was quite surprised when one day a voice came from the trees. It was the son of the chief. At first Prudence was frightened. Many stories were told about the ‘savages’ in the woods and how it was never safe for women or children. But he seemed very friendly and commented on how unusual it was for his animal friends to talk to anyone else. He said the spirits must have liked Prudence.”
“As the days turned into weeks, Prudence and her new friend would gather in the woods and talk with the animals, giving them bits of treats and sing songs. Before long, they each noticed a different feeling when they met. Their families did not seem as important and the daily chores of hunting or cooking did not matter. They felt it was love.”
“One day they realized that their happiest times were together. It would be ideal if after they said goodnight to the animals, they could return to their own lodge or cabin. They wanted to spend their lives together. It was an odd situation. Prudence knew nothing of how the Indians were married. But the ceremony was not as important as the feelings in their hearts. So they decided that they would talk to their fathers. Prudence thought her father would be happy that his daughter would finally be married. After all, she was nearly nineteen and that was quite old to be single.”
“But instead, he was very angry. He did not wish his daughter married to Jn'im jilsik. Did I mention his name? I am not sure. I used to know what it meant but no more. Not only did he not allow her to marry but he ordered her never to go to the woods again.”
“Prudence felt very sad and spent much of that night crying. It is always a difficult decision to choose between family and a loved one. For the next week, she did her daily chores with no joy. Whenever she was alone, she would cry at the thought of never seeing Jn'im jilsik and her animal friends again.”
“The days became weeks and one day her father announced that the captain of one of the fishing trawlers had asked for her hand in marriage. He came from a well-known family and this was considered a good idea but Prudence did not think so. Her aunt was to arrive from Boston to help with the preparations and as soon as was possible, she would be wed.”
Ms. Hasty used a napkin to dry her eyes and Olga also felt sad knowing how much it must hurt to lose someone so dear for no reason other than stupidity.
“That night, Prudence decided that love was more important than money or position and crept out of the house after the people in town had gone to bed. She used her memory and a small candle and eventually found their meeting place. It was very difficult for her to sing as she feared Jn'im jilsik may have given up hope. She waited for a long time. Most of the animals stopped by and seemed to show that they understood her sadness. Suddenly, there was a loud crash and a Black Bear stood on a nearby hill and roared loudly.”
“Prudence became frightened. Most of the animals she knew were very gentle. Most were small; except for the deer; but the Black Bear was very large and seemed angry so she walked back to town. With her singing and light, she thought that Jn'im jilsik would have found her. She lost all hope and decided that his spirits or hers did not want the marriage to occur.”
“Not long after, she married the sea captain. He was an unpleasant man who often drank much when he returned from the sea but she had a comfortable home and eventually, a beautiful daughter. A few years later, there was a tragedy at sea in a sudden storm and many of the boats were lost, including her husband. She never married again.”
“One day Prudence decided to take a walk with her daughter and brought along a large forest cake. To her surprise, many of her old friends remembered her and the aroma of the cake. They were even gentle with her daughter, Evangeline. She taught her many songs that the animals loved and all the recipes she knew.”
“When Evangeline became a woman, she continued the tradition by teaching all she knew to her daughter and it was passed on to me.”
“Perhaps you have heard me cry as I was on the porch one day. I am often sad that I had no daughter to teach. But one day, there you were as if sent by the spirits of the animals to keep these things alive. And you know the sad story of Prudence and Jn'im jilsik.”
Olga gave Ms. Hasty and long and tender hug. Then Ms. Hasty said, “It is time for you to go to the woods. I will no doubt sleep while you are gone so please be careful.”
Olga promised to be very careful and left with some of the forest cake. She went to the clearing and hummed and sang and fed the animals. They knew she was sad and a squirrel curled on her lap as Nosey often did. After the cake was gone, Olga headed for the woods to find the Black Bear. She was surprised how easily she found the cave and remembered a sign over the grocery store in the town. It said, “The way to a friend’s house is never long”.
It seemed correct because in no time, she was at the cave. She noticed her silver bird was now tied to a branch at the front with the red ribbon. A curious thing, Olga thought. But there was no sign of the Black Bear. She was again sad that perhaps he had moved to another area or somehow forgotten. Or worse, he had remembered. She still did not understand why she was given the Eagle’s Eye to give to the Black Bear but was getting worried again.
She got back on the road and was a short distance from Ms. Hasty’s when Constable Henry tooted his horn. She stopped to talk and he looked very concerned. “There has been a theft at Mr. Drouin’s house this afternoon. Whoever did this took mostly clothes and some food but I will not know for sure until Mr. Drouin returns from his trip. You should not be on the road alone because I am not sure who did it or if he is still in the area.”
For a brief moment, Olga forgot about the Black Bear, the animals and even Jasper. Her new home was quiet, except for the wind, and this was not a good thing. She promised the constable she would hurry to Ms. Hasty’s and keep the doors and windows bolted. He waited for her to climb the hill and then waved goodbye. If anyone could catch this thief, Constable Henry could.
She quickly closed and locked the door. She ran into the kitchen to warn Ms. Hasty of the danger and was surprised to see she had company. At the table was an old man with very long white hair and strange looking ears. His clothes were much too big and his pants were held up by a long piece of rope. Olga wondered if she should run to see if she could catch Constable Henry but noticed that around his neck, attached to a piece of string, was the Eagle’s Eye.
Ms. Hasty may have seen the confusion in her eyes because she said, “Olga! I would like you to meet Jn'im jilsik. From what he has told me, you two are old friends. The old man just smiled and Olga ran to him. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, so many thoughts dancing in her head. Instead they hugged for a while and she cried.
Finally he said, “I am very pleased to meet you again! There are many things I want to say and even more I want to ask. I hope my appearance is not too horrible. I am sure it is quite a difference from what you are used to seeing. I am ashamed to say that I had to be a thief again and he tugged on the extra large clothes.” Then he laughed and sounded much like his old self.
“It was very odd for me to see my reflection in the pond. Thank you for bringing me the Eye. It has broken a spell cast many suns ago. I remember many things. Some are pleasant and some are not. But the spirits have brought me here to Ms. Hasty. Perhaps they wish to undo what they have done and perhaps do not care. For now, we will enjoy each other’s company and think of what may have been.”
The three spent so long talking about legends and friends and love and many other things that the moon was already over the trees when they finally slept.
Ms. Hasty and Jn'im jilsik would try to help each other until they joined the spirits. Then Olga would carry on the traditions of cooking treats for the town. But for now, she would return to the family she missed and visit Ms. Hasty and Jn'im jilsik when she could. She was sure Nosey would be very mad for her long absence and the smells of all the other animals.
But the best part was that Olga would still have the task of taking the forest cake to all the animals. Among the deer and squirrels and birds and all, Olga hoped there would someday be another Black Bear. But only if he was he was a polite Black Bear.