Beri Bear's Adventures - Galley Goose's Perfect Birthday Hat

Beri Bear was walking down the park path, watching Barista the kitten chasing after blowing leaves and pouncing on them. It was a beautiful fall morning and they were headed into town to visit with Miss Itsa Ducky, who owned a little shop where she made hats. Today was Galley Goose's birthday and Beri and Barista wanted to find her the nicest hat in town.

Barista, running back to where Beri was walking, asked, "Beri, what kind of hat are we going to get?"

Beri smiled at the kitten and said, "We want to find the biggest, prettiest hat in the whole world. Galley is our best friend and she just loves all her hats."

"But what kind of hat?" insisted the kitten as he rolled over and over in a small pile of leaves.

"That will depend on Miss Ducky, but I am sure she will have something perfect for Galley Goose," stated the little brown bear in a matter of fact voice.

Soon they reached the town and, wasting no time, they hurried over to Miss Ducky's shop. It was closed and the sign in the window only said, "Be back soon".

"Oh dear, said Beri. "I wonder where she is? I have never seen her close up the hat shop this early in the day."

"I think she went to get something to eat," said the kitten as he peered in the windows of the shop. "I am hungry from walking so much!"

Beri grinned at Barista. "Good enough. We will just stroll down the street and see if she is anywhere close by. We can stop at Mr. Dingle's and buy a picnic lunch to eat at home with Galley. It will be perfect for her birthday dinner."

The two friends began to walk down Main Street. Soon Beri spied Mrs. Sparrow hopping around outside her flower store.

"Well, hello Beri and Barista", she said smiling. "It is nice to see you this fine morning."

Beri gave Mrs. Sparrow a hug and replied, "Yes, we came into town to find a beautiful hat for Galley. Today is her birthday."

"Oh my", said Mrs. Sparrow. "I almost forgot about her birthday. Please take this bouquet of flowers and give to Galley for me. I know she just loves these yellow daisies."

Carefully, Beri placed the bouquet of flowers into his backpack. "We would be happy to do that for you, Mrs. Sparrow." Waving goodbye, Beri and Barista continued to walk down the street.

Soon, they came to Mr. Ferret's Notions and Things store. Mr. Ferret was outside dusting off shelves and putting out ribbons and yarn.

"Hello!" he cried out to the pair walking towards him. "What are you doing out walking this fine day?"

Again, Beri explained about buying a hat for Galley's birthday. Mr. Ferret said, "Oh Galley is such a good friend to me. Please, take this bunch of pretty blue balloons to her", he exclaimed as he tied a very large blue ribbon bow around them. "Tell her Happy Birthday from Mr. Ferret!"

Beri laughed, saying "Of course, Mr. Ferret. I know she will enjoy these balloons immensely." Beri tied the balloons to his knapsack where they floated prettily in the breeze.

Next door, Mrs. Cat was standing listening to what was said. "Beri, please come over here. I overheard you say tomorrow is Galley's birthday. My, how time flies. I have something for her."

Mrs. Cat rushed into her house and soon returned with a plate of cookies. "Please, tell Galley to come visit me soon. I am going to make her a special cake, just as she likes it. You can share these cookies with her for now", handing Barista a special white cookie in the shape of a boat.

Barista jumped up and gave Mrs. Cat a kiss on her cheek. "You make such beautiful cookies, Mrs. Cat. I love them!" Barista immediately begin to nibble on his cookie.

Mrs. Cat giggled at the kitten. Turning to Beri, she said, "Of course, you can have one too, Beri."

"Thank you, Mrs. Cat. Your cookies are always so delicious and Galley just loves your boat design."

This time, Beri had Barista carry the plate, telling him "Do be careful, Barista. We do not want to give Galley a plateful of broken cookies."

Barista made a sound like "humph". "No, I won't let anything happen to these cookies, Beri." Barista started walking slow, taking measured steps. Beri laughed at the kitten as he, too began to walk a little slower.

Reaching Mr. Dingle's deli, the two went in and ordered a picnic lunch to eat at home with Galley. Not seeing Miss Ducky anywhere, they decided to go back to her shop and see if she had returned. Carefully, they made their way back up Main Street until they were once again standing in front of Miss Ducky's door. The sign now said, "Open".

Excitedly, the bear and kitten went inside. Mrs. Ducky was behind the counter, sitting at a little table where she made her hats. Seeing her two friends enter the store, she jumped up and waited for them.

Beri told her that they wanted to buy a special hat for Galley Goose for her birthday. Mrs. Ducky stood there a moment and then quickly went to a closet where she pulled out a big red and white striped box. "Well, she said, "I have the perfect hat. "Now", she asked, "What should I put on it to make this the most beautiful hat in the world?"

Suddenly, Mrs. Ducky spied the balloons that were floating above Beri's head. "Wait!, she said. "Those balloons would be just perfect!"

Taking the balloons, she soon had them fastened on top of the hat. "It needs more color", she said. Beri and Barista looked at each other. Carefully taking out the bouquet of yellow daisies, Beri asked, "How about these beautiful yellow flowers?".

Mrs. Ducky smiled widely. "Yes, indeed. Those will be beautiful on Galley's new hat. Quickly, the daisies soon outlined the rim of the hat.

"Still, said Mrs. Ducky. "It needs something else."

Barista carefully placed the plate of cookies on the counter, saying "How about these cookies, Mrs. Ducky?"

"Oh, what fabulous cookies and they look like boats!" Mrs. Ducky took the blue ribbon bow, fastened it around the crown of the hat, and placed the lovely white boat shaped cookies inside of it. Carefully, she placed the finished hat inside of the red and white striped hatbox.

Beri exclaimed, "Why, Mrs. Ducky! You have done it again. You have made such a beautiful hat for Galley with presents she will love from all her friends. She will be so happy."

Barista piped in, saying, "Oh yes, and she loves the colors of white, yellow, and blue. She will look so nice in her new birthday hat."

Mrs. Ducky beamed at the kind words from Beri and Barista.

Beri carefully picked up the hatbox while Barista carried their picnic lunch. They were happily headed home with good food and the loveliest birthday hat for their best friend, Galley. It had been a very nice walk and they had the most beautiful gift they could find for their best friend.