Beri Bear's Adventures - the Island Picnic

Beri and Barista were preparing to row across the lake to their favorite island. They were going to have a picnic with their friend Galley Goose this afternoon. Beri was loading the picnic basket, filled up with all their favorite foods while Barista was flitting back and forth across the bow of the boat instead of helping. From one end of the shell to the other, the orange kitten bounced like a rubber ball as he growled at fish he saw in the water.

As Beri good-naturedly finished putting in the other things he needed, he called to the errant kitten.

"Barista, you need to put on a lifejacket. You know you must wear one anytime we go out on the water."

The kitten ignored him, now hanging over the side of the boat, swiping his paw through the water. He was still hoping he would catch one of the fish that lurked just out of his reach.

"Barista, we are not leaving this shore until you have one on," stated the bear. Barista continued his battle with the lake water as though he had not heard Beri.

Suddenly, Galley Goosey, one of their best friends, quite literally dropped into the boat. She was flying past the dock when she noticed the kitten hanging by one paw.

"Barista! Why are you in this boat without a lifejacket?"

The goose waddled over next to the kitten, "Don't you know you could drown if you fell out?" she said as she pecked Barista on the head with her large beak.

"Hah!" snickered the orange kitten, swishing his tail back and forth like a flag snapping in the wind. "I can swim if I have to. I just do not choose to. Besides, I will not fall out of this boat." Barista extended his claws, grabbing the side of the boat to show Galley how well he could hang on.

"Barista put one on. I have plenty stored on the boat." replied Beri Bear, watching the brazen kitten show off. Barista was his best friend, but he could be a real pain sometimes.

"Oh! All right! Geesh . . . if it will make you happy!" fumed the kitten. Picking out a red and white lifejacket, he put it on.

"Well," Said the goose, "Lifejackets are supposed to be worn for protection while you are in a boat or swimming. Therefore, I do not want to hear about it if you do fall out and you do not have one on. Just remember, we do not know if cats go to heaven."

With a "harumpth", the goose took off for the island where she planned to join them later.

The two friends climbed into their places, Barista lying on the bow and Beri Bear operating the oars. They made it across the lake to the island without mishap. While Beri tied up the boat and began unloading their picnic basket and a blanket, Barista skittered off the boat and across the beach. He called out to Beri, "I will find a place for our picnic!" and he was gone in a flash.

Beri stood grinning as he soon lost sight of the kitten as the orange ball of fluff, wrapped in the red and white lifejacket, went around a bend on the beach. He thought it was funny. First, he had to argue with Barista to put on the lifejacket. Then, the kitten forgot he was wearing it.

He picked up the blanket and basket and headed to a pine grove just past the sand dunes. Knowing Barista, the kitten would be gone for an hour at the very least. He never saw a cat who could not manage to go two feet in sand without digging either a hole or chasing butterflies as Barista was doing now.

Beri quickly found what he was looking for and began spreading out all the goodies they had in the basket. He had brought celery sticks with peanut butter, whole red juicy apples, watercress salad he had made especially for Galley, and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. He had also made peanut butter and crackers for himself since that was his favorite food. Barista had insisted on pretzels and Gumi bears.

Beri hated those rubbery-like treats. He could not bear to eat them since they reminded him of his uncle Bosco, who had been eaten by a dog when his owner had left him outside one day. One moment he was there, the next he was nothing but a pile of little cotton balls and a single beady black eye. Or, so he had heard.

Beri sighed to himself. "If only that little Robbie had been a responsible little boy. None of that would have happened."

Right at that moment, Galley Goose came floating down. As Beri watched, he was once again amazed at how graceful the goose was in the air. Especially since she waddled like a duck while on the ground. He grinned at the thought.

"Hello, again." Beri called out to Galley Goose.

"My my! That food looks just delicious!" said the goose. Looking around and not seeing Barista, she asked. "Where's that silly orange friend of yours?"

Beri laughed. "He decided to go exploring. He should be back any moment now."

"Tsk. Tsk. One day Barista's going to find himself in trouble if he doesn't learn to listen." In a matter of fact manner, Galley Goose stated, "He better develop some common sense."

"He's a good kitten, replied Beri. He just has to grow up a bit."

As they settled down to wait on the kitten's return, they talked about plans they were making for a trip. They wanted to go to a place they had never been. Time passed while they were talking and they did not notice Barista had not yet returned until Beri's tummy started to rumble from being hungry.

As he nibbled at a piece of celery and peanut butter, he asked. "Goodness, Galley. I wonder what's taking Barista so long to get here?"

"Maybe we should go look for him, replied the goose. I would not be surprised if he hasn't gotten himself into some kind of trouble. You walk down the beach where you last saw him and I will fly over the island." With that, Galley ran a short distance and jumped, flapping her wings furiously as she started looking for the wayward kitten.

Beri did not waste time by walking; instead, he trotted along the edge of the beach where the water met the sand. He could see holes here and there where Barista had stopped to play, so he knew he was headed in the right direction.

Around the very next bend, he saw Galley. Spying him, she called for him to hurry up. She was standing on the edge of a rock, which surrounded a small pool of water, looking down.

There was Barista. While hanging over the side of the rocks, trying to catch fish in the pool, he had fallen in. When he tried to climb out, Barista found the sides of the rocks were too slick. He was drenched from head to toe, but he was going to be ok. The lifejacket had kept him afloat until his friends found him.

Beri and Galley soon had him out of the water and back to where the picnic still waited. Sitting between both of them, wrapped in a towel and munching Gumi bears, the kitten looked at his friends.

"Thanks," he said to both of his friends. "I know I was stupid before for not wanting to put a lifejacket on. If I had not worn it, I would have drowned back there today." A tear formed at the edge of his eye. Barista quickly wiped the tear away, saying, "I promise I will always wear it when I am near the water from now on."

Beri and Galley looked at each other and then at the soggy kitten. Grinning, they yelled at the same time, "Group Hug!" as they pounced on the kitten.