A Heart in the Sky

The Birthday Cub

When Bear Rich opened his eyes, the sun was peeking through his curtains.  The sun rays glimmered on his green sheets.  Birds were outside singing to bring a new morning to Heartsgrove, Pennsylvania.  Bear groaned and tried to cover his eyes.  Even though it was a Friday morning, he still did not want to get up.  Groaning again, he sat up and rubbed his hand on his curly black hair.  He looked at the clock and saw that it was 8:00am.    Bear slid out of the bed and made his way to the door before looking at the calendar.  His tired face broke out into a big grin when he saw the date.

April 19, 1985

                “It’s today!” he thought.  With his body filled with energy, he rushed out of the door and to the bathroom.  He passed by the bedroom of his six year old brother, Josh.  Josh did not have to wake up until nine o’clock for kindergarten.  Bear went inside the bathroom.  It was small and green with shower curtains that were covered in fishes. The rugs were blue.  There were little fake pink flowers for his one year old sister, Penny.  He brushed his teeth and washed his face.  Bear left for his room to see the light in his parent’s bedroom on.  Smiling, he went in his room and closed the door.  He put on a green t-shirt and blue jeans.  Tying his sneakers, he went for the door before he stopped.  Walking back to the mirror, he brushed his hair, knowing his mom would scold him if he didn’t.   He raced downstairs and entered the kitchen. “Morning Mommy,” he said.

              His mom turned from the cabinets and grinned.  Walking over, she hugged Bear saying, “Happy 8th  birthday baby bear!”

                Bear smiled a bit before trying to break free.  “Mommy, I can’t breathe!”

                His mom let go of him giggling and went back to the cabinets.  “So, how does it feel to be eight,” she asked while pulling out a box of Corn Flakes.    Bear sat down at the kitchen table, grabbed a bowl, and shrugged.  His mother acted shocked.  “Just a shrug?!”

                Bear poured cereal into his bowl and smiled.  “I guess it feels cool,” he said.

                “Well, I think it’s exciting.  You getting older.  I still remember when you were just born.”

“Mommy, it wasn’t that long ago.”

“But now, you’re eight!  Just think, in a few years you’ll be a teenager and then boom, adult.  Y’all are growing up so fast.”

Bear stayed silent, only chewing his cereal.  “I don’t think it’s that exciting to grow up.”

 His mom did not respond and continued to eat, the only sounds in the room being the birds chirping andtiny footsteps from the floor above.  His mom read the newspaper for a few minutes before Josh ran down the stairs.  He ran up to Bear and handed him a piece of paper.  “Happy Birthday Bear,” he said.

Bear looked at the paper.  It was a picture of three African American children and a giant teddy bear.  “Is that supposed to be us?” he thought. “Um, thanks.”   Josh smiled as his mom chuckled.  Bear finished his breakfast and stood up to put the bowl in the sink.  A flash of yellow went by the window as the water splashed, indicating that the bus had arrived.

                Bear went into Heartsgrove Elementary at 8:45am.  His classmates were around, being led by one of the teachers.  Bear was pushed against wall, holding a bag full of chocolate chip cookies his mom made.  “Share them with your class for your birthday,” she had said.  Bear clutched them tighter as he tried to move to back towards his class.  While moving, one boy pushed by him hard enough to make him trip.  He stumbled a bit and looked to see the boy stick a tongue at him and run off.  “How rude,” said a girl behind him.  “Blade is very rude.  Are you alright Phillip?”