The Black and White Bear

A Fairytale

Once upon a time, there was a big, black Bear. He lived in the woods near a small village, as he had all his life. However, he always felt like there was something missing from his life. He didn’t know what it was, but he was determined to find out.

One day, the Bear decided it was high time he really try to solve this strange problem. He was a shy Bear, and didn’t have many friends, but one of the few creatures he knew was the Great Horned Owl, who was very wise. The Bear decided to try asking him what to do. As he walked, he wondered. What was he missing? His curiosity strengthened by the minute, and he speeded up his pace.

When he reached the tree where he knew the big old bird lived, he found it perplexingly empty. Where was that owl? He turned his face upwards, and saw the Great Horned Owl staring down at him with big yellow eyes. The bird was silent for a moment, and then spoke in an old, crackly voice. “What do you require?”

“Well, uh, you see, I, uhm…” The Bear trailed off, suddenly unsure. How could he word his question without sounding silly? The Great Horned Owl was peering down at him, waiting for the Bear to continue.

“You see, I feel like I am missing something, Owl. But I don’t know what it is! I can’t figure it out. Can you help me?” This all came out in a rush of growls, nervous sounding, but sincere at the same time.

“Yes,” the Owl said slowly. “I believe I can try. You see, you are missing something which all Bears are missing, but you are one of the few who actually notice their absence. What you are missing, my dear friend, are color and music. Do you know what either of these are?”

“No,” said the Bear. “Wait - yes! Music...that rings a bell somewhere. Isn’t it some sort of sound? But I’ve never actually heard it before, only of it. Is it really true, Owl? Does music really exist?” The Bear’s large brown eyes look hopefully and wonderingly up to the owl’s great yellow ones. The owl fluttered down to a branch to be level with the Bear’s nose, and told him, “Yes...it is real. But the thing is, Bear, you have heard it before. Many times. Thousands, even. Every single day of your life, most likely. You simply have not recognized it. The same cannot go for color, I’m afraid. That one may take a little more work. But we will get there. I first want you to do something for me.”

“What?” The Bear asked eagerly. “What must I do?”

“Go to the town,” The owl replied. “But-” The Bear started to protest, but the Owl cut him off again with a stern look. “Go to the town,” he repeated, “And bring me back a red ribbon.”

“Pardon, a what ribbon?” the Bear asked.

“A red one.” The owl repeated.

“But what is red?”

“You must find that out for yourself,” the owl said. “Now, I am going to change you into a human, so you won’t scare the villagers. Let’s see…” The owl dug around in his hollow for a minute, and then emerged with a small nutshell which had been sealed shut. “Stay very still,” the Owl warned, and then cracked the nut over the Bear’s head. A silver fog escaped from its container, and quickly encircled the stunned Bear. The Bear sneezed, and the shimmering fog seemed to tighten around him, and contract. The Bear then wasn’t in the shape of a bear, but a human, spinning an inch above the ground. Slowly he landed on two feet instead of four paws, and the fog dissipated into a mist, then evaporated entirely. The Bear looked at himself, stunned, and sniffed his armpit curiously.

“No no no! You mustn’t do that! Humans do not sniff themselves so.” The Owl said, and the Bear stopped quickly. He was dressed in a tunic and long pants, which he did not like because they got in the way, but he tried his best to ignore the itch and looked up at the Owl, who had to flutter down another couple feet to be level with the Bear again.