This movie was my absolute favorite growing up and I feel like it's very underrated. So, I decided to put my own little spin on it.
Mari is Roady's daughter and she has known the Bears since day one. She was only 8 when the band split up, but still...
After the reunion at the office, the group had decided to discuss things further over a lunch at a local diner. The bears and Mari had squeezed into a booth while Roadie sat at the counter. Mari sat between Beary and Tennessee. So far, they hadn't been able to convince the heartbroken bear to play with them, they were only able to convince him to at least come along with them.
"I'm sorry, boys." He apologized. "I just can't play the Thang. Not with out Trixie there,I..."
Mari was not pleased with his excuse. She knew he loved Trixie, but not being able to play just because she wasn't there was just pathetic. But, she kept her thoughts to herself. She didn't want him to start crying all over again.
"Why'd she break up with you?" Beary asked.
"Was is that sweater you're wearing?" Zeb asked jokingly. Mari had to cover her mouth to prevent her giggles from escaping, yet Zeb still saw and felt quite pleased with himself that he could still make her laugh.
"Took off with some rich, millionaire, real-estate guy. A panda!"
"What's with the panda's?" Fred grunted. "They get everything."
"You're telling me." Tennessee sighed. Mari placed a hand on his shoulder to try to comfort him. He gave her a small, grateful smile in return. He had missed her ways of comforting him, he hadn't had anyone do so in years.
"You sure it wasn't that sweater?" Zeb asked again.
"Zeb." Henry scolded him.
"Huh?"
"If I knew where she was I'd be there in a second." Tennessee said. "Oh, but even if I could play, who'd come? No body cares about the Country Bears no more. Nobody even know who we are."
'Not true at all.' Mari thought as she remembered that every time she wore a Country Bears shirt to school, several of her classmates would ask about the band and talk about their favorite songs and bears. It had given her hope over the years that the bears hadn't lost their popularity even after they had broken up.
A waitress then came to the table to give them their menus.
"Hey, how's everybody doing." She paused as she got a look at the group. "Oh my gosh, you're the Country Bears."
"You know who we are?" Tennessee gasped.
"Sure. You guys inspired me to go after my dream to become a famous singer." She explained.
"Did ya make it?" Fred asked. Zeb scoffed at his stupid question.
"Yeah, Fred, she made it. She just works here for the free uniform." Fred growled in response. "Sorry. No offense." He quickly apologized to the waitress.
"None taken. I'm still workin on it." She said. "I even do one your songs, "Kick it into Gear"." The guys laughed at the mention of one of their oldest singles. Mari laughed too, but she still loved the song.
"That old thing."
"Blow the dust off that one." The waitress smiled proudly.
"Well, I kinda got my own arrangement."
The whole performance was great. Once it ended, the entire diner went back to normal, as if nothing had happened. All of the bears were shocked, all of their jaws hung open. Mari laughed at their expressions.
"So, how do y'all like your eggs?" The waitress asked. For a second, no one said anything.
"Hot!" Zeb finally said, making everyone laugh.
"Like us." Fred added as the waitress walked off to get our orders.
"I guess people do remember us." Tennessee said happily.
"Yea, Bears are even on tv." Zeb as everyone turned to look at the television.
"Police believe this man..."An image of Henry popped up. "Is involved in the abduction of this ten year old boy." Beary's picture popped up next. They all gasped. "Police also believe his accomplices are this man, this man, this girl, and this chicken. Who are all traveling in this bus." Pictures of Fred, Roadie, Mari, and even Mr chicken came on the screen along with a picture of the bus. This got nervous groans from everyone, especially Henry. "We'll keep you updated on "Bus Watch"!"
"Oh,no!" Henry panicked and hid his face with a menu.
"This is bad." Mari said as she put her head in her hands. Just how did the cops figure that they kidnapped Beary?
"You guys are kidnappers?" Zeb asked. Mari and Henry rolled their eyes. '
"Of course not, Zeb." Henry said
"How did they even find out that we were all together?" Mari asked, but the guys were stumped.
"Guys, I think we have a problem." Beary said and pointed to the entrance of the diner. Everyone turned and gasped. Two cops had just walked in. While they weren't looking, everyone quickly got up and made a break for it. As they left the restaurant and ran for the bus, a voice called out, specifically to Mari.
"Miss, wait a sec!" Mari turned to see one of the busboys running towards her.
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He looked like he was about her age, with dark brown eyes and short, neat dark brown hair. He looked like he was of native American decent. He was really cute. Mari blushed as he approached her and gave her a lopsided, shy smile.
"Hi. How can help you?" She asked.
"Well, um..." He stumbled with his words. "Well, I just wanted to say that...your dance moves back there were great!" He said as he blushed.
"Oh, um, thanks. Yours were too." The bears watched the two teenagers from the bus, not really liking how the boy was looking at Mari.
"I know you need to go but..." He handed her a piece of paper. "Maybe we could hang out sometime?" Mari took the paper and felt her cheeks become hot. No boy had ever given her their number before.
"Oh, um, sure. That'd be great." Her dad blew horn, calling her to come. "I gotta go. See you around." She said and ran to the bus.
"I'm Dylan, by the way." She stopped at the bus door and smiled at him.
"I'm Mari!" She yelled back before quickly climbing on the bus. Before she could even say anything, she was pulled on to the couch beside Beary and her dad drove out of the parking lot.
"What's going on?" She asked.
"Those cops are after us!" Beary said as they pulled into traffic. She had a feeling that they were in for a wild ride.
