All of the Brumbledumbs gathered at the border to say goodbye. They offered our hero some of their bananas as a gift, but he didn’t take any. Winter had nearly arrived and the boy knew the large family would need every one of them to survive. Especially the little ones.

“Thank you, everyone!” he shouted. “See you in spring! Goodbye! I’ll miss you!”

“Thank you!” the apes all shouted back. “You’re welcome any time! Goodbye! Stay warm!”

It was a lovely end to another lovely visit. And when our heroes left, there were many more animals who came to say goodbye. For now that the Black Beard Gang had been defeated—as well as almost all of the other bullies—the forest now felt safe again. The good animals could come out and play one last time before the seasons changed.

“Hello!” they would squeak as the boy passed by. “Thank you for saving us!”

“You’re welcome!” he would reply.

Some animals would even come right up and let the boy pet them. Or, if they were small enough, they would sit on his shoulder as he walked, regaling him with news and gossip about the forest. Who was being naughty? Who was being nice? What kinds of new villains might be emerging? Which way home should our hero go? And so on.

“Hey! Psst! Listen! There are some apples over there! No one’s seen them yet!” a little bird whispered in his ear.

“Thanks!”

Or . . .

“Be careful, sonny, there is quicksand ahead . . .”

It was the old turtles who gave him that advice.

“Sure,” he replied. “Thank you for telling—”

“Young whipper snappers! Run’n round without any patience! Darn kids ain’t got no virtue, I tells ye! No virtue! What’s wrong with parents these days?”

“Oh, umm . . . that’s too bad. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Never mind that, sonny. You best be heading home.”

“Right!”

“Wisely and slow, now. They stumble who run.”

“I will. Bye, Mr. Turtle!”

But along the way there was one animal who caught the boy’s attention more than any other: his old friend, Henry the Bear. He was large, had thick bushy brown fur and was always smiling and singing merrily wherever he went. Our hero heard him and rushed over to say hello.

Ava wanted to ignore it and just keep going. But it was too late.

“Henry! Hey, over here!” the boy called out.

“Oh! Hello, there!” Henry answered. “Why, what a wonderful surprise! Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Henry the Bear was one of our hero’s favorite animals in the whole forest. He met him when he was very young. Henry taught him how to fish and do many other tricks. “If you let the little fishies go, they’ll grow into bigger fishies later for you to eat,” the boy remembered him saying. Henry had kept the boy close ever since.

Ava, on the other hand, didn’t like Henry at all. She thought his singing was annoying and that his laugh was stupid. And he laughed a lot because he was always tickling himself.

“Ah, hah! Ah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Muah! Hah! Hah! Hah!”

Just like that.

Ava put up with him when he was around, but was always eager to get away as soon as possible.

“Yeah! It’s a nice surprise to see you too!” answered the boy. “How’s your summer been?”

“Oh, simply un-bear-able!” answered Henry with a chuckle. “The ground is dry. There isn’t a single blueberry anywhere! Not even in the meadows. I haven’t eaten a thing in three days.”

“Oh, I see,” said the boy, feeling concerned.

“But you seem to be doing quite well for yourself. Yes! You are much taller than I saw you last! A plump belly! And—such nice round thighs . . . He! He!”

The boy glanced down at himself.

“Thanks . . . I guess . . .” he answered, shrugging.

“You are very welcome! So polite, too.”

Henry patted the boy on his head with his great big bear paw.

“Maybe I can help you?” our hero asked.

He went into one of his pockets and pulled out a little pouch.

“I’ve been collecting acorns. See?”

Henry’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! Acorns! Wow! I can see that you have! Very clever! Yes! Look at that, Ava! Now, that is SMART isn’t it?”

Ava rolled her eyes.

“Here,” said the boy, putting his hand out. “Have some.”

“No! Oh, no! I couldn’t! You’ve earned those fair and square. You keep them. Besides—Heh! Heh! We bears prefer softer . . . juicier things . . . like fish or honey. Acorns would only give me a belly ache. And you wouldn’t want that, now, would you?”

“No . . .” said the boy sadly. He slouched and looked ashamed that he didn’t have anything else to give.

“Aw! Don’t worry about me, bucko. Your old Uncle Henry will be alright. I always am! Muah! Hah! Hah!”

Henry patted him on the head again and playfully messed up his hair. He burst out laughing and started tickling himself. Then he started tickling the boy and made him laugh too, to cheer him up.

“Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho! Tickle! Tickle! He! He! I wouldn’t mind your company, though! Which way are you headed, my boy? Maybe your old Uncle Henry could come, too! He! He!”

“Which way do you think we’re headed?” asked Ava grouchily. She couldn’t take the laughing and playing anymore. “Overgrown weasel! It’s nearly winter. We’re going home! Where else!?”

“Oh, really? What a coincidence! I’m going that way, too! And, yes, it is almost winter, isn’t it? Silly me! Look at the time! I must have forgotten!” Henry was still having fun tickling the boy, who was rolling in laughter from it. Our hero liked that game. “Look! Everyone is out looking for food to survive, but me! What a fool I am! He! He! He!”

“No. You can’t come with us. Buzz off! Go and annoy someone else.”

“Aw, come on Ava,” said the boy, getting back up. “It’ll be fun. I want him to come. I haven’t seen Henry in a long time. Besides, he’s my friend.”

Henry smiled a great big bear smile at Ava, showing all of his teeth. There was something strange about this bear. She didn’t trust him.

“Yes, come on, Ava! Don’t be such a spoil sport. We’ll get the boy home safe. We just want to have a little fun on the way, that’s all. Sing a little! Talk! I’ve got some new jokes I could tell you guys! Ho! Ho! Ho!”

Ava looked at the boy, who seemed very eager for Henry to come. She didn’t like the idea one bit. That’s when Henry whispered something to her.

“Psst . . . Hey, come on. Give the kid a break. You know he has a hard winter ahead of him this year. We both know it could be his last. Don’t spoil this for him. He’s a good boy and deserves a laugh or two. You’ve trained him well. Just give him a break just this once. Whaddya say, old pal?”

He reached out to pat Ava on her head too, but stopped when he saw the look in her eye, as if she’d bite him. No one pet Ava—ever.

Nevertheless, Henry did have a point. He got her thinking. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. The boy had worked hard and done well. Besides, with Henry around, they might even be able to get there faster and safer. It was the only redeeming thing about him, in her opinion. No one ever tried to ambush them when Henry was nearby.

“Alright, fine,” she finally relented.

“Really? Oh, yeah! Great!” the boy exclaimed. “Did you hear that, Henry? You can come!”

He hugged his bear friend tightly.

“Hurray!” Henry cheered with a chuckle. “Ho! Ho! Ho! You’re right, my boy! She said so, indeed! Ho! Ho! Ho! What a great friend! Come on! Let’s go!”

“Yeah!”

They turned around and started walking together. Finally, they could get moving. That’s all Ava really wanted at that point. But no sooner had they taken their first steps, then Henry suddenly stopped again.

“Oh! Wait!”

Our two heroes halted with him.

“What is it, Henry?” the boy asked.

“Make it quick,” said Ava.

Henry cleared his throat. He seemed a little different than usual. But Ava couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Ahem! Well, nothing really. I just thought of an idea. That’s all.”

“What?” asked the boy.

“Err—well, what about if we go . . . this way . . . instead . . . over here. Heh! Heh!”

“That way? Hmm . . .” It was something of an odd request. Even the boy thought so. “Why?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?” Ava asked too, but with more suspicion.

“Oh, you know . . . it’s just a little easier . . . for these old legs o’ mine. Not quite as rocky. It’s shorter too.”

“And more dangerous,” added Ava.

“Not with me around it ain’t. Heh! Heh! I don’t mean to intrude, of course. It’s up to you. We can go any way you please. I just thought you wanted to get home sooner than later. Perhaps I was wrong.”

“Sure, we can go that way, Henry,” answered the boy. He felt bad that he couldn’t give Henry any food earlier. But at least he could help make the trip easier for him. “Especially if you’re around. What could go wrong?”

Henry felt very touched and giggled.

“Aw, you are very kind.” Then he hugged the boy again. “What a good, good boy you are!”

Ava didn’t like the idea. But the storm was blowing in fast. She didn’t want to waste any more time. The sooner they got home, the better.

“Alright then! It’s settled!” Henry shouted out excitedly before she could answer. He wagged his stubby little tale. “Hah! Follow me! Your Uncle Henry will lead the way. Mauh, hah, hah! Come on, Ava! Pick up your feet! Quit doddling back there! Muah! Hah! Hah! Muah hah, hah, hah, hah!”