The only thing the boy ever found odd about Henry the Bear was how he very often broke into fits of uncontrollable laughter—even when nothing funny had happened.

“Brah! Hah! Hah! Hah! . . . Brah! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah! . . . Ooh! Hoo! Hoo! Hah! Hah! . . . Hah! Hah! Hah! . . .”

Though usually, it was because of the stories or jokes he’d tell.

“And then!” he would say as they walked, “I fell so in love with her . . . Brah! Hah! Hah! Hah! . . . that I began chasing her around . . . Brah! Hah! Hah! Poor thing! I think she thought I was trying to eat her! Brah! Hah! Hah! Brah! Hah! Hah! . . .”

The boy didn’t understand most of Henry’s jokes. They were too strange. But when he saw Henry laugh at them, he laughed too. For of all his favorite things, there was nothing that pleased him more than seeing his friends happy.

Ava, on the other hand, didn’t care for his songs or jokes at all. She thought they were silly. So, as they walked, she would trail silently behind as the lookout.

“Could you two buffoons please keep your cackling to a minimum? You’re going to wake up the tigers!”

“Ah, relax Ava,” said Henry as though she were spoiling all the fun. “You’re almost home. We just need to pass through this little tunnel here first. But beware! He! He! The way is treacherous. Many pits! The slightest misstep may lead you hurtling to your doom. Brah! Hah! Hah! Hah!”

The boy didn’t see what was so funny about that, but he did as he was told. They went into the tunnel and stepped very carefully. It was dark and full of large cracks you could fall through. Sometimes thunder from the approaching storm would make everything shake. It made a deep rumble and echo that Henry said sounded like his hungry belly. He tickled himself all the way down and hummed. Many times, Ava thought about throwing him down one of the pits. Our hero just focused on not slipping.

At one point, he did almost slip and fall. They turned a corner to where some bats were hanging upside down. They awoke and startled them. Bats started flying everywhere. Shooing them away made him stumble over a rock. Our hero nearly went down a crack, but was caught by Henry just in time.

“Careful, laddy!” he said. His voice echoed loudly “Brah! Hah! Hah! Oh my! That was a close one. Brah! Hah! Hah!”

The boy gulped.

“Thanks!”

Henry lifted and dropped him safely back on the path.

“Fool!” chided Ava. “Watch your step!”

“Sorry.”

“Whose idea was it to come in here anyway?” Ava asked. “I don’t remember this tunnel.”

“Oh, ‘tis a secret tunnel. Tee! He! He! Only us bears know about.”

“Well, I don’t like it one bit,” Ava answered.

“Hah! Where’s your sense of adventure? We’re having fun! Aren’t we, my boy?”

Henry smiled with all of his teeth again.

“Yeah, I guess . . .” our hero answered.

“Come on,” said Ava. “How much longer to Snake Valley? Our cave isn’t far from there. You said this way would be faster.”

“Oh, yes. Anytime now. The tunnel leads right to it. There is even a song about it. Shall I sing it for you?”

“No!” snapped Ava.

The boy wasn’t sure he wanted Henry to either. There wasn’t much light. He couldn’t see well. He had to focus on the ground or he would slip again for sure.

“Suit yourselves!” laughed Henry. “It matters not. Besides, we’re already here! And, by golly, right in time for the sunset!” Henry darted out excitedly. “Come on. I’ll race you!” They both ran now that they could see. The tunnel led out to a cliff that overlooked the whole rocky valley. “Oh, wow! Oh, my! Beautiful! Beautiful! Isn’t it?”

The boy liked sunsets too. Both of them stood astonished.

“Well? What do you think?” asked Henry.

“It’s a great spot! And thanks for the shortcut,” our hero answered.

“It’s my pleasure,” Henry said tenderly. He saw that Ava wasn’t out of the tunnel yet. He took the opportunity to speak alone with the boy.

“You know . . .” he said, suddenly becoming serious. The boy looked up at him and listened closely. “I . . . I don’t have many friends . . .”

“Hmm? What do you mean, Henry?” he asked. He was a little surprised. Usually, Henry didn’t talk seriously. But something seemed to be troubling him.

“Oh, nothing . . .” he sighed. “I just get lonely sometimes, I suppose.” He kept checking over his shoulder for Ava to come out. It was very odd behavior, indeed. “I spend all the winter alone . . . without anyone to watch sunsets with or share a meal with. And . . . well . . . I wanted to tell you . . . before you two go to your home . . . that . . . I really like you a lot . . . and am so grateful to have you as a friend . . . and for all the fun you’ve given me over the years.”

He looked so sad as he spoke, and sounded like it might be the last time they’d see each other.

All kinds of terrible thoughts went through our hero’s mind—images of Henry feeling sad and suffering alone in his bear cave. Maybe Henry didn’t have enough food to survive in winter this year. Maybe he was sick. Or maybe sick with loneliness. He kept listening.

“Anyways . . .” Henry sighed, drying his tears. “What I am trying to say is . . . I’ll miss you.” He patted the boy on the head. “You have been like a cub to me.”

“You’ve been a good friend too, Henry,” the boy answered. “But we’ll see each other again.”

“I hope so.”

Henry checked over his shoulder again. He saw Ava’s shadow in the cave. Soon, she’d be out.

“And what about your dear wolf friend?” Henry asked next. “She is wonderful, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, she’s great.”

“She loves you so much. So much, in fact, I think she would even die for you. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Yeah,” answered the boy sadly. “She would. She’s the best. Actually she . . .”

The boy paused. Something seemed to be making him sad.

“Yes? What is it, my boy? What’s troubling you? Tell me. You can tell your old Uncle Henry.”

“Well, it’s just . . . she did almost die last winter . . . just like you said.”

“Really? Oh, how terrible! I had no idea. What happened?”

“Well,” he said gulping, holding back his tears, “I keep getting bigger, you see.”

“Yes, I see that. Heh . . . Heh . . .”

“And so, I keep needing more food. I wish I didn’t but—well, last year we didn’t have enough. We both got sick. But she got real sick—and almost died.”

“Oh!” sighed Henry sensitively. “How awful! She gave you her portions so you wouldn’t starve. How much she must love you.”

“Yeah . . . and I’m not sure we’ll have enough this year either. Though, I’ve done my best. I really have.”

Ava emerged from the cave and saw them talking.

“Yes, that you have, laddy! You’re a good boy.” He patted our hero on the head again and wiped his tears for him. “But here she comes. Shh!” he whispered. “Don’t worry! Your Uncle Henry will help you out. I’ve got a little surprise for you. It’s just down the hill here. You’ll see! But here she comes! Let’s just keep this little chat between you and me, shall we?”

The boy nodded.

Henry smiled and turned around.

“Ho there! Ava! Over here! Glad you made it out, old friend! So wonderful to see you!”

Ava looked at them suspiciously, wondering why they were looking at her so fondly all of the sudden.

“What?” she asked, disgusted.

“Yes, me too!” said the boy running up to her. “I’m glad you’re here!”

Our hero gave Ava a big hug.

“Ugh—yuck! Get off me!” She pushed him off. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Sorry!”

“What were you two talking about?”

“Oh, nothing,” answered Henry. “Only that we should get you and our handsome young man here back home as soon as possible.”

“Hmph,” Ava scoffed. “Well . . . good. Let’s go then.”

“Yes! Yes! How stupid of me for stalling! Thank you for being so patient with a forgetful old bear like me. Tee! He! He!”

He then whispered to the boy before running on ahead.

“Psst! Follow me! This way! I have a surprise. You have nothing to worry about. Come! Come down here and see for yourself!”

He tickled and pinched himself as he ran and began another song: