Published: February 17th 2023, 7:56:49 am
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While Ben slept, the bears discussed how to best help him be the best little baby ever.
"He's just gotta get used to spending time in the nursery and doing baby stuff!" said Baby Bear.
"Well that's obvious," huffed Grumpy Bear. "But babies get cranky too. I can teach him that it's okay to be cranky sometimes and your people will still love you!"
"That's a good lesson," said Cheery Bear, but don't you think it's also good for him to learn to be positive and stop letting all those negative ideas that other kids and grownups taught him cloud his mind?"
"Yes," said Softheard bear. "He should learn to focus on building positive social connections, and share good feelings and affection with others around him!"
"And if you ask me, he should learn to think simpler thoughts," said Smart bear. "Leave the real thinking to his beartakers!"
"Did you just make that word up?" asked Softheart, with an affectionate grin.
"Yup! Do ya like it?"
The bears were truly happy, as happy as Ben was. They had their boy back, and there was no way they were going to let him get taken away and lost again.
Some time later, Ben woke up.
"Good babies get up for breakfast," whispered baby bear in his ear. Ben yawned and stretched.
"Is it morning already?" He really couldn't tell. In this special world his Beartakers had created, it could be sunny for days on end, or be night time whenever it seemed appropriate.
"Only one way to find out, silly," said Sunshine bear, strolling in decked out in his adventuring gear - hiking gear, really. "After you eat a nice full meal, we'll go on a little stroll!"
"It's not going to be in a stroller again, is it?" asked Ben.
"No, no, not unless you want it to be. But I think you'll want to walk on your own."
Ben thought about it as he was helped into the high chair by Baby Bear and his tray was set in place.
"Well, yeah, I would, but I can't be in too thick of diapers, or else I won't be able to walk very good."
Sunshine bear smirked. "No worries, kiddo. We'll figure it out."
As the sunny yellow bib was tied around Ben's neck, he couldn't help but smile. Sunshine bear had such a sunny disposition, it was hard to doubt anything he said. He was like the cheerleader of the team, and Ben was glad that they would be getting some quality time together, though first, he had to open up for the airplane.
"Vroooom!" said Baby bear, giggling and having so much fun as he climbed up onto the tray and fed Ben like a big baby. Ben was still occassionally self-conscious about always letting the bears feed him, but he was used to it enough by now. That's just how things were here, unless he could get his hands on Baker Bear's cookies and rolls. The bears kept his diet pretty healthy, but Ben was getting a little bit of a tummy from all those treats.
"Aww, stop pokin' your belly, silly. It's cute!" said Baby bear.
"I agree," said Sunshine bear. "Babies are nice and soft, and so are you, Benji! Don't worry, we won't hike too hard today."
Ben wasn't worried about that at all. He was more worried about being seen in his current state, though if his last trip out told him anything, that wasn't something to be too concerned over now.
"Are we going out for real?" he said, as his face was wiped clean by Baby Bear.
"Hold still, kiddo, let me just get you with this washcloth, you've got a little bit of breakfast left on your cheeks..."
Sunshine Bear chimed in.
"Don't worry, kiddo. It's alll gone! And yeah, we're going out on a real adventure in Love a Bunch!"
"What?" Ben was confused as he was helped down from the high chair. In the wink of an eye he was changed and in a fresh romper, a green diamond checker pattern with baby bears romping across the chest and tush. "H-hold on. I'm confused."
"What are you confused about, buddy?" asked Sunshine Bear.
"Well, are we going out for real or not? You said we were, but if we're still in Love-a-Bunch..."
"Oh, I get it," chuckled Sunshine bear. "So that's why you're confused. Don't worry, you'll see..."
Baby bear hefted a backpack, which I was sure was really just a diaperbag for me, and he joined me and Sunshine Bear as we made our way through the cloud castle, through the fog, all the way to the front door of my house. When the front door opened, I couldn't believe my eyes...