Lady Be Be
By Steven Smith
Chapter One
This is the amazing story of a true star, Lady Be Be,
the most famous and fabulously glamorous bear there ever was.
She was born Baby Be Be, deep in a Canadian forest,
home of the black bear. Be Be's mother knew straight away that her little one
was going to be special as, unlike the other black bears, she was born with fur
that was sandy-blonde. And, just as she let out her first little cry, the
largest shooting star imaginable passed through the sky, lighting the whole
forest up.
"Look, my little daughter is going to be so very
special,” gasped Mummy Be Be. She hugged her baby cub so tight, and was full of
love for her, wishing only that the baby's father could have been there to see
his amazing daughter. Sadly, a few months earlier, the hunters had raided their
village and killed Pa Be Be for his shiny black fur, turning him into a hat for
the Queen of England’s guards. Ma Be Be had managed to get away, and hid until
it was safe. When she looked at her beautiful new cub, she could see her
beloved husband gazing back at her in the eyes of Baby Be Be. He would live on
in her forever.
Not all the other bears in the village shared her joy,
however. Some were unsure about the unusual new cub and sniggered at her
strange colour. Unkind talk and gossip swiftly spread through the forest
community.
"It's not natural, if you ask me” sniggered Clara
Bear, gawping in horror at Baby Be Be. “Are we quite sure the father is not a
moose?” All the other bears hollered with cruel laughter. “Or maybe a red
squirrel,” jibed one of Clara's friends.
Never in the history of the black bear had a cub been
born such a colour. But, as proud Ma Be Be fussed over her child, she tried not
to listen to the vile comments. "It’s the child I feel sorry for. Trust
me, she will be bullied at bear school,” said Dee Bear, frowning. “Mmm, no no
no! I sure won’t let my little Abigail play with such a bear cub – it might be
catching!” said Dee, rolling her eyes heavenwards.
This was more than Ma Be Be could stand and she let
out an almighty roar, a roar so powerful it knocked some of the lady bears off
their feet. There was no way Ma Be Be was letting those small-minded village
bears talk about her little baby that way. Her warning roar sent them a clear
message – back off!
"Well I never, we were just trying to be helpful
and observant,” said Clara. “There ain't anything nice about being different,”
she said, as she and the other bears scampered off with their heads between
their legs.
For the first few years of her life none of the other
bears would play with Be Be. They were always too busy or just looked the other
way when Be Be passed by and she was never invited to any bear parties. True to
her word, Dee Bear refused to let her precious Abigail have anything to do with
Baby Be Be and when Abigail had a birthday party, every other cub was invited
except her.
Baby Be Be filled her long hours alone by watching the
campers at the edge of the forest. She loved it when they sang and danced
around the campfires at night, or had the radio on during the day as they
picnicked and she would often impersonate them when she got home.
"Look Mum, I am dancing Bear, full of cheer. A
dancing bear, for you, oh yeah!” Ma Be Be clapped and cheered – and so did
Abigail and the other cubs passing by. “Sing more,” they would shout. So Baby
Be Be danced and sang and they all cheered her, as mum handed out peanut
cookies – a bear's favourite – and fizzy lemonade “borrowed” from the campers
(bears never, ever steal anything, they simply borrow and forget to put
back....).
Suddenly Dee Bear interrupted the festivities.
“Abigail, get here now! Stay away from that odd coloured bear, you could end up
catching all sorts,” she roared.
There was a silence as Be Be stopped singing and
started to cry. This was the final insult and Ma Bear was preparing to charge
Dee Bear when suddenly Abigail stood up. “No Mum,” she said, firmly. “That is
prejudiced. We learnt at school today that to dislike someone because they are
a different colour is wrong. She is every bit as good of us, if not better, and
I want her at my party. Please mum, you can't or stay away from someone just
because they're not the same colour as you.”
Having said her piece, Abigail ran to hug Baby Be Be,
just to show her mum that she wouldn't suddenly be turned sandy-blonde.
Dee Bear was shocked. For once, she could think of
nothing to say. She had certainly never thought of herself, or any of her
friends, as being prejudiced, she just thought she was protecting her young
from something different.
Looking at sweet Baby Be Be crying, and seeing the
accusing glances of Abigail and the others, Dee Bear suddenly realised that she
had been a very unkind and silly bear and that she had not been setting a good
example to her daughter. There was no such thing different - Be Be was special.
"Oh what a silly old bear I have been! Of course
she can come to the party. I am truly sorry - can you ever forgive me?” she
begged Baby and Ma Be Be. "Of course,” Ma Be Be replied, smiling. “It
would be prejudiced of us not to!”
So Baby Be Be was the star at the party and sang for
all the children. She wore a special hat her mum had made out of pine-cones and
leaves and everyone said she looked amazing.
"Let's be friends, let's be friends, take my
word, let's be friends, take my word, it is here for you…..”
But that was not the last time Baby Be Be - or Lady Be
Be as she famously became known - suffered jealousy or prejudice. In her
best-selling biography she told how she turned the prejudice around to make her
stronger and that she had forgiven those who had been unkind to her, just as
her mother had taught her.
She would need all of that strength years later, after
her mum died unexpectedly and she set out on her journey to fame.
Lady Be Be, the most famous and glamorous bear there
ever was, was preparing for a party. There was nothing she liked more than parties,
especially if she had been asked to sing. And that day she was going to sing
her brand new song, ‘I Want To Be Free’.
“I am a most glamorous and fashionable bear, and
soon to be famous,” Lady Be Be told Chutney and Bandit, her two loyal
friends - or, as she liked to call them, her accessories. They were, in fact,
two ferrets on the run from immigration in Canada. Lady Be kept them hidden in
her very trendy tree house, which was kept in a very stylish fashion, of
course. Just in case a magazine came to do a ‘Lady Be at home’ article.
She continued to arrange a small pillbox hat
carefully on the side of her head; it was one of her own designs and
crafted from leaves and twigs. “There are no famous lady bears”, giggled
Bandit, but Lady Be Be ignored the ferret’s comments. If bears like Pooh,
Paddington and Yogi could make it, then so could she. It was time for
Girl Bear Power.
She slipped on a small red dress that she had
‘borrowed’ from a picnicker. Well, the girl clearly didn’t need it as she’d left
it lying on the grass when she went for a swim in the river. Handily, it was
next to a hamper full of good things and Lady Be Be helped herself to two
smoked salmon bagels that had also been left unattended. Being glamorous
is such hungry work.
“There, do I not look lovely?’’ she cooed.
“The most beautiful bear in town”, chanted Bandit and
Chutney, breaking into a chorus of giggles. They hadn’t fully recovered from
the events of the previous day, when Lady B took it upon herself to dye their
hair – green for Chutney and blue for Bandit. They had been rewarded with extra
fish and, their ultimate treat, peanut butter.
“Now for my jacket!’’ declared Lady Be Be. Bandit and
Chutney scampered to the corner and pulled out a bright red jacket that was
Lady Be’s pride and joy. She could not quite remember how she acquired it, but
it looked just perfect on a most fashionable and soon to be famous bear.
“Thank you my darlings, you’ll still be my friends
when I am famous,” she said. “Remember, you are having big bit of my pie now.
When I am famous you may only get a small slice, but I love you.”
She had once heard a diva say that on TV and liked the
sound of it. The TV was another possession she had acquired from a careless
camper. Lady Be never thought of it as stealing; she was simply pursuing her
art. She had learnt to speak perfect English from watching the programmes and
she felt sure the owner would be thrilled the TV had gone to such a good cause.
“Pie?” Chutney’s head shot up. “You eat all the pies.”
Bandit giggled and Lady Be was not
impressed. “I am very slim for a bear, all I am saying is once I am famous do
not expect to see as much of me.” Having made that quite clear, she applied her
lipstick to complete the look.
“Any more peanut butter left?” squeaked the ferrets,
more interested in their tummies than her look. “Patience, dears, after we have
rehearsed my song for Ben and Roger Bear’s party.”
Meanwhile, not too far away in the forest Craig Bear
had only just got up, and was defiantly not getting ready for a
party. Craig Bear hates mornings; in fact Craig Bear hates most of the day,
except bedtime. But the thing he hates most of all is parties. “Noisy things,
full of other bears making silly small talk, never invite me to one,” he would
growl. Come to think of it, Craig was not too keen on bears at all, with or
without a party. What he really loves is hibernation, and collecting things he
may need for his long sleep. “You can never have enough things to hibernate
with,” was his rule number one.
Craig was busy collecting things and scratching his
butt when he spotted his two least favourite bears, Mirabelle and Mandy. It was
too late to hide - just the worst start to a day a Bear could wish for. “Rule
number two, do not speak to a Craig Bear unless he speaks to you, and that will
be never.”
“Good afternoon Craig Bear,” said Mandy, fluttering
her eyelashes at him (though grumpy, Craig was a very handsome Bear). As
always, she got a sharp reply: “What’s good about it?” he snarled, turning his
back and continuing to collect leaves and acorns.
The lady bears just giggled at how grumpy a bear he
was. “What are you doing?” inquired Mirabelle. As Craig Bear’s rule number
three was “never reply to a stupid question” he of course gave no answer.
“Are you coming to the party tonight? We are all
going, it’s Ben Bear’s birthday, there is going to be a peanut cake and all
sorts. Those bears give the best parties ever!” Miranda said, shaking herself
in excitement.
Craig Bear continued collecting, ignoring the two
excitable lady bears.
“So we will see you there then?” said Mirabelle and
Mandy, undaunted, and they waved a cheery goodbye.
“Not if I see you both first,” he muttered. “I would
rather eat mouse dung than go to that party. Now leave me alone, can’t you two
dumb bears see I am busy,” he said, flicking two acorns over his shoulder at
them. “Rule number four: never invite a Craig Bear to a party; he hates them.
Closely followed by rule number five: Craig Bear never dances, especially at
parties.”
The lady bears took off, amused, as there had never
been such a grumpy but handsome bear in the forest in all their years.
Meanwhile, Lady Be Be was almost ready for the party.
“Come along now; let’s make all the other lady bears
jealous. And we won’t take any notice of what they say - all great stars suffer
on the way up.”
“Not quite as much as you!” said Chutney. “All the
other lady bears seem to get quite upset when you’re around.” And then he got a
shock himself, as he caught sight of his reflection, and his dark green hair,
in the mirror.
“It is not nice to make people jealous or to be
jealous” said Bandit, checking his hair out in the mirror. Lady Be Be knew
Bandit was right; she would try her best not to flaunt just how amazing she
was. Bandit, on the other hand, was pretty sure nobody was going to be jealous
of him and his green hair.
“Are we sure the Queen’s hunters will not be out and
about?” asked Bandit. Giggling, Chutney let out a most unfashionable gasp of
wind, chanting: “If it’s blue, it was you.” Lady Be Be and Bandit were most
unimpressed. Ferrets make great accessories, but rather smelly house pets.
“I do not think they will be around; a bear as famous
as I am about to be could never be made into a hat for the Queen’s
guards, I’m entirely the wrong colour,” said Lady Be, with great conviction.
Bandit and Chutney scampered over to Lady Be,
arranging themselves around her neck like a stylish scarf. Not only did they
look good, it was an excellent disguise in case the immigration man came
looking for them. Ferrets are outlawed in Canada, as they eat all the fish, but
it wasn’t fair, Bandit and Chutney thought, as they ate peanut butter
too.
It wasn’t long before Lady Be Be, looking every inch
the star, bumped into Mirabelle and Mandy and Mirabelle’s two little bear
girls, Lovable and Joy, who where all heading to the party.
“Look mum, it’s her! I hope she sings,” screamed the
girls.
“Oh no girls! Stay away, she is a disgrace to all
bears. Who does she think she is?” Mandy sneered.
“Bears do not dress like that, it is most
inappropriate,” snarled Mirabelle. The girls still begged their mum to let them
hear Lady Be sing.
Ben and Roger bear came out of their tree house
and rushed towards Lady Be. “You look wonderful, are you going to sing for
us?” they said, jumping with enthusiasm.
“Must she? I have a headache,” groaned Mirabelle, as
Chutney and Bandit unraveled themselves from Lady Be’s neck, snarling at Mandy
and Mirabelle.
“Ooooh, Mum, what are those?” shrieked the girls,
looking at Bandit and Chutney with a mixture of excitement and fear.
“They are squirrels,” answered Lady Be Be, swiftly
tucking the ferrets back around her neck. Mandy and Mirabelle looked
unconvinced.
“They are part of my act. They do backing vocals”.
“Singing squirrels! Whatever next!” Dancing badgers?”
laughed Mandy and Mirabelle.
“Sing!” commanded Ben and Roger. “Sing please,”
pleaded the two little girl bears, jumping up and down.
“Let’s wait till everyone is here,” said Lady Be Be to
the birthday boy, “then I can sing my new song.”
News of a new song got everyone exited, and the chat
was about little else as Roger and Ben laid out food and drink and greeted new
guests.
“Just our luck, a new song…hope she does not sing too
many,” sighed Mandy, getting less and less in the party spirit. But, as more
and more guests turned up, the crowd began chanting for her to sing and Lady Be
Be could resist no more.
“Oh darlings, if you insist” she said.
“We don’t,” said Mandy and Mirabelle. “Oh please,
mum,” screamed the little girl bears, getting frustrated at their mother’s lack
of enthusiasm for Lady Be Be. They were desperate to be just like
her.
All the noise had quite upset a certain grumpy bear.
Craig Bear was trying to enjoy an early night but his tree house was shaking
with all the commotion. “Parties, parties, who needs them…I will give them a
party!” he growled as he jumped up, scratched his bottom and wiped his eyes
clean. Then he made his way to the party.
Lady Be took up position and Bandit and Chutney ran
down from her neck and took up their posts too.
“Ooooh!“ screamed Mandy. “They are such an odd
colour!” Up went Bandit and Chutney’s backs, as they spat at her.
“First a big Happy Birthday to the bear who helped
design my tree house and who gave the forest the bear touch.”
Lady B began to sing:
“Call me Be Be,
call me Lady,
I am what you want
me to be,
but just set me
free.
Free, free, free
I believed in
love, I believe in being free
You can see me in
the stars
You can feel me in
your hearts
So set me free,
free, free.”
The ferrets joined
in the chorus:
“Ah, ah, set her
free. I am not your Lady, I am not your bear,
I want to be free.”
The little crowd erupted, and Ben and Roger screamed:
“We love you Lady Be Be!” As the diva took a bow, the ferrets jumped up and
down and then rearranged themselves around her neck.
Unknown to the partygoers, hidden behind a large bush
was one very startled Bear. Craig Bear had arrived and was about to make his
feeling known but when he heard Lady Be sing something very strange happened to
him. His legs and body started to move in a strange way and he couldn’t work
out what was going on. Then suddenly he realised that he was breaking one of
his biggest rules. “Oh no! I am dancing!” he roared.
Craig Bear peered through the bush and, for the first
time ever, he saw a bear he liked. In fact, his heart was thumping so hard he
felt quite giddy. He just had to meet the amazing bear with the wonderful
voice!
He slipped away quietly and dashed to his tree house
to find a gift for Ben Bear - and a comb to smarten himself up. He found a jar
of gel – “that would make a perfect present” he exclaimed. And it would also
give him a sleek and stylish new look.
Craig Bear’s arrival at the party caused quite a stir,
especially as he looked so dashing. Mandy rushed to say hello. “Yeah, yeah,
whatever,” Craig said, pushing past her.
“Welcome to my party,” said Ben, who was very
surprised to see him – and more than a little worried that Craig Bear had come
to complain.
Craig shoved the gel in Ben’s hand. “Happy, um, er,
birthday. I don’t have them myself, but here you go,” mumbled Craig. He tried
to smile but his face would not let him and he only managed to lift the left
side of his lip, making it look more like a snarl. Besides, he was really only
looking at one Bear - Lady Be Be.
She started a new song:
“Love Bear and
want to be a love Bear
Do not have a
care, just be a love Bear
Do not be mean; do
not be unkind, just be a love bear.
Let’s swing around
ah ah ah ah ah ah love bear.”
Before Craig knew it, and much as he hated it, he was
swinging around and dancing to the music. He even blushed, as much as a bear
can bush anyway.
“If you do not
love, you will not feel true happiness from above
Come love
with me ah ah ah ah ah ah”
The ferrets joined in “ah ah ah ah ah ah she just loves love.”
Lady Be Be moved among the audience to dance with Ben
Bear on his special day.
“It’s good to huggle, and cuddle, love bear,” she
sang.
It was all too much for Craig Bear. He pushed Ben
aside and started to dance with Lady Be Be. She was shocked at first and not
sure what to say, but he was such a dashing Bear so she smiled. Craig Bear
smiled back and this time almost managed to get both sides of his mouth moving
at the same time.
Suddenly, a loud gunshot rang out and the excitement
turned to panic. Roger collapsed to the ground.
“Aagh,” screamed Mandy, “it’s the Queen’s hunters! We
are all going to be hats.”
As she ran to scoop up her young, there was another
shot and she fell down. “Mum has been shot!” the two little bears cried. With
her last breath, Mirabelle said: “Mandy, take the girls. Quick! Hide!”
Another shot rang out.
“Ben, everyone, get away. Leave me, I cannot be helped,”
Roger urged. “It’s not safe here. We will all be hats by morning.”
The shots were getting louder and more frequent and
one bullet narrowly missed Lady Be who had lost Craig Bear in the commotion.
The ferrets, which were whimpering in fear, ran back up Lady Be Be’s neck for
safety.
“I am a star! How can they shoot?” said Lady Be Be.
“Run!” shouted Roger.
She and the terrified ferrets ran and ran and ran so
fast through the forest, past the picnic area, over the river and across the
railway track, where she jumped on a slow moving container train.
Once Lady Be Be had got her breath back, she saw a
large container with a sign “UNITED KINGDOM LONDON.” Stealing a look inside,
she saw the most marvelous clothes; clothes that were fit for a star such as
she. There was a red military hat and jacket she had seen some singers wear on
the TV. “Oh look, it is perfect for me.”
The ferrets rolled their eyes - only Lady Be Be could
think of fashion at a time like this.
“Ferrets, we are going to London,” she declared. “Only
in London will a star such as myself be truly appreciated. Climb aboard!”
“Does this mean we’re not getting any peanut butter?”
demanded Bandit.
“Darlings, follow Lady Be to London and I will buy you
a jar of peanut butter as big as a house”.
Bandit and Chutney wasted no time scrambling into the
container. “Hurry, we can’t keep the fans waiting now, can we.” Chutney
snuggled down as Lady Be closed the door of the container. “Next stop London,
my loves”, she said happily.
Somehow they knew there was no bridge over the
Atlantic Ocean so the train was going to be only part of the journey. But Diva
Bears never did let the facts get in the way of a good story.
COPYRIGHT Steven Smith
LAWYER HENRI BRANDMAN
https://www.comptonmanagement.com/?p=739
