Barnaby Bear’s Big Job Interview

Barnaby Bear didn’t want to hibernate this year. It was boring, it was cold, and frankly, he was tired of sleeping on a bed of prickly pinecones. What Barnaby really wanted was a career.

While strolling past the farmhouse on the hill, he spotted a sign tacked to the fence:

"HOUSEKEEPER WANTED. MUST BE HARDWORKING AND SHED-FREE."

Barnaby looked at his thick, fuzzy brown coat. “Well,” he thought, “I’m definitely hardworking. I can find a single blueberry in a bramble bush in under ten seconds!” He decided to conveniently ignore the part about being "shed-free."

The Secret Plan

Barnaby didn’t just walk up and knock. He knew humans could be a little "jumpy" when they saw a seven-foot grizzly on the porch. He needed a disguise.

He found an old, straw broom behind the garden shed and stood up on his hind legs as tall as he could. He sucked in his tummy and practiced his best "human" walk.

“Look at me,” he whispered to himself. “Just a normal, very hairy guy coming to sweep the floors. Nothing to see here! Just a professional at work.”

The Critic on the Hill

As he marched toward the big house with the blue roof, he passed Snowball the Horse. Snowball stopped chewing his grass and stared with wide eyes.

“Barnaby,” Snowball neighed, “You’re a bear. You don’t even know how to use a vacuum. And your ‘uniform’ is literally just your fur.”

“Shh!” Barnaby hissed, clutching his broom like a prized possession. “I’m not a bear right now, Snowball. I’m Barnaby, the Professional Dust-Buster. I’ve heard they have something inside called a ‘kitchen’ where crumbs live. I must go to the crumbs!”

The Big Entrance

Barnaby reached the front door. He tried to look professional, though it was hard because he really wanted to scratch his back against the cedar siding. He took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and prepared to give the most polite, human-like knock the world had ever heard.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

From inside, a voice called out, “Is that the new cleaning service? Come on in, the door is open!”

Barnaby’s heart raced. He gripped his broom tight, pushed the door open with a heavy paw, and grunted a very deep, very gravelly, “Yes.”

The "Clean" Sweep

Inside the house lived Mrs. Gable, who was very nearsighted and had lost her glasses that morning. She saw a tall, fuzzy shape holding a broom and smiled.

"Oh, good! You're here," she said. "The kitchen floor is a mess. I spilled a whole box of honey-nut crackers."

Barnaby’s ears perked up. Honey-nut crackers? This wasn't a job; it was a dream! He waddled into the kitchen. Instead of sweeping the crackers into a dustpan, Barnaby used his broom to "sweep" them directly into his mouth.

Crunch. Crunch. Slurp.

"My," Mrs. Gable remarked from the living room. "That's a very loud broom you have! It sounds like it's chewing!"

"Advanced... technology," Barnaby grunted back, trying not to roar with delight.

The Great Reveal

Everything was going perfectly until Barnaby saw the refrigerator. He smelled leftover blueberry pie. Forgetting he was a "human" housekeeper, Barnaby let out a happy "WOOOF!" and did a little bear-dance, accidentally knocking over a vase of daisies with his wagging tail.

Just then, Mrs. Gable found her glasses on the side table. She slipped them on, blinked twice, and looked at the kitchen. She didn't see a housekeeper. She saw a large, brown bear wearing a "I love Honey" look on his face, holding a broom like a toothpick.

Barnaby froze. Snowball the horse watched through the window, shaking his head.

A New Career Path

Mrs. Gable didn't scream. She actually laughed. "Well, Barnaby," she said, recognizing the local forest celebrity. "You're a terrible sweeper. You've left fur on the rug and you ate the crackers."

Barnaby hung his head, clutching his broom sadly.

"But," she continued, "I’ve never seen anyone clear a floor of crumbs that fast. How would you like to be my Official Kitchen Taster and Security Guard? The pay is three pies a week and all the crackers you can find."

Barnaby dropped the broom and gave a thumbs-up. He didn't have to hibernate, he got to live near the kitchen, and most importantly, he never had to use a vacuum cleaner.

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