Not Blown Away By The Scary Tales

After a heavy lunch of golden honeycomb, Barnaby the bear found his favorite spot in the park—a sturdy wooden bench. He was just settling in for a nap when a small red cardinal fluttered down and landed on the backrest. The bird had a bad habit of scaring others, telling them scary tales. So he wanted to try his scary skill on Barnaby.

"What’s up?" chirped the bird.

"Not much," Barnaby replied with a sleepy smile. "I just love strolling through this park. Every time I sit on this bench, I feel right at home."

The bird hopped closer, its eyes wide. "You know something? They say a bear was sitting on this very bench once, and then—poof!—he disappeared into thin air. Nobody has seen him since!"

The bird waited for Barnaby to look scared, but Barnaby just leaned back and stretched his paws.

"Is that so?" Barnaby chuckled. "Well, that sounds like a lovely experience. I think I’ll stay right here."

The bird looked confused. "But aren't you afraid you'll disappear too?"

Barnaby winked and patted his round, honey-filled belly. "Don't worry," he said. "After a lunch that big, I think I’m much too heavy to disappear."