As I wake up to the smell of breakfast, that Oliver and Sophia had prepared. We had breakfast together, and I let them know I was going out, and it might be a day or two before I return. I tell them, that I am going out to find me, a sow friend and mate. I’m very happy this morning, I’ve decided since Luna wasn’t available, I would need to find myself a sow, that would make me happy, and I could spend my life with. I not feeling depressed at all, I’m taking an approach, that will keep me happy, and not just a temporary fix.
I know everyone on my mountain range, North Mountain, and there are no available sows on this mountain. I have decided I will cross over Stone Coal Gap Road, and see if I can find me a beautiful sow, on that mountain range. I’ll stop by and say hi to Lucy and James, it’s been over a week since I was there. Lucy was excited to see me, and we decided we would fish for a few minutes. Lucy said James has gone out in search of game to fill the freezer. She not sure if he will have any luck. He assured me he would, that Oliver had taught him well. I didn’t bring my pole so we decided to fish the bear way. The bear way actually fills the basket much faster, and that would be good, so I can get on my way, my goal of hunting for a sow. It only took us 45 minutes, to catch 2 baskets full of native trout. Lucy said thanks. She tells me to be on the outlook for James. I told her that I would.
I am now up in the steep part of the mountain, close to the rocks and to my right I see James. He has 2 deer that he had killed. I guess that Oliver did teach him well. I went over and congratulated him on his deer. He said that down below he had left 2 rabbits and a turkey in the little cave, they had left the turkeys in while hunting with Oliver. I tell him I was going looking for a sow, but I’d help him get the deer to the den. He said he has all day to get them to the den, go find yourself a sow. He said I know how good a sow makes him feels. James says he has never been happier than now, that himself and Lucy are together.
I cut back to my left and head to find a good sow. It was a couple of miles to the 1st den that I came to. There was a young boar and sow couple there, I tell them I am just out meeting all the neighbors. I didn’t want to sound that he was desperately looking to find a sow. The young couple invites him in for supper and tells him he might as well spend the night, and head out in the morning. He accepted the offer. We had possum and greens for main dish and then she brought out a blueberry pie. I think I could of eating the whole pie, it was sooo delicious. We sat around and talked some, and I asked where the closest neighbor was. Well Tom’s den is just a holler away, but it is down low. I said OK I’ll visit them in the morning. He slept well that night, and woke the next morning, to a great a great sausage and turkey eggs breakfast. I tell them I have never had sausage, what is sausage. Its ground hog meat with sage, red pepper, and other seasoning in it. It was very delicious. I’ve heard of wild hogs but I didn’t think there was any around here so, I asked where the hog meat came from. He said there is farm over the top of the mountain that has hogs. So about twice a year, I’ll slip over and get one. I don’t go often; I have to be careful, I got a 12-gauge slug in my hip. 1st time being shot with a slug, it penetrates deep, it’s a good thing I didn’t get shot in the shoulder, or I be on their plates. I’m learning a bear’s life, can be difficult and painful. The next morning I tell them thanks for the hospitality, and tell them I’m headed to Tom’s. I hope Tom has a daughter and she will like me.
I go over into the next holler then drop down low, I find Tom’s den, and he invites me in. I see no one else there. I introduce myself as Benjamin and he says he is Tom. I noticed that Tom is looking like he had just come out of hibernation, he is so thin and lanky. I asked if he was ok, he said no but thanks for asking. I asked if anything I could do to help him. He said give me my Lula back. I said I don’t have your Lula, I don’t even know who your Lula is. He said I know that you don’t have my Lula, but last winter Lula was killed, and she was carrying his soon to be family. This has devastated me. I hardly ever leave this den I occasional will go out and kill something, when the hunger gets so bad. I just sit here waiting to die. I said it sounds as though you are very lonely and depressed. Tom says, “yes I am.” I begin to tell Tom of Ceasar, and how he has helped him. I tell him I have almost a turkey bag left, I rolled him a large cigar, to let him smoke. Tom says, “he has never done anything like that before, I don’t know if I should.” I continue telling him about Ceasar and how he made him promise, that he would only use it if I am very depressed, and that doing other activities doesn’t help. Ceasar makes sure I wasn’t using marijuana for recreational smoking. I can tell we are way past where other activities may help. Let me light this marijuana cigar for you. But first you must tell me, you agree to all the above rules. He agrees and said, “yes if it can help, he will give it a try. I don’t really want to die, but I have nothing to live for. If this will help, I’ll give it a try.” I lit it for him and told him I would get him a bite to eat. Tom says the pantry is bare, that he might kill a possum a week to help with his hunger. Ok I’ll go and get you something to eat. I know the creek is just a short way below, so I’ll take a basket and go fishing. The creek was loaded with native trout, due to no fishing in it this year, by Tom, it took only took 10 minutes to fill the basket. Several were 15 to 18 in native trout. I guess that no fishing for a year has let the fish grow big. I head back up to the den, and Tom says, hey Ben did you get me anything to eat, I have the munchies now. I said, yeah smoking can give you the munches, plus you been starving yourself. Hopefully you are not as depressed now, which also will help make you to want to eat. Tom says that’s enough talk now give me that basket of fish. He ate every one of the fish in that 10-gallon basket. I have never seen a bear eat so much, not even when first coming out of hibernation. Tom then burped, excuse me, that was good.
I asked how he was feeling now. He said that for the 1st time this year he is full, but I still miss my Lula, and the family she was giving me. I rolled him a double cigar and gave him. Tom said for me to have one with him. I can’t I promised Ceasar I wouldn’t use marijuana as a recreational drug, right now I’m not depressed. Tom says yes, I remember you telling me that. I don’t know if I can ever get to where I’m not depressed. I begin to tell him about Luna, and how I had missed out on a relationship and having a family with her. She is very happy with my blood brother Maverick. By now Tom says he still depressed, but less than he has been since that dreadful day, when he lost his Lula. He then asked what is a blood brother and I tell him. I then tell him I was glad he was doing better, and that I would be right by his side, until he is no longer depressed. Ben is thinking to himself that this is good therapy for him, giving him a purpose in life, to make sure Tom is taking care of. I rolled him a regular size cigar and told him, I would be back shortly, I am going fishing again, and maybe do a little hunting to help fill the pantry.
I was able to harvest a deer, I also brought back another basket of fish. Tom was in bed and snoring; I had a few fish for supper and cleaned rest of fish and deer and placed them in the freezer. I left the back straps of deer out for our morning breakfast. I knew after breakfast we will have to make a trip to see Ceasar, the marijuana supply is running very low. I’m hoping that Tom will go with me. Today has been good for me. I feel as though I have a purpose. I’m happy to have met Tom, and to have Tom as a new friend.
I’m up early and waiting on Tom to wake up, before I start breakfast. Its 11 am, he is still snoozing. Well, a little after noon he is now awake and said, that was the best night’s sleep he has had in a long time. He thanked me for everything and wonder what time it was. He thought it was like 8 am. I said Well I guess I’ll fix lunch, since you had slept through breakfast. Tom recognized the smell of deer frying, he said is that some backstraps. We each had a backstrap with some greens. I tell Tom that I needed to get him more marijuana, I would love for you to come and meet Ceasar. Tom said he would love to; he needed to get out of his den for a while. I told him I was going to roll him a cigar before we head out. As depressed you have been, you will need the marijuana to remain in your system for a while.
We cross over Stone Coal Gap Road and go over past Samuels and Angels den, we didn’t see them so they may be visiting Luna and Maverick. Samuel had his poles sitting outside, so I left him a note that I was borrowing them, that I would have them back in a couple hours. I wanted to show Tom, some pleasure of fishing, the way a human would fish. Tom’s line no more than hits the water and he had one on his line. I showed him how to reel it in, it was a nice Rainbow trout. No ruler to measure with but it looked to be around 20 inches. That’s a large and strange, but beautiful native trout Tom said. I told him that farmer Brown had stocked them in his pond, and it’s a rainbow trout. We catch a couple more and then take the rods back to Samuel. I didn’t want to stay long and have another run in with that damn farmer Brown.
We are now headed to Ceasars again and Tom said, “yesterday I was just sitting and waiting to die. I can’t thank you enough for everything you have helped me with, having you as a friend, I now have hope. I miss Lula so bad, but I now know with your help, and a little added help from Ceasar’s marijuana, I can get some joy back in my life. I have not had so much fun catching those fish, since I lost Lula.
We are at Ceasar’s now, and I introduce Tom to Ceasar. I tell Ceasar all about Tom and how he loss Lula and his unborn cubs. How he has been depressed since this happened last winter, it’s been almost a year now. I told him, that he has smoked most of what I had left, of his marijuana. Ceasar’s tells Tom, “You have really had a tough time, I’m going to help you with a deer bag. He starts telling him of all the rules and stipulations.” I tell Ceasar I have told him everything, and he is willing to abide by all the rules. Tom was in tears that anyone would help him, the way myself and Ceasar have. He tells us both he will get his life back.
Ok Tom, I said, we are now going to go to my mom’s [Sophia] and my dad’s [Oliver] now, if he didn’t mind. Tom said he would be honored to meet my parents. He said he was feeling just slightly nervous, so I rolled him a cigarette to smoke. I felt he didn’t need a big fat cigar now. We had a nice walk to my den.
When we get to the den Sophia and Oliver says who your friend, he doesn’t look like a sow friend. This is my new friend Tom; I met him while looking for a sow. I’m glad I did, he was sitting in his den and just waiting to die. I have helped him with food, I introduced him to Ceasar, he was given a deer bag of marijuana. I have showed him how to fish, with a fishing pole and catch rainbow trout. Sophia said you didn,t go back to farmers Brown pond did you. Yes, but I kept a sharp eye out for farmer Brown. I tell her that meeting Tom, has been so good for me, by having a friend and having a purpose is helping me. Sophia said you are a good bear.
Sophia goes in to fix supper for everyone and Tom says they are nice. Tom then says you are a great friend; I know I havn’t known you that long, but I would love to be your blood brother, I mean if you would like to. I tell Tom that I would be honored to be his blood brother. So, we became blood brothers and now I have 2 blood brothers. With a new blood brother. I’m wondering could things get any better. Or what may tomorrow bring?
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Dale Thacker Aurthor 
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