Bear Story

“Look out”, said Sydney pointing to the shadowy figures. The bear looked, and remembering the bullies, knew he was not going to let anyone hurt Angel or the children. The fear in him was taken over by anger. Suddenly he started to snarl and growl, and he started to run towards the figures. As he reached them, Tom shouted to him to stop. It was Tom and Bert and some of the homeless people. The bear realised just in time and stopped and calmed down. Tom and Bert and the others walked back with the bear to Angel and the children. Tom explained that all the searchers were in the next valley and that they were going to capture the bear.
“If we go across this mountain we will be able to avoid them” Tom said.
“Are you alright?” the bear said to Angel.
She seemed strangely cold, and he could not understand what was wrong. When he had got angry he had frightened her, so she kept a distance between them. They all moved on in a strange silence. The bear felt so unhappy, but soon they were over the mountain with the bear walking in front ready to protect them. Tom and Bert walked by the side of Angel.
“What is wrong? said Tom.
“I thought I was falling in love with the bear, but then he got angry, and I don’t feel the same.”
“Oh!” said Tom “do you know what he has been through?”
“Yes he told me” said Angel.
“I don’t think he told you everything, you see there is a lot that he doesn’t even know himself. In a way getting angry was partly your fault”.
“How can that be?” Angel said.
“For most of the bear’s life no-one ever got close enough to him for him to feel love. He loves you very much, and when he felt there was a chance you could become hurt and he might lose you, he could not cope, and all the times he has had to shut off his feelings. All of the emotions just built up inside him. In the last few days he has become angry a few times, mostly when someone he cared for was in danger. Soon he will learn how to re-act normally, and that anger will become what it really is”.
“And what is that?” asked Angel.
“It is his strength, that is what it is - love and fear. He hasn’t learnt how to deal with his feelings, but he will if he is given a chance”.