North American Creatures: Triple Trouble

Deep in the Canadian wilderness
In a deep cave filled with darkness
Slept Shima, a mother grizzly bear.
Sulky whimpered; she needed care.
“Sulky, what is it now?” asked Shima.
“Tate and Rustler took my spot. Make them move Mama.”
“Sulky, just find another spot.” Shima licked Sulky’s head.
“But, Mama,” whined Sukly, “it was my bed!”
Shima sighed. “Sulky stop whimpering. Go to sleep!”
“But, Mama,” Sulky said. Shima warned, “not another peep!”
Sulky squeezed next to Tate, her brother.
“Stop kicking Sulky!” Cried Tate. “You’re a bother!”
“Hush cubs. In a while we’ll go out.”
Shima said with a yawn. “And maybe catch some trout.”
Shortly Shima nudged her three cubs to follow her.
She lead them down to the edge of the water.
“What’s this Mama?” asked Rustler.
“The river. Watch how I catch fish,” said the cub’s Mother.
The three cubs watched from the edge of the river.
“Try it,” Shima said catching a trout that shone like silver.
Tate waded to a small rock. “It’s kinda cold.”
“Yes. But you’ll be okay. Now catch a fish like you were told.”
Shima watched as Tate lunged at a trout.
He bit it. “Yum! I’ll eat them all!” He said with a shout.
“Tate, that’s not kind. There’s far too many.”
“Well Mama, if Sulky and Rustler don’t want any…”
“No Tate!” Shima said firm, “You can’t eat them all!
There are just too many, and you’re too small!”


Sulky looked at Tate. “Is it cold?”
“No. Nice and comfortable, “ said Tate bold.
Sulky leaped into the river.
“Brrr! Cold!” she said with a shiver.
“Mama! Mama! Tate didn’t tell me right!”
Tate tried to hit Sulky. “Mama, he wants to fight!”
“Tate, not telling the truth is trouble.
Now both of you back to fishing on the double!”
“Yes Mama, “ said Sulky. “Okay Mama,” said Tate.
“Sulky,” said Tate, “I’ve already caught eight.”
“Tate, you have not!” said Sulky.
Shima growled low, “Cubs will you obey?”
Shima looked at Rustler on the band. “Do you want to eat?”
“Yes, Mama. I’ll try it soon,” he said licking his feet.
Rustler watched Odie Otter down stream.
Odie had many fish on the bank. Rustler thought of a scheme.
He looked to see if Shima was watching him.
And he waited until Odie went into the river for a swim.
Quickly Rustle grabbed Odie’s meal.
Odie saw him and began to yell and squeal.
“Hey Rustler! Stop! That’s my meal!
Didn’t your Mama teach you not to steal?”
Rustler ran off. He felt clever, and impish.
Odie swam up stream. “Shima, Rustler stole my fish.”
Shima growled, “Rustler, did you steal?
“Well,” said Rustler, “I kinda helped myself to Odie’s meal.”
“Why? The river’s full of salmon and trout.”
Rustler looked down and began to pout.
“I don’t know how to catch fish, Mother.”
“You will learn. And also not to steal from another.”
“Okay. But I’m full. I don’t want to eat.”
Shima said, “You’ll get Odie his fish, now on your feet!”
Rustler caught Odie the number of fish that he ate.
Odie smiled. “Thank you. Now, I’ll go, it’s getting late.”
Rustler was still in the water fishing. He was having fun.
“Come cubs,” Shima called. “Rustler are you done?”
Shima called again, “Come, we’re going to the meadow.
Sulky whined, “But, I don’t want to go.”
Racing ahead, Tate was soon out of sight.
“Tate! Tate!” Shima called. He came running with fright.


“Mama! Mama! A big bear tried to get me!”

Shima growled, fear in her voice, “Cubs! Up a tree!”
All three cubs climbed into a pine.
Shima was ready, “I’ll protect what is mine!”
She waited. There was a rustle in the brush.
Shima was expecting a big bear to give her the rush.
Out of the brush bounced a herd of deer.
Shima looked up at Tate, “Is this what you fear?”
“Um…it could have been a big bear.
I didn’t really see, I heard a noise, it gave me a scare.”
Shima led the cubs deep into the forest.
They walked a long ways before she stopped to rest.
“I’m tired” Sulky said with a whimper.
“And, I don’t like this forest, Mother.”
“Sulky, not much makes you glad.
Not being thankful is very very sad.”
Shima said quietly. “We have all we need,
A safe home, plenty of fish, nuts and seed.
Now Tate, telling a false story
Can cause lots of needless worry.
It is important for you to look carefully
And tell me exactly what you see exactly.
There’s no need to run from gentle deer.
But another big bear, that’s something to fear.
There are important lessons for you to know.”
Shima said. “Mama, we understand,” said the Trio.