Broadcast: June 9, 2002

A STRANGE GOOD-BYE

    All through the winter, a most unusual friendship had sprung up. Deep in the forest, Robert Bear and Cyrus Gopher somehow ended up in the same burrow for the cold months of winter. They did a lot of reading by the fireside and talking and resting. That's the kind of thing animals do to pass the winter around here.
    "You know," Robert Bear said, "I'm getting to enjoy your company, Cyrus Gopher. Odd, isn't it."
    "What's that?" Cyrus asked, glancing up from his newspaper. They were hunkered down on a fine, late spring morning.
    "Well, it's odd," Robert Bear continued, "that a bear such as myself and a gopher like you should end up as roommates for the winter. I wouldn't exactly imagine us as friends out in the real world. You follow me?"
    "Well, I don't know about that," Cyrus Gopher said nervously. "I mean, we've been here all winter and we've gotten along just fine. Granted, two of my brothers were eaten by bears."
    "Were they plump?"
    "My brothers or the bears!?" Cyrus Gopher demanded. "Really, Robert! That was uncalled for. I'm still rather . . . "
    "Uh, sorry, friend," Robert Bear said. "You're right. That was out of line. I mean, a bear's got to do what it takes to stay live out there. And pretty soon we'll be—excuse me Cyrus, do you happen to know how your brothers were prepared? Bake, broiled, steamed?"
    "That's enough!" Cyrus Gopher cried.
    "Well, I'm sorry," his friend said, "but I'm getting rather hungry. I can't help it. It is nature, you know?"
    "That's what I'm afraid of."
    Cyrus Gopher went back to his newspaper but kept an eye on his friend, watching for any sign that Robert Bear might turn on him for breakfast.
    "You know," Robert said, "we do have to leave this den sometime soon. We can't stay in here all summer. I think my watch stopped but it could be June already."
    "Uh huh."
    "And we've been pretty good friends all winter long. We're going to have to say good bye some time."
    "I'm sure our paths will cross this sometime summer, old buddy," Cyrus said, still glancing at the huge, hungry bear from time to time.
    "And then what?" Robert Bear asked. "I mean, will we still be friends?"
    "Well, I suppose so. I hope your friendship isn't so fleeting that as soon as my back is turned . . . "
    "Me? Robert Bear asked. "No, never. I don't eat friends. Unless there's nothing else around."
    "What?!"
    "Well, I mean . . . that is . . . what I'm trying to say is that . . ."
    "I think you've made yourself quite clear," Cyrus Gopher said.
    "Oh, and you wouldn't steal some seeds out from under my nose if you had half a chance?" Robert Bear demanded. "I know what you gophers are like! They don't call them thieving gophers for nothing."
    "I resent that!"
    "Is that right!"
    "That's right!"
    "You wanna make some of it?!"
    "Right here and right now! I'll take you on!"
    Suddenly Robert Bear began laughing. "Hold on, brother. Look at us. We're fighting like a pair of wild animals—which we actually are in a sense."
    "It's this spring weather," Cyrus Gopher said. "I guess we both knew this was coming, didn't we? It best we say our good byes now and spend the summer trying to avoid each other."
    "Except in my case."
    "Oh right", Cyrus Gopher said. "You'll be trying to eat me."
    "After you put on a little weight, man, you're skinny as a rail."
    "Thanks," the gopher said, "I'll see what I can do."
    "Well," Robert Bear said, "I've enjoyed our time together."
    "Me, too."
    "Except for the past ten minutes," Robert Bear added.
    And so, for the first time since autumn, the bear and gopher opened the door to the burrow and went out into the sunshine.
    "Good-bye, buddy," Cyrus Gopher said quietly.
    "See ya round," Robert Bear said. "Take care and thanks for a great winter."
    As they both set off in different directions, Cyrus Gopher kept looking over his shoulder. It was a strange good-bye for two friends who had spent so much time together.

The End