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Home: greenlightwrite.com featuring
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Story Part 2 of The Idea |
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Home: greenlightwrite.com featuring
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Story Part 2 of The Idea |
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TeddyO.com Fancy Fables
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Airborne, Martha Bear’s very best grasshopper companion spoke, “We need a game plan.” “Right you are, Airborne. We’ve already explained to Nancy and Jane Marie about the general wisdom of establishing Martha Bear’s Bargains, an off-shoot of our etail (online retail) jewelry business, where critters and humans can profit from sales on our excellent merchandise. The next thing is to find a general manager for Martha Bear's Old Fashioned General Store & Online Emporium (MarthaBear.com).” “Hmm.” Airborne thought a momo [moment]. “Since MarthaBear.com and the e-store will be run out of Oklahoma City with Nancy, it would seem sensible that the talent search should be done there. That way, whomever we hire won’t have to relocate. And that will save money.” Had Martha Bear® eyes, they would have lighted up with delight. Instead, her white lips curved wide from cheek to cheek. The hopper had to squint because of the glare from Martha’s pearly white fangs. “Oh my. Oh my, my! A trip to see Nancy and family and her staff of critters would be wonderful!” Then, her smile vanished. “But is an airplane ticket in the budget?” “Let me do a little checking on the matter. There are always alternatives.” Before Martha Bear® could respond, Airborne flew off and was gone from sight. To pass the time until he returned, the bear went looking for Jane Marie to alert her to the latest news. Finding the writer outside, planting her poinsettia from Christmas in the Back Forty, Martha Bear® offered her services because she so enjoyed digging holes. Though she never wanted to displease her very favorite bear, Jane Marie insisted the ursine* sit on the cement cherub bench and watch. Martha Bear® was not dressed in her protective gardening togs, and Jane Marie never really looked forward to cleaning up the house after Martha had a bath. They discussed the transportation to Oklahoma City issue. Jane Marie offered to pay for a coach ticket if Airborne were unsuccessful in his efforts to find a ride. Then they discussed the qualifications that a general manager of a bear’s e-store would need. The main thing would have to be extreme patience because both Jane Marie and Martha Bear™ knew that Teddy O™, the Senior Ursine Editor at greenlightWRITE.com, who lived and worked with Nancy, would have his impish paws in the mix every chance he got. In short order, a winded Airborne returned and began to speak. “OK, we ... ” He paused. “I assume I will be accompanying you as advisor since that is my usual position.” “Yes, of course,” Jane Marie and Martha Bear® responded in unison. Most excited that he was about to begin another adventure with Martha Bear®, the hopper calmed himself and said with dignity, “Very well. I go where I’m needed." "Here is our schedule. We’ll have Jane Marie drop us off at Egan’s Creek where we’ll catch a ride on the back of Amelia Island's own Aggie Alligator. She’ll take us up the Intercoastal Waterway to Savannah, Georgia. From there, Wink E Bear’s produce delivery man, Wilfred, will give us a lift to Atlanta on the celery crates in the back of his truck. Once in Atlanta, we’ll ride the shoulders of Tony, the nephew of Harve, owner and operator of Harve’s Next to New Trash Cans. Tony will rollerblade us over to his uncle’s place and Harve will then drive us to Discount Rainbow Rides. They run a low cost hot air balloon service that will transport us to Little Rock, Arkansas with a group of monkeys on a field trip from the zoo. We’ll have a three-hour layover while they patch any holes that might have developed in the balloon. Finally, we drift on over to Oklahoma City where we parachute down to Nancy’s front yard. How does that sound?” he asked, proud of his arrangements. Jane Marie and Martha Bear® were speechless. After one big gulp, Martha Bear® stated apologetically, “But I don’t have wings like you, Airborne. What if the balloon … ?” Jane Marie was thinking about the what-ifs herself, but refrained from asking, not wanting to worry her bear any more than she obviously was. “Do you trust me, Martha Bear®?” She nodded her head while her tummy churned with anxiety. “Good. We leave tonight at 23 and 3/5 seconds before sundown.” And that was all that was said about that. Bear and bug gathered the essentials: a camera, a canteen of beary juice, a sack of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches and a wedge of cheese and packed it all into Martha Bear’s canvas tote. After everyone dined on a filling meal of Aunt JR’s Mushroom Chicken, prepared by Jane Marie, the pair was off. The trip was completely uneventful. Well, uneventful except that she lost her footing on the slippery slime that covered the bed of the celery truck, skinning her right bear knee. Peering up at the Man in the Moon who was looking down at her, Martha Bear® offered a positive comment to Airborne, who was unscathed by his travels, “Just look, Airborne. From the angle of Mr. Moon floating up there in the dark Oklahoma sky, I’d say running away from those wasps caused our arrival to be three and 6/7s minutes earlier than anticipated. Teddy O™ was the first to greet the pair at the front door, “Hey, Bug Boy! What’s that beside ya? Looks like a bag-a-rags to me.” Martha Bear® was beginning to feel the effects of her trip and stiffly bent over to whisper to Airborne. “He’s not talking about me, is he? Do I look that bad?” Never wanting to hurt her feelings, her winged friend said gently, “Why a light once over with a mild detergent and a soothing treatment with a hairdryer and you’ll be your old self. I’m sure Nancy can stitch your knees up good as new so you’ll never lose an ounce of stuffing.” Before the bear could feel sorry for herself or embarrassed by her appearance, Nancy, her family and the barking canine critters had intertwined themselves between Martha Bear® and Airborne, embracing them both in a loving group hug. “Welcome to our home and the World Headquarters of greenlightWRITE.com,” shouted Nancy over the racket. “I’m sure you’re starved.” Martha Bear®, in particular, confirmed that possibility. Since they’d consumed their vittles the very first hour of their travels and it was now the next night, Martha Bear® forgot her disheveled appearance and replied. “What a wonderful greeting. Thank you all. I know I speak for Airborne, when I say we are a tish on the hungry side.” After a quick buffing with the feather duster to get the large chunks of debris off Martha Bear®, Nancy tied bandages around her guest’s knees to temporarily hold in her stuffing. “When we finish eating, we’ll all go looking for a needle, any needle, with which I can mend Martha Bear’s legs. Teddy O™ was kind enough to lend me his assistance while I was making a necklace this afternoon and some how ...” she hesitated. Looking with impatience upon the smaller bear, she finished, “Yes, somehow, WE managed to misplace ALL of them. Everyone, be sure and wear your shoes and slippers until we find all the needles. I believe I started out with six.” “Nancy,” Teddy O™ remarked. "If you were just a little more careful and took note of where you laid those instruments of torture, your problem wouldn’t be our problem, now would it?” Nancy smiled tightly in front of her company and said none too sweetly, “You’ve got me there, Ted, old bear. I’m so sorry to inconvenience everyone.” All humans and animals present clearly understood the specifics as to guilt. They also understood that ever since Teddy O™ had come to live in Oklahoma, he wanted and more often then not, got the last word, his word and only his word. Why? Because, simply, it wasn’t worth the brainpower, effort and tenacity it took to win an argument with him. When Nancy suddenly suggested they all dine outside, Airborne and, particularly, Martha Bear® were happy to oblige - just as long as they could begin consuming food. During and after a fine feast of Nancy’s Bacon Stuffed Tomato Appetizers and steaming Beef Stroganoff, the conversation naturally led to the latest happenings in the lives of family and friends in Florida and Oklahoma. That was followed by a discussion about business, which focused on MarthaBear.com, Martha Bear's Old Fashioned General Store & Online Emporium (MarthaBear.com) and the search for a general manager. Then, as a mild breeze stirred the evening air, Teddy O™ leaned into Martha Bear®, inhaling her damp, musty scent. “Seems like you’ve changed your perfume lately, chickie. It must be the female version of mine because now you smell almost as good as I do. Atta girl!”
After setting the dial to heavy duty, she measured the liquid soap and bleach and poured it in. Once warm water filled the tub, Martha Bear® dived in. Surfacing, she held tight to the agitator and let it work it’s magic, periodically bobbing her head under the water to make certain her ears got a good cleansing. When the rinse and spin cycles were finished, a dizzy and damp Martha Bear® staggered out of the tub and climbed down from the washer to the floor. Airborne watched as she leaned against the large white machine for support. Putting one rear paw out in front of her to try and slow the room that seemed to be spinning, her plan was to make her way to the powder room in search of a hair dryer to dry her body once her senses had settled. While her vision still whirled, she thought she saw a group of tiny beings staring and giggling at her. “Oh, horrors!” she cried, unsure which way might lead to escape.
Don't miss Part 1 of The Idea - In which Martha Bear® realizes she has an interest in opening a store. You'll also want to read Part 3, The Decision, to find out what happens next.
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