Not Just Another Blogophilia Write; The Three Bears in the Magic Wood part one

Blogophilia, one of the most fun writing challenges between here and Mars. https://marvgrn08.wordpress.com/2021/03/21/blogophilia-week-2-14-the-three-bears/?fbclid=IwAR2llf6g7JyZcVXO_ZXvkovBVitX4EaUfHIyj2btd9eewZh3VdSWwKMum-4

It Begins

Have you ever had one of those days that was going so well, that you knew, something was wrong? That at any moment, that wonderful day, was going to be turned upside down and sideways? When you live on the outer edge of a magic wood, those days can be rare, or that can happen on a regular basis. One never knows the regularity of the occurrences, only that they will eventually happen. Winter was coming to an end and Spring was announcing its arrival on a moment to moment basis.  I was fully enjoying the site of flowers as they sprang up from the long winter’s nap. The Daffodil had arrived weeks ago and many still danced and dipped in the breeze. My back yard was covered both in tiny white and a slightly larger purple flower. The branches from my Yellow Bell bushes hung low from the weight of the flowers.

Ah spring, a time of beauty and magic. Which was why I was not completely surprised with the dragonfly known as Jewel showed up near my shoulder. I watched as Jewel moved close then darted away only to return and repeat the dance. It was obvious I was being summoned by the Secret Ones. Placing the camera I had been using to capture the images of the flowers in a safe place, I moved to follow the insistent dragonfly. The recent heavy rains made the ground soggy and slick, I would have to proceed with care and caution. While I am rather good at slipping and falling, that doesn’t make it a favorite past time.

 As I followed Jewel my mind recklessly wandered. Ah the magic wood, where thoughts become reality and it feels like time has stopped. But, I told myself, this is something you already know, why ponder this now? Because one never knows what reality awaits around that next bend in the trail or over that next rise. One thing about these conversations with myself, they are like paper cranes. You fold them as you wish, create the look you desire and set them aside as you move on to the next great topic. Continuing to follow Jewel I pushed my way through a tangle of vines and briars doing my best to prevent the inevitable scratches. Why did Jewel choose this path? Pulling the last mass of briars from my shirt sleeve I looked up.

Before me was an odd sight. A large, checked blanket spread out upon the ground, covered in various types of foods. Jewel moved to the far side of the blanket and waited. Approaching the blanket I looked around and saw that the dragonfly and I were the only ones there. Jewel settled down on the edge of a glass dish and appeared to be waiting.

 Out of the woods to the left, walked a small brown bear. Even walking upright, it barely reached four feet high. Its attitude was solemn but not threatening. It walked to where I stood and handed me an envelope. Then it walked to the nearest side of the blanket and sat down.

Opening the envelope the paper inside simply read, Thank you for coming. 

I looked up in time to see a second bear approaching from the right. This was a much larger Grizzly bear, but it too walked in a solemn yet nonthreatening manner. As I watched it, careful to remember what was behind and around me in case I should need to run, I saw it too carried an envelope. Handing it to me, the bear took a seat on the side of the blanket.

 Opening the envelope I read ‘Clue one, If you look, you’re sure gonna find“

I started to ask find what, but before I could I saw the movement in the wood before me. From directly ahead I watched a large Polar bear emerged from the wood. Walking directly to me, it also handed me an envelope. Then, like the others, it took a seat at the edge of the blanket.

Stranger and stranger, am I quoting or maybe paraphrasing, Alice in Wonderland here? Maybe, I glanced around at the three bears then stared at the envelope I held. Opening it I removed the note that read, “Clue two: Juggling hearts in a three ring circus.”

I looked up at the three bears and dragon fly before me, “What does this mean?” No one answered as they slowly rose and walked back into the woods in the direction from where they had came. I stood there for a long while looking in turn at the direction in which the bears had left. Looking at the blanket on the ground I recited the clues, If you look, you’re sure going to find. Juggling hearts in a three ring circus. Yeah, that makes loads of sense I thought. Then it dawned on me, why did the bear, even though they sat down, not eat anything? There is plenty of stuff here, and stuff they would like.But they abstained from eating.

Bending down I began to move the items on the blanket around. Moving them from the original positions. There was nothing underneath, I didn’t see anything on any of the sides. Then I wondered about that glass dish that the dragonfly still rested on, watching me. Without touching it, I moved around it, watching the way the light played on and through the glass. Reaching the position where the sunlight shone directly through, I saw the shadow of three rings on the blanket. Inside each ring was a heart. For some reason I was drawn to reach out and touch the shadows. Before I could, the dragonfly flew from the glass, it was then I saw one more smaller paper inside. As I removed and unfolded the edges I read, “The circle you choose, is your adventure. Choose wisely.” Lowering the paper, my gaze returned to the circles before me. Hearing a slight noise I looked up. The three bears were standing around me, for all appearances waiting for my decision.

To be continued

Choose your path wisely, for you know now what awaits around that next curve.