Once upon a time, there was a boy who came to live with a family of bears. The boy came from the North with golden hair and lost his way in the golden South where the bears lived. The boy was far from home, far from his family, and alone and sad.

The boy began to spend his lonely time in an Irish Pub (where people from all over the world can feel at home) and one day met Baby Bear, the youngest member of the Bear family, and her brother, Little Boy Bear. The boy started to talk with these bears and would listen to them sing and play their guitars (they were, afterall, musical bears) in the pub. “These friends are just right!” the boy said.

Baby Bear invited the boy to visit the Bear home. He felt a little afraid because in the North the adults tell the children scary stories about the people and animals of the South, teaching them that the South is a dangerous land. But the boy had been in the South long enough to know that the South was really no more dangerous than the North, and would soon learn that the people are friendlier and more hospitable than in the North. Finally, one day the boy did visit the Bear home.

The home was wonderful to view from the street on the outside. It was large but inviting, and certainly large enough for a family of bears. After climbing the large staircase to the front door, inside, the boy met Mama Bear and Papa Bear.

Papa Bear served the boy a delicious coffee. It was hot, full of flavor and not in the least bit bitter. “This coffee is just right!” the boy exclaimed.

Then, Mama Bear invited the boy into the sitting room. Sitting there, Papa Bear described the many beautiful works of art decorating the room made by Mama Bear. “These pictures are just right!” said the boy.

“Please come into the kitchen, it’s time for dinner,” Papa Bear said in his deep, booming bear voice. The boy was instantly filled with terror.

“What’s being served for dinner, me?” the boy wondered. The boy’s fears passed when he smelled the food from the kitchen. Bears are famous for their appetites and inside the kitchen was a wonderful spread of food.

“Sit down,” Mama Bear instructed. Baby Bear helped Mama Bear serve the food, and the boy, Little Boy Bear and Papa Bear put away enormous plates of beans, roasted beef, chiles, salad, and piping-hot tortillas.

The bears also had tremendous thirst. Bottles of wine, milk, and Coca-Cola were emptied. After the dinner, happy with a full belly the boy said, “This food is just right!”

For the Bear family, the only thing bigger than their appetites are their hearts. They invited the boy to come to live with them. “This family is just right!” the boy said.

The bears loved the boy and he loved them. “I don’t ever want to go home,” the boy said.

And so, this is how the boy with the golden hair from the North came to live with a family of bears in the golden South, and they lived happily ever after.

The End