Friday afternoon

It was a warm and sunny afternoon, typical for Cape Suzette, as Kit made his way home from school. He has quite the trek since he started high school last year. Cape Suzette public is all the way on the other side of the city. But he didn't really mind. It always gave him a chance to think, which he found himself doing a lot of lately.

He walked in the front door of H4H and Baloo was waiting for him. "Hey, Lil' Britches, how was school today?"

"Okay, I guess. We had a geometry test today that I don't think I did too well on. But other than that it went pretty well."

Baloo nodded, not liking to think back to his own math days. He had never really cared much for school, nor did he ever try very hard. But Kit was better than that. He had a lot of potential, so Baloo encouraged him.

"I'm sure you did good. You always do."

"I hope so." Kit placed his books on the table and headed in to find himself something to snack on.

"So, Kit-boy, I bet you can't wait 'till Louie's big party this weekend after all of that studying this past week."

Kit stopped his search. He had forgotten all about that. Turning around, "when was that again?"

"Tomorrow night, like I told ya the other day."

Kit felt terrible but knew he had to think of something quickly to get out of that…even though he loved a good party at Louie's.

"Uh, I can't go actually."

"What?"

"Well, I have a study date tomorrow night with Ernie. We were going to meet up at the library and go over our geometry. He's a real whiz in that class and I thought maybe he could help me." What? Why had he said that? Like Baloo was actually going to believe that he was going to blow off Louie's to study!

Baloo started to argue, but then thought back to Rebecca saying how he should encourage the boy more in such matters. "Well, if you think that'll help ya go ahead. School's more important."

"Thanks Baloo. I'll be sure and make it the next time." Forgetting about his snack he gave older bear a quick hug and ran upstairs. He felt terrible for lying to him, but he just couldn't tell either Baloo or Rebecca about Kierra just yet. He really didn't know why.

Bloomingbear's Department Store

"Molly! Get over here now!" Rebecca yelled as she was trying to make her way through the isles up to the children's clothing. She couldn't believe how Molly was acting tonight. True, the girl had a long day of shopping behind her. But she needed new uniforms for school. She hated to admit it, but her daughter had been growing like a weed this fall.

"Mom, you said that we could get a Frosty Pep!" Molly whined as she was stubbornly making her way between the racks of clothing instead of down the isles like everybody else.

"In a little bit honey. Just one more stop and we can go. It shouldn't take too long."

"You said that three hours ago."

"Well, I mean it this time." Rebecca said exasperatedly. "Now get over here so we can hurry up." She could feel the eyes of the other customers on her about this time and made a mental note to keep her voice down. It wouldn't due for a business lady to make a scene in one of the poshest department stores in Cape Suzette.

Molly reluctantly took up stride with her mother grasping at any hope of making this day move along faster.

Finally, they got to the uniforms and picked several out. Molly had the small victory of convincing her mother that she didn't need to try them all on. She had, after all, worn the same blue and white checked school uniform since she started there two years ago. She just needed the next size up.

After the cashier rang up their many purchases, Rebecca gathered up her bags to take to the car that was waiting out on the street. Normally they would have walked on such a nice evening, but she knew that they would have a lot of boxes to carry by the time that they were finished.

Molly, in a much better mood, skipped happily out of the store. She was both carefree and box free as she flew by her mother who was struggling to see over the mountain of packages that she carried.

The ride to the Frosty Pep hut was a short one. They got out and Rebecca sent the driver on to their building.

Molly ran over to the order window. She had to stand on her tip toes in order to see over the counter. "I want a super-chocolaty-cherry Frosty Pep, please" As the bear with the ice cream cone hat rang her order she opened up her purse taking out a few coins from her allowance money.

Rebecca ordered a small vanilla Frosty Pep while Molly picked out an umbrella table for them to sit at.

Looking out at the beautiful sunset over Cape Suzette harbor, she realized how few of these special moments she has shared with her daughter lately. Everything has been so hectic with the business and with life in general that she didn't always think of taking time out from those important tasks for what was really important. Well, no more of that, she thought.

"Hey mom, look!" Molly said, interrupting her mother's train of thought.

"What is it honey?" Rebecca asked, unable to tear her eyes away from the harbor.

"Isn't that Kit over there walking with that girl?"

Rebecca looked over to where her daughter was pointing and sure enough, there was not a doubt that it was Kit.

Molly jumped up excitedly, obviously getting ready to go and embarrass the poor boy.

"Molly, sit down and finish your Frosty Pep!"

"But mom, aren't we going over to say hi?"

"Honey, we don't want to interrupt them. Besides, I figured that you wanted to get home. Danger Woman is going to start in fifteen minutes."

Obviously she had forgotten that her favorite program in the world was on tonight because she started hurriedly eating her sundae.

Rebecca smiled as she watched her daughter. Taking one last glance at the teenage bear and his friend as they turned the corner she wondered if that was his girlfriend. Kit had never mentioned anything about a girl, but then she remembered being a teenager. She would have to talk to Baloo about it and see what he knew. She really felt that Kit was too young for such things.

She had always had a motherly instinct towards the young bear since he first came into their lives. He and Baloo had really become like family to her and Molly. She loved them both dearly. This was especially true whenever she saw Baloo playing with Molly and acting the way that she had once imagined that the girl's father would do. They needed each other.