It's Dough Contest
part 6

The Cunninghams' Apartment
Saturday Morning
Day 6

Rebecca awoke to the symphony of Baloo's snores, something to which she had surprisingly grown accustomed to. She removed the pink earmuffs, got up, gathered her clothes, and went to the bathroom. A few minutes later, the clothed bearess returned. She hung up her nightgown in the closet, then made the bed. Just as she was about to leave, she glanced at Baloo. An affectionate smile crept to her lips. His snoring was ruffling the bedskirt. She pulled the blanket over his shoulders and patted him gently on the chest, then quietly stepped out.

Kit was already in the kitchen, eating a bowl of Cheery-Os.

Rebecca squeezed his shoulder with a smile on her way to the coffee pot. To her surprise, a pot of steaming hot coffee was already on the stove. "Thank you, sweetie."

"No problem, Miz Cunningham."

She sat down beside him, full mug in hand. She added a spoonful of sugar to the coffee and slowly stirred it. "Last day," she said, taking a sip.

"Yeah. I can't believe we made it."

"Where's Mr. Tannenbaum?" Rebecca was amazed that the judge wasn't in the living room, poring over his clipboard.

"He went out about five minutes ago. Said something about heading to the Chamber of Commerce to go over his results with Mrs. John D. Rockefeather."

"So...we'll know today."

"Looks like it."

A troubled frown creased Rebecca's forehead. "Mind if I ask you a question, Kit?"

"Sure."

"What's Baloo planning on spending his $50,000 on?"

Kit shrugged. "Buying back the Sea Duck, of course."

"Of course." Rebecca absently took another sip of coffee.

"I don't want to leave Higher for Hire." He drove the last soggy Cheery-O around the bowl with his spoon.

Rebecca sighed, chin propped on her hand. "I don't want you to go, you or Baloo."

"What can we do?" Kit said dismally. "If we win, Baloo will take his money, buy back the plane, we'll leave, and I'll never see you or Molly again."

"I know, Kit. I know." To herself, she added, "Oh, I wish I'd never entered us in this stupid contest..."

They sat in silence for a few moments, mulling over their predicament.

Finally, Kit said, "The only way to stay together is if we lose. Right, Miz Cunningham?"

Rebecca hesitated. Last night, she'd decided that there were more important things than money; ergo, they'd have to forfeit the contest. Still...fifty thousand dollars and a year of free advertising was a lot to give up, especially after all they had gone through to earn it.

"Right, Miz Cunningham?" Kit repeated pointedly.

Exhaling slowly, she nodded in agreement. "We'll have to prove to Mr. Tannenbaum that we're not a family."

"Yeah, but how? He thinks we are," the boy said glumly.

Rebecca tapped her fingers against the coffee mug. After a few minutes, a sparkle came to her eyes. "How about...?"

At the same time, Kit said, "What if we...?"

They looked at each other. Simultaneously, they said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Higher for Hire
An Hour Later

Kit sat cross-legged on Baloo's bed, watching as the pilot crammed everything he owned into a duffel bag and a suitcase. "Are you sure you should be doing this, Papa Bear? We haven't won yet."

"Don't be such a spoilsport, kiddo. Mr. T. basically said we were the winners."

"When?"

"He didn't so much as say it as look it, if ya know what I mean."

"How could you tell?"

"I just could. Hand me that lamp, will ya?"

Kit picked up the hula girl lamp from the night stand and gave it to him. Baloo unceremoniously dumped it in the suitcase and piled clothes on top of it. He pushed the lid down, but because it was so full, it wouldn't latch. Finally, he sat on the suitcase and latched it with a click, a crunch, and a triumphant grin.

"I just think you shouldn't count your money 'til it's hatched, that's all."

As if he hadn't heard him, Baloo said, "Start packin', partner. I wanna make prop wash just as soon as I hand Becky that check-eroo."

"Okay." Smiling to himself, Kit got his suitcase from the closet and started to load the contents of his dresser drawer into it.

He didn't get very far, for a few minutes later Molly tore into the room. Breathlessly, she said, "Mr. Tannenbaum is here, and he's got a really big envelope."

"Showtime," Baloo said jauntily, a grin as wide as the Pacific on his face as he hurried down the stairs with the cubs on his tail.

Rebecca, leaning against the front of her desk, telegraphed a silent question to Kit. The boy nodded in response.

Without any preliminaries, Mr. Tannenbaum said, "After much deliberation, the Chamber of Commerce and I have made a decision concerning the winner of the Cape Suzette Family Business of the Year contest."

It was so quiet you could hear the cricket chirping cheerfully in the corner. Baloo squirmed impatiently as the judge carefully opened the envelope, removed a sheet of paper, and leisurely adjusted his pince-nez.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Tannenbaum announced, "Higher for Hire is the winner."

"Wahoo! We won! We won! We won!" Baloo shouted. He caught Rebecca by the hands and danced her around the room.

"It was a very close contest," the judge said. "Both families seemed very caring and hardworking. However, there was one major difference between you and the Lee's."

"What?" Molly asked.

Deadpan, Mr. Tannenbaum said, "You people make me laugh."

"W-we do?" Kit stammered, sharing a confused look with Molly.

Molly whispered to Kit, "He didn't smile the entire time."

Mr. Tannenbaum handed both the check and certificate to Baloo, who kissed the check repeatedly.

Just then a knock came on the door and a cheerful voice sang out, "S.S.T.I.S.D.D."

Kit took the envelope from the mailman. "It's for you, Mr. Tannenbaum."

A frown creased his normally impassive features as he pulled out a little cardboard rectangle. "Hmm... Would you care to explain this, Mr. Baloo von Bruinwald?" He handed the license to the big bear.

Rivulets of cold sweat started to pour down the pilot's face. "Uh...it belongs to my long lost cousin who looks just like me an' has the same first name? What a coinky-dink, huh? Heh-heh...heh."

Mr. Tannenbaum fixed his steady eyes on him.

As if admitting his guilt, the dejected Baloo hung his head. He had rarely, if ever, been caught in a lie.

Mr. Tannenbaum snatched the check and certificate from Baloo and tore them up. A shower of confetti fell to the bare floorboards as he said coldly, "In light of recent events, Lee's Bakery is the winner. Good day."

Baloo followed the judge to the door blubbering, "B-b-b-b-b-b-but!"

Without a backwards glance, Mr. Tannenbaum closed the door behind him.

Baffled, Baloo slumped in his chair. "What the heck just happened? How in tarnation did someone get my pilot's license? Coulda sworn it was in my wallet. Fifty thousand smackers gone! An' all because of a license." He covered his face with his hands and stifled a sob.

Exchanging a discreet glance with Rebecca, Kit said quickly, "I'm gonna tell Wildcat the bad news."

"Wait up, Kit!" Molly said, racing after him.

"Well, I guess that's that," Rebecca said, settling herself at her desk. She opened her ledger and pulled her adding machine closer.

"You're takin' this awfully well." Baloo, peeking through his fingers, shot her a suspicious look across the room.

"Well...I, uh...it's just money." She winced, feeling a deep pang of regret. "A lot of money, not to mention all that free advertising..." As if to forget about that, she shook her head. "But look on the bright side, Baloo. We're all togeth...I mean, now we can get everything back to normal."

"Whatever you say, Honeylips," Baloo said morosely. Realizing what he had called her, he clapped a hand over his mouth in surprise.

Rebecca smiled, then she started to giggle. Her giggling escalated into throaty laughter.

After a moment, Baloo's hearty guffaws joined in.

Their laughter drifted outside - past the houseboat where Wildcat was listening to the cubs' tale of how the 'Cunninghams' had lost the contest, past the creaking docks, past the Sea Duck - where it finally reached the ears of a lone seagull swooping over Cape Suzette harbor, now glistening in the bright morning sunshine.

The End