Git, Kit!

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Higher for Hire

One sunny afternoon, six-year-old Molly Cunningham was playing in the bedroom shared by Baloo and Kit. More specifically, she was bouncing on Kit's bed, trying to reach a model airplane that dangled tantalizingly overhead.

"Can't..." bounce "reach!" Bounce "Don't worry, sidekick Lucy." Bounce "You'll have your plane ride..." Bounce "I just wish I was..." bounce "a little bigger."

Her eyes lit up when she spied Kit's schoolbooks on the night stand. She hopped off the bed, gathered up the books, and stacked them on the bed. "Yep, that ought to do it," she said surveying her work proudly.

She climbed on top of the stack of books and raised herself on tiptoe. Her fingers barely brushed the model airplane when she lost her balance and tumbled onto the bed in a flurry of books and papers and blankets.

Removing an open notebook from her face, she said sadly, "Guess I'll have to think of something else." Then something caught her eye. "What's this?"

She read from Kit's notebook: "'What I want for my birthday.' Did you know it was Kit's birthday, Lucy? Me neither." She continued to read. "'I think the best birthday party would be one where there is chocolate cake and homemade ice cream. I also want to go fishing.'

"Fishing?" Molly shot a confused look at her doll. "But he does that with Baloo a lot already. I better show this to Mom."

The little girl raced down the stairs with her doll in one hand and the notebook in the other. "Mom! Mom! Look what I found in Baloo and Kit's room."

Rebecca closed the filing cabinet drawer and looked sternly at her daughter. "Have you been snooping again?"

"I wasn't snooping. This just sort of fell open. Lookee." She pointed to the essay. "It's Kit's birthday wish list."

"Kit's birthday?" Rebecca said, astonished.

"Guess so. Why would he write about it if it wasn't?"

Rebecca read over the essay. Quietly, she said, "I wonder why he kept it a secret...?"

"Don't know, but since it's not a secret anymore can we surprise him?"

"Of course, honey," Rebecca said, patting her daughter's head. "Let's get started right away."

Later...

Kit and Oscar strolled into Higher for Hire after one of their official Jungle Aces Secret Midnight Club meetings.

Oscar was saying, "It sure is nice of you to show me your new model airplane, Kit."

"No problem. What are friends for?" Kit said with a big smile.

"My mom won't let me put models together. She said the glue fumes will stunt my growth."

"The smell is kind of strong," Kit admitted. "Speaking of which, something sure smells good in the kitchen. Miz Cunningham must be baking. I hope it's chocolate chip cookies. Want some?"

"Sure. My mom never lets me eat sweets. She says they'll rot my teeth."

As soon as Kit and Oscar entered the kitchen, Rebecca quickly stepped in front of the cake cooling on the table.

Molly exclaimed, "What are you doing in here, Kit?"

"Uh, I live here," Kit said, trying to peek around Rebecca to see if there were any of his favorite cookies up for grabs.

Molly grabbed him by the arm and steered him towards the door. "Well, get out!"

"What?" Kit looked imploringly over his shoulder at his boss.

Instead of the assistance he expected, Rebecca said sternly, "You heard her, Kit. Get out and don't come back in here again."

"What did I do, Miz Cunningham?" the bewildered boy cried.

"Go!" Rebecca said, pointing at the door.

Hurt and confused, Kit left the kitchen with Oscar on his heels. "Jeepers, Miz Cunningham hasn't been that mad at me since the first time I babysat Molly. I wonder what I did this time."

"I guess Father was right," Oscar said solemnly as they headed outside. "There's no understanding women."

Back in the Kitchen

"That was sure close, wasn't it, Mom?" Molly asked.

Rebecca got out the bowl to make frosting. "It sure was. Another step and Kit would have spoiled his birthday surprise."

Later...

Baloo returned home from a busy day delivering cargo. Alighting from the Sea Duck, he saw Kit and Oscar sitting on the dock, staring into the harbor.

"Why so glum, Li'l Britches?"

"Miz Cunningham and Molly threw me out of Higher for Hire," Kit replied.

"What?" the big bear exclaimed. "They can't do that to you. You live here! What'd ya do to tick Becky off?"

Kit shrugged. "I dunno."

Oscar piped up. "We just walked into the kitchen to see if there were any cookies and before we knew it, they were yelling at Kit."

Scowling, Baloo stormed up the dock, muttering, "We'll just see about that."

When he entered the kitchen, Rebecca scurried to stand in front of the cake while Molly whisked a towel over the ice cream mixer.

"Becky, what gives? Kit says..." Baloo's nose twitched in appreciation. "Mmm...chocolate cake with extra fudgy frosty?"

"And homemade ice cream!" Molly announced.

Rebecca nodded and stepped aside, allowing Baloo to see the cake. "For Kit's birthday."

"Kit's birthday? He didn't tell me it was his birthday," Baloo said, surprised.

"He doesn't tell us a lot of stuff." Rebecca showed Baloo the essay.

After Baloo had skimmed it, he mumbled, "Doggone that kid. Does he think we wouldn't care about his birthday?" Eagerly, he added, "Can I help?"

"Yep. You can help crank the ice cream," Molly said. "My arm's getting tired."

Outside...

"I wonder if Baloo smoothed things over with Miz Cunningham," Kit said, rising to his feet.

He and Oscar made their way into Higher for Hire. Mindful of his past scolding, Kit slowly pushed open the kitchen door.

Before the boy could even step one toenail in the kitchen, Baloo barked, "What in blue blazes are ya doin' in here, Kit? Git!"

An extremely baffled Kit opened, then shut his mouth wordlessly.

Blinking rapidly, Kit closed the kitchen door. "It's one thing to have Miz Cunningham telling me that she doesn't want me here, but my own Papa Bear?" He swallowed hard.

"You can always move in with me, Kit," Oscar suggested. "We have plenty of room."

"Thanks, Oscar." Kit glanced at the kitchen door, behind which he could hear laughter and happy voices. He sighed. "Guess I'll go pack."

Back in the Kitchen...

"Cake's done," Rebecca announced, admiring her handiwork.

"So's the ice cream," Molly said, licking some ice cream off the beater.

"And after we eat, we'll grab the fishin' poles and make this a birthday that Kit will never forget," Baloo said, surreptitiously scraping a little frosting from the base of the cake when Rebecca's back was turned.

"I'll go get him!" Molly hopped off the chair and ran into the office.

Kit was walking down the stairs, suitcase in hand. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate this, Oscar."

Oscar was carefully carrying Kit's model airplane. "It'll be fun. I've always wanted a brother."

"Kit! Kit!" Seeing the suitcase, Molly asked, "Where are you going?"

"Over to Oscar's."

Molly grabbed his hand. "Come into the kitchen."

"I'm not allowed in there, remember?" Kit said sarcastically.

"You are now," Molly said, yanking on his arm.

"Now?" Kit murmured wonderingly.

"Surprise!" Baloo, Rebecca, and Molly shouted when Kit entered.

Seeing the cake and ice cream, Kit squeaked, "What's all this?"

"It's your birthday surprise," Rebecca explained.

"My birthday?" Kit said with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yeah," Baloo said, handing the notebook to Kit. "Just like you wrote."

"But this isn't mine."

"I was wondering where that went," Oscar exclaimed.

"That's your notebook?" Rebecca cried, sharing quizzical looks with Baloo and Molly.

"Uh-huh. I wanted a normal birthday for a change. My mom always has a fancy sit-down dinner with a hundred of her closest friends," Oscar said sadly, hugging the notebook. "She never asks me what I want."

Baloo clapped Oscar on the shoulder. "Can't let a good birthday party go to waste. We got cake and ice cream and all the trimmings. We'll even go fishin', Sport."

"Oh, boy!" Oscar said, grinning with delight. "You have the best family, Kit."

"Yeah," Kit said. He didn't even care that it wasn't his birthday -- he was sincerely happy for his friend. And his family loved him after all. "I guess I do."

The End