And so Grumpy Bear continued, with a dozen flowers topped by a clover in one paw and a red heart balloon in the other.

Being seen by Good Luck Bear hadn't been as bad as Grumpy thought it would be. It had helped a little actually, knowing that at least one bear wasn't going to tease him about what he was trying to do.

Then again, why was it so hard for him to do something nice without getting nervous?

Like saying thank you?

He climbed over a small cloud hill and found himself in the parking lot. After a moment of searching he spotted Tender Heart halfway under the front of a cloud car. A heartbox of tools lay by his foot paws.

"Come on," he muttered as Grumpy Bear drew closer. "Fit, pad. Fit!"

It sounded like the brakes again. Grumpy Bear shook his head and then leaned down next to Tender Heart. "Good Luck Bear told me you needed some help."

A grateful brown paw held out a wrench from beneath the car. "Please."

Grumpy reached for the tool and nearly lost all of his flowers. He situated them again and then looked around for a place to keep them safe. He considered the front seat of the cloud car but then realized that his balloon wouldn't stay there. Maybe if he tied it to the steering wheel...

Tender Heart wondered what was taking so long and wiggled out to investigate. His eyes widened at the bundle in Grumpy's arms and he scrambled to his feet.

"Here," he said, "I'll hold that for you."

Grumpy Bear hesitated and then shrugged. He gave Tender Heart the flowers, took the wrench and then handed over the balloon.

"Be careful with that," he warned before disappearing under the car.

"I will," Tender Heart promised.

Grumpy Bear made himself comfortable and then looked up at the belly of the car. Sure enough, the new brake Tender Heart had tried to put in was backwards. Grumpy humphed, unscrewed it and started over.

Tendar Heart peeked under the car and said, "Thanks for helping me. I don't know why I have so much trouble with cloud cars. My rainbow-roller never gives me any problems."

"Then why bother trying to fix the cloud car now?"

"Because I need a group of Bears for a Caring Mission soon."

Oh. Grumpy met his eyes. "What kind of mission?"

Tender Heart's voice was wistful. "We're going to try and stop some middle school kids from bullying others. They've been hurting a lot of feelings for the last two days."

Bullies. Now there was a group of kids that needed some serious caring lessons. Grumpy humphed again and then clicked the brake into place. A moment later it was tightened and he wiggled back out next to Tender Heart.

"All fixed," he reported, wiping his paws off on his knees. "Let's give it a test run and see how it works."

Tender Heart shook his head. "I don't need to. I trust you, Grumpy Bear." A moment. "Would you like to come with us on this mission? I'd appreciate your help and I'm sure Share Bear and Funshine would, too."

Grumpy Bear blinked. Share Bear was leaving? Now?

He grabbed the flowers and balloon out of Tender Heart's surprised arms. "I've got to talk to Share before you leave! Wait right here!"

"What? Grumpy Bear, wait!"

The blue bear had already started to run in the direction of the playground. "I can't! I have to tell her thank you!"

Thank you? Tender Heart repeated to himself. So that was why Grumpy Bear was carrying so much stuff! He should have known that something was up. And by the look of it, Friend Bear and Good Luck Bear had tried to help out.

Well, after all of Grumpy's help with the car Tender Heart was more than happy to return the favor. He thought quickly and then produced a heart-shaped thank you card from his tummy.

Then he hurried after Grumpy Bear.