A little girl of maybe three or four, wandered aimlessly across a cornfield, dressed in a torn pair of blue Jean overalls, over a stained pink T-shirt. She wore grass stained white sneakers adorned with holes, allowing her sickles toes to pine through. Her unbrushed, matted blonde hair had bits of food encrusted at the ends, while her rosie cheeks were covered in what seemed to be sauce. And Though unprotected from the early morning chill, her blue eyes filled with delight as she chased a butterfly through the field.
He has been on earth patrol since last night. The overnight shifts rarely bothered him as much as the others, he never really slept well anyway. She caught his eye rather quickly, when the sound of screams perked his ears and the sight of a toddler aged girl wandering a field on her own caught his own blue eyes. He figured he'd keep an eye on her, at least until a grown-up came and scooped her up and back to safety. That was until she waddled her way toward a freeway, when he decided to take matters into his own hands.
"Woah there kiddo!" He said, hopping off the cloud car and picking her up with ease. Although standing at only about three and a half feet tall, the toddler was still abnormally smaller than him and nestled her head into his shoulder, her dirt caked fingers toying with his blue fur. "Whatcha doing put here all alone?"
"Teddy Bear!" She giggled, lifting her head to poke his heart shaped nose, "Teddy bear blue!" She giggled again, tugging at his fur.
"Ow!" He yelped, dropping her on accident. As if instinctual, the toddler screamed, holding her arms up to shield her face. "Hey kid," he knelt down to her level, she curled herself up into a ball in response. " I'm not gonna hurt you I promise. I just get a little grumpy sometimes, but uh, I guess that's why they call me Grumpy Bear. What's your name?"
"G-Gracie" she sniffed, reaching for him again. " I three."
"That's great Gracie, where's your Mom and Dad?" He asked, picking her up again.
"Dada cut Mama, I get bandaid."
His heart nearly fell into his stomach. It was then he realized the stains on her shirt and face were not sauce or dirt, but blood. As he put the pieces together he felt his stomach turn with anger or disgust- he couldn't decide which one. It took all the self control he could muster not to strike that oak wood farm house with a million bolts of lightening. He sighed, he was a Care Bear after all. Instead he had another idea, a stupid idea at that, one he would surely kick himself for later on, but what else could he do?
"That was very brave of you Gracie, but I think your Mama needs a different kind of bandaid. How about you come home with me until she's all better?" Gracie nodded, and he placed her into the could car and headed off to Care-A-Lot.
"You want to keep her here?" Noble Heart Horse exclaimed, earning an annoyed shush from Grumpy Bear, as he glanced down at the now sleeping and bathed little girl in his lap, wearing a pink onesie thanks to Cheer Bear.
"She can't go back home!" Wish Bear butted in, her Star Buddy resting on her shoulder. "Not when Grumpy found her covered in-" She paused, unable to finish the sentence. The rest of the Care Bears and Cousins around the table nodded in agreement.
"Wish is right." True Heart Bear said, "We can't send her back. No child deserves a home like.. that."
"Do we know anything about raising a Child?"
"Sure we do!" Funshine said, glancing at Grumpy, " we help kids all around the world everyday, it can't be that hard."
"But Human children grow into adults, what will we do then?" Noble Heart pressed.
"Then she'll be with one of us." Grumpy said. "I'll look after her just fine. You and True Heart raised all of us as cubs, I'm sure I can manage one."
"And will help you!" "Cheer smiled, " I'll make her clothes and teach her how to ride a rainbow!"
"I'll teach her how to bake a cake!" Share Bear announced happily!
" I'll show the kid how to surf!" Funshine nudged Grumpy, who glared at him.
Every Care Bear and cousin joined in, proclaiming they'll each take part in teaching Gracie the Care Bear ways.
"Well then it's settled." Noble Heart smiled, "And you're sure about this Grumpy Bear? Raising a child?"
He glanced down at Gracie, smoothening her now clean blonde hair. "Positive."
And that my friends, is how Grumpy Bear became a father.