Foreword: "Whatever May Be" was published over six years ago. In it was a prophecy by Secret Bear and Surprise Bear. It is time to fulfill their prophecy.
The home of Grumpy and Share was a busy yet happy one. Their Daughter, Sulky, kept them busy at home. Her birth had not only affected their lives at home. Share had to find ways to keep The Share Shack up and running. She wanted to keep it open three days a week. Her hopes were uplifted when Share overheard Hopeful Heart tell Surprise how she hoped for a part-time job. Hopeful Heart turned out to be the perfect Bear for the job.
It was a bit easier for Grumpy. He was practically a Work at Home Bear. His workshop was just about thirty feet from the house. He had built a nice playpen in there for Sulky. That way Grumpy could keep an eye on Sulky while working. The playpen was laden with toys to keep Sulky from sulking too much.
Share's sister, Surprise, liked to drop by and visit. As did Share's friend, Secret. Which sometimes reminded Share of remarks once made by the duo. Each of whom could jump Dimensions and leap through Time itself. They were forbidden by Mother Star from fully foretelling the Future. They were allowed to divulge some indirect hints. Partically if the hints helped others reach their destinies.
They once had intimated Share giving birth to two Cubs. The hints had sounded as if one would be Female, one Male. Sulky's birth had fulfilled part of the prophesy. Since Sulky was a Girl; Share kept hoping and waiting for a Boy Cub. Care Bear siblings are often born years apart. However, Care Bears age much slower than Humans.
In Human terms seven years had passed since Sulky's birth. In Care Bear terms only three years had passed when a hot Summer arrived. Furry creatures have to find different ways to keep cool in the heat of Summer. One way is to find a breezy shady spot to laze around. Care Cousin Dogs and Cats love doing that.
In such weather Care Cousin Piggies liked to take mud baths. Which is why their homes really do resemble a Pig Sty at times. Care Bears like to soak one's fur in some cool water. Which could be a bit messy if one walked around in a house while dripping water from their fur. Cubs like Miracle Joy were notorious for doing that. Which is why Grizzle and Lovalot had installed waterproof floor tiling in their home. It was also non-slip.
Hot weather was one thing Sulky did not seem to mind. The young Cub would just sit or lie on the floor carpeting Grumpy had laid down in their home. Her parents had to cope with hot weather by slowing down a bit. Share had a much harder time than Grumpy to slow down a bit.
Grumpy had often enticed Sulky to take a nap by napping beside her. On a hot summer's day Sulky had asked her Daddy to pile some boxes in a corner of the Workshop. Sulky now had a fort to play in when not in the playpen. Her father then placed a floor mat in the fort. Thus, Sulky would have another safe and comfortable place to play or lie down. Grumpy had what Humans call a Tape Player to entertain himself while working. Sulky had insisted on some Cub themed songs to be played. She had demanded on a loud volume.
Share had come into the Workshop with some snacks and cold Bumble Berry juice for Grumpy. Sulky got a Sippy Cup full of Bramble Berry juice. She then let Share put her in the playpen. In no time at all the Cub had fallen fast asleep. Neither Share nor Grumpy dared to turn down the blaring tape player.
Share stepped behind the pile of boxes. "What are these doing stacked liked this?" Grumpy explained to Share what the pile of boxes were for. Share giggled and pulled Grumpy down to the soft floor. Then cuddled up beside him. "This is a good place to have some rare 'We Time' together said Share. As the music blared and Sulky slept the adult couple got a little too frisky. A short time later one of Nature's greatest miracles occurred inside Share's body. Share felt something she had only felt once before in her lifetime.
Share dropped the broom she had been sweeping with. Share looked down at her abdomen, then muttered to herself. "I think Grumpy and me may have just made another Cub! Maybe Secret and Surprise were right all those years ago." Little could Share know just how correct she was.
Soon signs such as Morning Sickness and other things forced Share to visit Dr. Take Care. Afterward Share headed home. Grumpy was inside trying to get Sulky to eat her Lunch. The Cub appeared to have as much food on her bib and exposed fur as was on her plate. Grumpy was trying to get some more mushed up fruit out of a jar. Share whispered something in his ear.
Sulky was surprised as Grumpy let out a loud gasp. Then dropped the jar. Bits of Fruit and Fruit Juice went flying out of it. Grumpy's chest fur was now as messy as his daughter's fur. Sulky's usual frown turned into a rare wry grin. "Dada now a Messy Bear" giggled Sulky.
Grumpy regained his composure as Share went over to Sulky. "Sulky" said Share with a bit of hesitancy. "How would you feel about getting a new baby Brother or Sister in about seven months? It will most likely be a brother."
Sulky flashed a rare grin. "That okay" she said. Then Sulky nonchalantly continued to play with her food. Her Parent's then held each other tight in a rare display of affection. Their lives and that of their daughter would soon be forever changed. Care a Lot would get some much-needed population growth.
As the months passed more Bears and Cousins became aware of Share's pregnancy. Surprise threw a Cub Shower for Share. Grumpy and Share made many preparations for welcoming a new Cub. Care Bear births are notorious for being sudden. Sulky had been born in the middle of a street. Luckily the then prepared Share had a Birthing Mat in her purse. Once again there was one tucked inside her purse.
Grizzle and Lovalot had been on hand to aid Share when Sulky was born. After that they were frequent visitors. Sulky interacted with Grizzle as if he were a Cub. Grizzle became one of the few adults who could make Sulky flash a grin. The former bad Bear of Care a Lot turned out to be a perfect Godfather. Miracle Joy was like a cousin to Sulky.
Lovalot let Grumpy and Share borrow a book meant to give Cubs basic facts about where baby Cubs come from. Some of its pages were a bit worn. Having been well read and stared at by Miracle Joy over the years.
Miracle Joy was ecstatic to help Sulky look at it and read the captions. Miracle Joy loved showing the diagrams, illustrations and even some photos about how Boys Thingies were different from a Girl's. Sulky would just look closely and say "oh". It was hard to faze Sulky.
Shortly after a new year had begun Share knew her latest youngster would soon arrive. Lovalot, Grizzle, and Miracle Joy were frequent visitors. Ready to spring into action if Share went into sudden Labor. To avoid having another Cub born on a street Share wanted to try for a Home Birth. To keep Sulky out of the way Grumpy constructed a simple indoor tent. Sulky was instructed time and again to stay inside it if told to do so by Mommy or Daddy.
There came a day when Share was three days past her Due Date. Lovalot, Grizzle and Miracle Joy were on the outside steps talking to Grumpy. The house door swung open. Sulky stood in the doorway. The usually quiet Cub let out a loud yell. "Mamma say time here!"
The adults rushed past Sulky. Share was sitting on the couch. "I felt a sharp pain and then my water broke" gasped Share. Grumpy did something unheard of. He bent down and publicly rubbed noses with Share. Then he yelled "I'll get the Doctor!" Grumpy then made a mad dash out the door. He ran all the way to the Care Clinic. For once he could have outrun Swift Heart Rabbit.
Meanwhile, Lovalot tried not to lose her cool. Luckily, Grizzle kept his. He and Miracle Joy got things ready for the momentous event. Share did what she could do to help them find everything. Due to previous planning much of what they needed was handy.
Grumpy and Dr. Take Care's assistant soon rushed in. Get Better Bear was the best Midwife in Care a Lot. Which is why Take Care sent her to help with the birth. Get Better and Grumpy were just in time to see Sulky crawling into the makeshift tent. Miracle Joy then crawled in to keep Sulky from venturing out too soon. Inside Sulky listened intently to hear what was happening. So did Miracle Joy. Grumpy and Lovalot sounded very excited to Sulky.
Miracle Joy thought so too. Yet her father's voice was as calm as the Midwife's. "This so thrilling" whispered Miracle Joy to Sulky. "Nah" said the unflappable Sulky.
Then a thin wailing sound was heard by Miracle Joy and Sulky. To Heck with waiting for permission to come out of the tent! Miracle Joy and Sulky crawled out. As their eyes adjusted to the brighter light each said "ooh" and "aw" under their breaths. Get Better Bear was toweling dry a tiny Cub. Then she placed the Cub on the waiting Changing Table.
The table was immediately surrounded by every Bear there. Except for Share. Who was still in a prone position. "What is it" gasped Share as she tried to see. She craned her neck up. Before any Adult could answer Sulky pointed at something sticking proudly out of the Cub's fur. "Boy Pee Pee, Boy Pee Pee" yelled Sulky.
Get Better Bear laughed and picked the Cub up by its armpits. "Look, Mamma Bear," said the grinning Midwife. Share's eyes gleamed at what she saw. "Boy oh Boy, that is a Boy!" Share was soon sitting upright. Her now diapered newborn Cub held close to her chest. Grumpy and Sulky both had smiles on their faces at the same time. Which was a very rare occurrence indeed.
Share then handed the Cub to Grumpy. "Just look at what we made by accident. The best accident ever!"
Grumpy tenderly held his son. He quickly felt how rough the Cub's fur felt. Even though it was still a bit damp. "Well, hello, my little Boy Bear" said Grumpy softly. Sulky reached out and felt the Cub's bluish fur. Which had slight purplish highlights. "What do you think of him, Sulky," asked Grumpy.
Sulky giggled. "Fur not fluffy" she said. "Him scruffy Bear!" Lovalot and Grizzle laughed. So did Miracle Joy.
Get Better Bear was filling out a form. "Well Mamma and Poppa Bear. I need to register his name. Is Sulky correct?"
Share grinned with delight. "Scruffy Bear it is! I mean he is! Welcome to our Family, Scruffy."
Grumpy then got a chance to hold his new Son again. Grumpy ran his hand paw over the Cub's back. "You really are scruffy, Scruffy" said Grumpy. "Your Sister was spot on with your name!"
Lovalot, Grizzle and Miracle Joy then got a chance to hold Scruffy. Before picking him up Miracle Joy had pressed down on his left hind paw pad. "Oh, look at his dark purple foot claws" she said. "I like the way they are colored." Then Miracle Joy held the Cub. Miracle Joy loved the way the Cub's fur felt.
Miracle Joy is a Girl who likes rough and tumble play. Scruffy's fur seemed made for such play. Miracle Joy could hardly wait until she and Scruffy could roughhouse together.
The newborn Cub seemed to enjoy the attention from Miracle Joy. Then after being handed back to Share the Cub searched for something instinctively. He latched on for his first feeding. Again, Sulky seemed unfazed at the sight. "Him hungry" she said.
At long last Get Better Bear was able to head back to the Care Clinic. Lovalot and Grizzle had to practically drag Miracle Joy out the door. Now Grumpy and Share could privately enjoy their expanded parental duties. Sulky could learn how to be a good Big Sister. Scruffy was in good paws. He would soon be a very pampered Cub.
The next day Surprise Bear got to see her new Nephew. "What surprising fur he has" she said. "And what a surprisingly apt name he has! I can't wait to get a chance to Cub sit him."
Later that week Grumpy and Share took their newest youngster to The Hall of Hearts. There Scruffy was officially registered in The Book of Caring. Young True Heart and Oopsy oohed and awed over the Cub. Baby Cute Heart neighed happily as Scruffy reached out and touched the Care Cousin Horse's nose. Cute Heart could hardly wait until the day he could give the Cub horseback rides.
Soon visitors were dropping by to congratulate Share and Grumpy. Sweet Treat Pig and Beastly's Piglets squealed with delight while holding Scruffy. To them the Cub's fur felt a lot like their bristly piggy hair. Proud Heart and Loyal Heart's Kits were enthralled with the Cub. Fur Elise did her best to sing a lullaby to Scruffy. Scruffy fell asleep in her warm furry arms.
Gentle Heart Lamb and Lucas also stopped in to visit a day later. Gentle Heart thought Scruffy's fur felt somewhat like her hybrid Son's course wool like hair. True to his nickname Lucky, the young Lad felt lucky to meet another unique youngster. Lucas delighted in holding the rough furred Cub. "Baa, I think Lucas and Scruffy may be future Playmates," said Gentle Heart.
In the days that followed Grumpy and Share got used to their expanded parental duties. Sulky got to try her paw at diapering her brother. Also, in helping her Parents in bathing him. Sulky didn't mind if she got splashed by the Cub. Nor did the Cub's crying at night bother her. Even getting peed on while helping to change diapers didn't faze Sulky. The unflappable Sulky would just flash a short frown. She would then say, "him good shot." Then go on with what she was doing.
The home of Grumpy and Share can be a bit hectic at times. However, neither mind having two youngsters to care for. Grumpy always loved to fashion toys for Sulky. Now he loves to fashion toys for Sulky and Scruffy. Grumpy's workshop is littered with unfinished homemade toys.
Share is a busy Mom whether at home or the Share Shack. Despite the chaos of raising two Cubs Share keeps the family home clean and neat. She stills loves to cook. Visitors always love to get served tea and snacks by Share. Also, to feel Scruffy's fur. He is now a beloved and pampered citizen of Care a Lot.