Arc 4: One Step Forward...

Chapter 20: Oakilocks and The Three Bears

The next morning...

Lumpy was about to go to work. Oakie was afraid to ask who'd employ him.

"Wait! I'm going to be here by myself?" the human realized.

"Mhm," Lumpy responded, putting his hat on. He reminded Oakie to take it easy after what'd happened the previous night and to watch out for more monsters."

Ugh…he doesn't realize it's me everyone's afraid of. Maybe I should just go ahead and tell him the truth, Oakie thought. He spoke up, "Look, big guy…"

"Go visit the neighbors! Your house is their house!"

"That's not how that goes, buddy."

Lumpy promised his neighbors on both sides were some of the nicest and laid-back folk around. He encouraged Oakie to go visit, make himself feel at home, and become friends with them.

"Go on! Don't worry," Lumpy exclaimed. He picked up his briefcase full of nacho cheese, tipped his hat, and stepped out the door.

"Ughhh…"

Oakie looked over his bandaged limbs, stalling for time. Lumpy was surprisingly knowledgeable about wounds and how to treat them.

…I'd better get up. I wouldn't even want to mope around here all day, but still…I'm so nervous.

All he had to do was visit the neighbors. Oakie took in a deep breath, then sighed in acceptance. He was about to see if he could take Lumpy's words for face value. At the least he'd make his visits brief whether things went good or bad.

After gathering the courage, he pulled his hood over his head and left the trailer. It was hard staying inconspicuous since he was twice the height of everyone there. He kept his head down and shuffled along quickly, feeling the stares of passing animals as he went.

One of Lumpy's neighbors lived in a tree. Oakie sped onto the porch and knocked, clutching his hood lower over his face.

Soon, someone was opening the door for him. Oakie felt like he was going to melt in a pile of flesh and bones. A cute baby had answered.

Where are the child safety locks!? Oakie wondered, struggling not to gush. The baby didn't seem to be afraid of him, but Oakie was struck with a thought: maybe he should've been afraid of the baby.

Is this a…bear? Oakie wondered cautiously, staring down at Cub. …maybe—no, what am I thinking? It's a baby. There's no way this little fella attacked me last night.

He picked up the baby and ducked inside, calling, "Uh, excuse—agh!" he stumbled over a stepstool. "Excuse me?"

He carefully moved through the living room, trying not to bump into the smaller-than-average furniture. There were noises in the kitchen. There, Oakie found Pop doing the dishes, dancing and tapping his foot as he listened to the radio.

Oakie awkwardly knocked on the wall. "Uh, hello? Sir? Your baby, uh…almost walked out the door."

"Hm?" Pop glanced over his shoulder. "Whazzat?"

"Your cub? Right? Looks just like you? Has to be yours?"

"Oh yes, mhm."

Pop went back to doing the dishes, whistling cheerfully. After a moment of utter confusion and concern, Oakie set Cub on the floor.

"I'll uh…just leave him here."

And move the stool by the door, since it was what Cub had used to reach the doorknob. Oakie pondered for a moment, looking around the living room. He saw other things that the baby could use to step up on and spent several minutes making sure the offending items were out of the way.

"That should do it!" Oakie went into the kitchen again. "Hey, Papa Bear! Mind if I make myself a cup of coffee?"

"Sure!" Pop said graciously, lost in the music. Oakie did that and left, calling, "Thanks!"

Soon after that Pop got done with the dishes and felt like taking a break. He turned off the radio, grabbed his paper, and headed into the living room to sit in his favorite chair. Then he froze mid-step, pipe dropping out of his mouth.

All of his living room furniture was stacked on the dining room table…and Cub was teetering at the very top of the pile.

"GAHHHH!"

Meanwhile Oakie was sipping his coffee as he walked down the block, almost forgetting to keep his hood down. That was a rather good interaction for him so he was going to try his luck again.

The first thing Oakie noticed was that Lumpy's other neighbor had a house in the shape of a bomb shelter. When he knocked a dog began barking inside.

They have a dog as a pet! Whew! Looks like it's true. Oakie thought, amused. Lumpy is the eccentric one with normal neighbors.

The door flew open. Oakie was shocked to find a blue puppy sitting on the threshold.

"Hi there, little guy! Can I come in?"

Oakie did anyway and chuckled, once again tickled at how small these animals' homes were. The puppy waddled after him with the hair on its back erect.

"Hello? Ohf—!"

He knocked a decorative axe off the wall, floundering to catch it before it fell and cleaved the puppy in half. His coffee cup smashed onto the floor.

"Shoot!" Oakie ran to the kitchen to pull some cleaner and a towel. The puppy stalked him with bared teeth and twitching eyes.

It kinda looks like it's waiting for orders. Oakie thought, watching the puppy out the corner of his eye. Maybe it won't attack unless it's told? Doesn't look like anyone's home, so I should be good in that case.

After he cleaned the floor he opened up the fridge. There was a ton of food in there! There were pre-made sandwiches, homemade puddings, half of a pizza…Oakie noticed a lasagna pan and eagerly pulled it out. It was empty.

"Aww," he sighed, setting it in the sink. He chose the pizza and ate it out of the box, cold, as he began to roam the house again.

In the living room Oakie tried getting comfortable in the armchair, but as soon as he sat down he got wedged. He had to shimmy himself free and almost banged his head on the coffee table in the process. He peeked through the living room window next. Outside he could see a hammock between two trees and would've loved to lie in it if society wasn't currently afraid of him.

He wandered down the hall, careful to not buffet the puppy underfoot, and looked into the office. Everything looked to be in immaculate order, so he didn't want to go in and accidentally disturb something.

Next Oakie found the garage. "Ooh!" he said, looking at the pickup inside. After letting the driver's seat back all the way he was able to sit in the truck. He pretended to drive it one-handed and even honked the horn a few times. The puppy howled from the door.

"Okay, okay! Just trying to look cool!"

Oakie was finished with the pizza and tossed the empty box in the trash. He thought he smelled blood. Then again, he was probably just imagining it. He left the garage, poked his head in the bathroom, and then found the backdoor leading outside. In the yard he found the beginnings of a flower garden.

But, he was feeling kind of tired now. Coffee always gave him a little boost and then immediately made him crash out. Lucky for him he found the bedroom next. A single blanket was sprawled out messily on the little bed; Oakie threw it back and climbed in.

Still cold. I guess these animals wouldn't need as much cover…they've already got fur. He fluffed a pillow and laid his head down on it. A short nap would do for now.

The puppy crept in from the side, still grinning. Oakie couldn't go to sleep with the demon dog staring at him, so he just turned over to face the other way. His hand touched something fuzzy.

Oakie almost screamed. He flung the covers back and found a mint-green animal curled up on the other side of the bed.

"Whoa…still asleep after all that—"

Oakie pulled his lips in and held his breath.

Oh, you've gotta be kidding me. Is this another bear? Why would a moose live in a place surrounded by them?

This one wears clothes. Wait, Papa Bear and his cub did too. But this one is wearing...military clothes? Maybe it can fight.

Oakie's initial perceptions of this new environment were continuing to augment. He had to wonder how violent this place was. Cute animals going to war with each other? That juxtaposition made his head spin. He listened closely to the bear's snoring.

Oh, thank goodness. It's not him. The one that attacked me had a deeper voice. But it wasn't that disco-looking one with the afro…it had to have been another one! So where's the crazy bear now?

Well, as long as it wasn't next to him, he was fine! Oakie settled down and got comfortable. Except...the puppy was growling at the back of his neck. He had to do something about that.

"Hey, little fella?"

Flippy woke up, barely conscious, to someone jostling him.

"Hey…you awake?" a voice whispered. "This is your pup, right? Can you put him up somewhere so I can sleep?"

The bear stumbled out of bed, swaying. He couldn't keep his eyes open a centimeter. He whistled for Blooey and the puppy low-crawled to him, whining. Flippy placed his pet on his bed in the office, closed the door, and returned to the bedroom. He was about to lie down when the voice came again.

"Hey, sorry—one last thing? Or, two. Can I get a glass of water and another blanket?"

Flippy left and returned a minute later, sagging his head as he handed the things towards the disembodied voice. Then he crawled back into bed, collapsing on his front with his rear in the air.

"Thanks, little fella. You mind if I pet you?"

Flippy mumbled into his covers, twitching an ear. Something slipped under his beret and began rubbing his head.

"You're so soft! You don't even feel real," the voice said. "I guess if you're not real, I'm not either, huh?"

Flippy began to doze off again. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

After the fifth one, the bear's eyes shot open. He quickly turned over.

"It's still drafty," The Monster said. "Are you against cuddling for warmth?"

Flippy's scream shook the entire block.