"Lost" - June 24, 2025
Judy Royal Glenn Photography
This is a story of two lost bear cubs in Cades Cove, Tennessee in the Great Smoky National Park.
One hot summer day in June, Ma Bear enjoyed a nice cold dip in the Cades Branch Stream. Meanwhile, her cubs were eating grubs found in the dread tree stump and chasing grasshoppers.
“Hey, where did Ma go?” one cub asked.
“I don't see her anymore.”
“She told us to stay near.”
“It's your fault for chasing that grasshopper.”
“You followed!”
“Look at this mess we got ourselves into.”
“Now, what are we supposed to do?”
“Let’s sniff for her scent.”
“No scent here.”
“There is a road down here. Maybe Ma went this way.”
“I am so thirsty, my tongue is hanging out.”
The bears searched for over forty minutes while running to and fro.
Tired from searching, one cub said, “I need to sit down.”
In the distance, a visitor saw Momma Bear bouncing through the tall thicket toward them.
“There she is!” one cub said.
“Where have y’all been?” Ma Bear said.
“We’ve been chasing grasshoppers.”
“Sorry, Ma. We promise to stay near you.”
“Let’s go,” Ma said.
Off to the woods they went—they finally took a long nap in The Tree.
The End.
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