I Love You Mr. Cloud

Once upon a time, there was a bear in the sky. 

The bear in the sky lived on a fluffy white cloud.

One day, and a beautiful day it was, the bear looked down at all the pretty green below.

“Sigh”, said the bear, “I do so love it in the air.

But the ground is so firm and green. I wish, just once, I could tumble down on it and play like the other bears do”.

The bear was so sad that he began to cry.

“What’s the matter?” said the fluffy white cloud.

“Why are you crying. It’s a beautiful day. Look at the pretty blue sky and all the lovely green below”.

“That’s just it.”, said the bear.

“Well that is an odd thing to happen.”, said the cloud, “You used to be so happy on lovely days. Don’t you like the sunshine anymore?”

“No. No, it’s not that at all. I love the sunshine and the beautiful blue. It’s just that it makes me sad to always be in the sky. I want to play on the firm green ground.” Said the bear.

“Oh is that all it is?” said the fluffy white cloud. “Well, that’s no reason to cry.”

“But I want to play with the other bears below and the little girls and boys.” Said the bear.

“Hmm. Are you very, very sure that you want it very much?” said the cloud.

“Yes I am. I am very, very sure. I am as sure as sure can be.” Said the little bear.

“Alright.” Said the cloud. “You are sure it is what you want?”

“Yes, more than anything else! Why won’t you believe me?” said the bear.

“Well, I love you very much.” Said the cloud. “And I want you to be happy.”

“I love you too.” Said the bear.

“Well, I have a friend, a little girl named Kay.”

“Yes, Yes.” Said the bear.

“Kay is a very dear girl.”

“Yes.” Said the little bear. He was quite excited.

“Kay always comes out to see me. She looks up at me. She sees all the characters in me. And all that I can be. Every time I pass her house she comes out and stares up at the sky. I can hear her. And she says, “I love you Mr. Cloud.”

“Really?” said the little bear.

“Yes,” said the fluffy white cloud. “And she lives on a pig farm.”

Really? She must have lots of friends if she lives on a farm.” Said the bear.

“Well she does. And all the animals love her, but.”                                     

“But what?” said the bear.

“Well, she doesn’t have anyone to hold. She needs someone special to love her.”

“Hmm, she must feel like I do.” Said the bear.

“Yes, I think she does.” Said the cloud.

“What shall we do?” said the bear.

“I have an idea.” Said the cloud.

“What?”

“There is a gathering of low gray clouds by Kay’s farm.”

“Gray clouds?” said the bear.

“Yes.” Said the fluffy cloud.

“What do they do?”

“Well, they fly very low and settle just above the rim of the sky. If I can get in under them, I have a plan you might like.”

“A plan?” said the bear.

“Yes, but you will have to wait and see. Hold on tight. I need to catch the wind.”

“Alright.” Said the bear.

It was a gray overcast day, when Kay walked out to see the pigs.

Kay sighed. Oh my, another gray day. Now, I’ll have to stay inside. And there is no one to play with. I wish I could play with the pigs. But mother says these are serious pigs and they are not here to play. One time, Kay heard the men making calculations by the pig’s pen. So, Kay thought the pigs must be studying math.

While Kay was looking at the pigs she could feel the rain falling on her hair. Another day inside she thought. I wish I had a friend to play with. Oh well, maybe mom will make cookies.

It was a much, much bigger storm than even the little puffy cloud thought. The bear clung frantically to the cloud.

“Oh my, I’m not so sure I want to go down now.” Said the bear shuddering with fear, as the large gray clouds rumbled and raged.

“I’m afraid we are floating right into cloud warfare. It’s a big thundercloud rumble.” Said the fluffy, puffy little cloud.

“What does that mean?” said the bear hiding down deeper in the cloud.

“Well, when the big grays get together, they sometimes get carried away with all their power. Then they start to fight and all rain breaks loose.” Said the cloud.

  “Isn’t that awfully dangerous for a little bear and a fluffy, puffy cloud?” said the bear.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s alright. They don’t scare me.

“But what about me? They scare me.” Said the bear.

“It’s going to be ok. I won’t let them hurt you.

                            

Kay watched the rain hitting the window faster and harder until it was just a sheet of water sliding down the pane. She heard the booming rumble of the thunder and saw the slashing lightning. Oh this is a bad one, she thought.

Suddenly through the window she saw something strange. There was a small break of blue sky and a fluffy white cloud moving quickly downward. As quickly as it was there it was gone and Kay heard a splash.

Hmm, thought Kay, what was that? She ran and cracked the door open to see if maybe one of the pigs had gotten out of the pen and was loose. She opened the door wider and there in a puddle not far from the house was a little bear, all soggy and wet and covered with mud.

“Oh my,’ said Kay. ‘Poor little thing.”

She grabbed her yellow jacket and raced outside. She gathered up the little bear under her jacket and took him inside.

“Poor little fella, you could catch a cold out there. I’m going to get you a towel and then I think we should have some tea with lots of honey.”

She dried the bear off and fluffed his fur. Then she made a place for him at the table.

“There’ she said ‘that’s better don’t you think?”

The bear felt so warm inside he couldn’t believe it. Here he was having tea and honey. And sitting right there, was this little girl with nothing but love for him.

After tea, Kay picked up the little bear and they went to her favorite big chair. She had him sit on her lap. She gave him a hug and a kiss and said. “I love you Mr. Bear.”

Forever after that Kay and the little bear were the best of friends. And they always played together. And one of their favorite things to do was lay on the firm green ground on beautiful blue sky days and watch the clouds float by. And up above, the fluffy, puffy cloud would hear them both say

“We love you Mr. Cloud”.