The Little Bear and the Waiting Wagon

Little Bear liked being the friend who could help. He could reach a high branch, lift a heavy basket and give a splendid push.

One autumn morning, Mole showed him a small blue wagon. Two baskets of pears sat inside. They were taking them to the table in the meadow, where the three friends would share their harvest.

“Will you pull while I push?” asked Mole. “It is a long way for me on my own.”

“Of course,” said Bear. “I'll meet you at your gate after breakfast.”

Mole smiled and set the wagon handle ready.

After breakfast, Bear set off along the woodland path. Before he reached Mole's garden, he found Squirrel beneath the oak tree. She had made a garland of autumn leaves, but she could not reach the low branch where she wanted to hang it.

“Could you hold this end for me?” she asked.

“Of course!” said Bear. Helping was his favourite thing.

He held the garland while Squirrel tied it. A breeze turned the leaves, showing their bright undersides.

“A gold one would look lovely in the middle,” said Squirrel.

Bear spotted a golden leaf beside the path. He fetched it. Then he found a red one, shaped like a tiny paw. Then a curly one that sat on his nose.

Squirrel giggled. Bear wiggled his nose. The leaf fell off.

Meanwhile, Mole waited by his gate. He tried pulling the wagon a little way. Its wheels rolled over the smooth earth, then stopped against a root. Mole rested the handle on the ground. The meadow still seemed very far away.

Under the oak, Bear picked up the golden leaf again.

“Mole would like that one,” said Squirrel.

Bear's paw stopped in the air.

Mole. The wagon. After breakfast.

“Oh,” he said. “I promised to help him.”

“I didn't know,” said Squirrel.

Bear looked at the gap in the garland. He wanted to fill it. He wanted Squirrel to be pleased. But Mole was waiting because Bear had said he would come.

He put the leaf down.

“I need to go to Mole now. I can come back when we've taken the pears.”

“All right,” said Squirrel. “I'll keep this leaf for you.”

Bear hurried to the garden. Mole was sitting beside the wagon, rubbing his tired paws.

“I stopped to help Squirrel,” Bear said. “Then I kept finding more things to do. I'm sorry I left you waiting.”

“I thought we'd be there together by now,” said Mole.

Bear sat beside him for a moment. He did not say, “But I was only helping.”

“Would you still like me to pull?” he asked.

Mole nodded. “I'll push.”

They moved the wagon back a little, then eased it over the root. Bear pulled steadily. Mole pushed from behind. Rumble, squeak, rumble. At the meadow, they lifted the baskets onto the table together.

“Now I'll go back to Squirrel,” said Bear.

“I'll come too,” said Mole.

They wheeled the empty wagon back to the oak.

Squirrel had saved the golden leaf. Bear lowered one end of the garland. Mole held the leaf in place while Squirrel tied it into the middle.

“Could you help me gather pine cones as well?” she asked.

Bear nearly said, “Of course!” Then he looked at Mole and the empty wagon.

“First, I'll help Mole take his wagon home. Then I can gather cones.”

Bear helped Mole wheel the empty wagon all the way to his gate.

Later, when Bear returned to the oak, Squirrel passed him an empty basket. They set off together, with the golden leaves rustling overhead.