Brunhilda and Borris in Northwoods Water Sports

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One very sunny day in the northwoods of Wisconsin, Brunhilda and Borris Bearsaltandpepper (but you may call them Brunhilda and Borris Bearsaltandpepper) decided to play in Gull Lake.

It was just that kind of day - - - the sun was very warm on their fur, a gentle breeze was blowing, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and Miss Keetha said she would take them to the lake.


First they decided to lay on their bearly beach towel at the end of the dock and soak up some rays. They soaked rays for 30 minutes - - -


On each side.

Then Brunhilda, always the braver of the two, said: "Borris - - - I'm HOT!!! Let's jump in and PLAY in the water."

Borris, the ever cautious bear replied, "Are you sure, Brunhilda??? You know you can't swim a lick!!!"

"Who said anything about SWIMMING," scoffed Brunhilda. "I just want to dip my paws in the water and cool them down."


So Borris, who could never resist anything Brunhilda suggested, padded into the water right behind her.

They splashed and played with their new water toys, Finny Fish and Pinkie Star, to their hearts content. The water was chilly, but in their fur coats they didn't mind a bit.

Soon Brunhilda, the adventurous bear, was bored with just paddling around in the water. "Borris," she said, "I'm bored. Let's go boating!"


"Brunhilda, just look at THIS!" Said Borris in his BEST attempt to sidetrack Brunhilda from the more dangerous water sports.

"What is that thing?" asked Brunhilda. "It's slimy."

"It's a SNAIL, of course." Replied Borris.

"AH HA!" exclaimed Brunhilda as she kicked the shell over. "It's a BORING old DEAD snail. I'm going boating in our NEW boat."

"Only if we stay on the dock" grudged Borris.


"Where's the fun in THIS???" complained Brunhilda. "I want to feel the wind in my face and the spray on my fur!!!! This is what I think they call being 'dry docked,' and I'm simply NOT impressed."

"But Brunhilda, YOU CAN'T SWIM!!" reminded Borris. "I really think we should just stay here where we're safe."

"And dry." chimed in Brunhilda. "No thank you. You can stay here on the dock all day if you want to, but a BOAT is meant for the water and that is just where I intend to do my boating from now on!"

And with that, Brunhilda shoved the little boat into the water - - -


And LEAPED onto the deck. If Miss Keetha hadn't been there to give her a steadying hand, she'd have capsized right then and there.

As it was, she had no idea how to control her little boat, and without Borris' stablizing influence it wasn't long until - - -

She fell snout over claw head first into the deeps of Gull Lake. Immediately she began to go glub, glub, glub to the bottom!

"HANG ON, BRUNHILDA!!!!" Borris shouted, "I'm coming in to save you!"


And with no thought for his personal safety, Borris leaped into the briney deep and pulled Brunhilda out by the nape of her neck onto dry land, where they lived safely ever after until - - - -

Stay tuned for the NEXT adventure of Brunhilda and Borris in the coniferous forests of the northwoods.

(First posted at The Eclectic Company on July 18, 2009)

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