Once upon a time, in a forest where the moss was as soft as a pillow, lived a little bear. The little bear had fur that was very brown and very fuzzy. He had a little nose that went twitch-twitch-twitch. He had little paws that went pat-pat-pat. The little bear lived in a cozy cave with his mama. Inside the cave, it was warm. Inside the cave, it was safe. The little bear loved his home very much. He loved the tall trees. He loved the bright sun. And most of all, he loved his very special blanket. The blanket was blue. The blanket was soft. It was the softest blanket in the whole wide world. It felt like a fluffy cloud against his fuzzy tummy.
One sunny morning, Mama Bear brought the blue blanket outside. She laid it on a big, flat rock. The rock was clean. The rock was warm. The sun was big and yellow in the sky. The sun would make the blanket feel like a warm hug for bedtime. Mama Bear looked at the little bear with her kind eyes. 'Little bear,' she said in her soft, low voice. 'I am going to the berry patch to find some sweet treats. Can you look after your special blanket? It is your job to keep it safe. Can you make sure it stays clean and dry on this rock?' The little bear felt very big. He felt very helpful. He nodded his little head. 'Yes, Mama,' he said. 'I will take care of the blanket. I will keep it safe. I will keep it clean. I will keep it dry.'
Mama Bear walked away into the green trees. The little bear sat by the rock. He looked at the blanket. He patted the blanket with his soft paw. Pat, pat, pat. He smelled the blanket with his little nose. Twitch, twitch, twitch. It smelled like sunshine. It was a very good job to have. But then, a yellow butterfly flew past. The butterfly was bright. The butterfly went flutter, flutter, flutter. The little bear wanted to see where the butterfly was going. He stood up. He took one step, then two steps. He almost forgot his job! He looked back at the blanket. The blanket was still there, sitting on the rock. 'I must stay,' the little bear said. 'I have a big job to do. I am taking care of my blanket.'
Soon, a little breeze began to blow. The breeze went whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. It made the leaves on the trees dance. It made the grass wiggle. The little bear saw that the wind was trying to lift the corner of his blue blanket. The blanket went flippy-flap, flippy-flap. If the blanket blew away, it might get dirty in the mud. If the blanket blew away, it might get wet in the pond. The little bear ran to the rock. He used his little paws to tuck the blanket down. He found a small, smooth stone and placed it on the corner. Now the blanket was heavy. Now the blanket was still. The little bear felt very proud. He was being a very responsible little bear. He was keeping the blanket right where it belonged.
A tiny gray cloud moved across the sun. The little bear looked up. He saw a tiny drop of water fall from the sky. Drip, drop. Drip, drop. The little bear knew that if the blanket got wet, it would not be cozy for bedtime. He looked around the forest. He saw a big, wide leaf on a bush nearby. The leaf was like a green umbrella. The little bear picked up his blanket. He carried it carefully. He did not let it touch the dirt. He did not let it touch the grass. He put the blanket under the big, wide leaf. Now the blanket was covered. Now the blanket was safe from the rain. The little bear sat under the leaf too. He waited and he watched. He was taking very good care of his things.
By and by, the sun came back out. The sky was blue again. Mama Bear came walking through the trees. She had a basket of sweet, red berries. She went to the big, flat rock, but the blanket was not there! She looked worried. Then she saw the little bear. He was sitting under the big leaf with his blue blanket. The blanket was perfectly clean. The blanket was perfectly dry. 'Oh, little bear,' Mama Bear said. 'You did such a good job. You took care of your blanket all by yourself. You are a very responsible bear.' The little bear felt warm inside, even warmer than the sun. He felt happy because he had done his job well.
That night, the moon rose high in the sky. The moon was white and round. The stars were like tiny night-lights. The little bear and Mama Bear went into their cozy cave. It was time for sleep. Mama Bear picked up the blue blanket. It was still warm from the sun. It was still soft and clean. She wrapped it around the little bear. The little bear felt snug. He felt cozy. He felt very sleepy. He closed his eyes and wiggled his little nose one last time. He knew that tomorrow he would have more big jobs to do, but for now, it was time to rest. Goodnight, little bear. Sleep tight in your very special blanket.
