The Big Date Read online

  Wait a minute! thought Brother. Maybe this is just a false rumor, too! Queenie was always starting rumors so she could spread them around and make herself look important. And whenever she was having trouble making Too-Tall jealous, she would try to make someone else’s boyfriend jealous. Not that Brother was Bonnie’s boyfriend, of course…

  Brother felt better already. All he had to do now was ask Bonnie about the rumor, just to make doubly sure it wasn’t true. But he wouldn’t actually ask her about it, since then she’d think that he thought it might be true…

  There was Bonnie now, getting out of the chauffeured limousine that Squire and Lady Grizzly had suddenly insisted she ride to school every morning. So not to seem too eager, Brother hung around a group of friends for a few minutes, pretending to listen to Ferdy Factual lecture about his new science report entitled “Antimatter: Does It Matter?” Then he strolled casually over to where Bonnie was talking to Queenie.

  “Oops, gotta go,” said Queenie. “See you guys later.” She skipped off.

  “Queenie’s been spreading a silly rumor that you’re going out on a date with Ronnie Grizzington,” Brother told Bonnie. “Thought I ought to tell you right away, so you can nip it in the bud.” He forced a chuckle. “You know that Queenie. They don’t call her the Rumor Queen for nothing. Heh, heh.”

  Brother didn’t like the way Bonnie was looking at him. As if she was afraid to tell him something. “What’s wrong?” he said. “It is just a silly rumor, isn’t it?”

  Bonnie sighed. “Queenie may still be the Rumor Queen,” she said. “But this time it’s not just a rumor.”

  Brother felt as if his insides were turning inside out. Oh, no! he thought. It wasn’t a budding rumor. It was a budding romance!

  On the outside, though, he managed to stay cool and calm. “No kidding?” he said. “Well, sometimes Queenie’s right just by accident, I guess.” He shuffled his feet, wondering what to say next. He had to be careful not to sound jealous. But he wanted so badly to know all the ugly details of the upcoming date. “Where is he taking you?” he asked.

  “To dinner and a movie,” Bonnie replied.

  “Oh, really?” said Brother. “I’m surprised the Multiplex Prince would stoop to watch a movie in our little old-fashioned movie theater.” Oops, he thought. There I go again.

  Bonnie’s eyes showed suspicion. “You aren’t jealous, are you?” she asked.

  Brother pretended to be shocked. “Me? Jealous? Come on, Bonnie. You know me better than that. It’s just that I don’t like him very much.”

  Bonnie looked away. “I know what you mean,” she murmured. “But he’ll loosen up in a day or two…”

  Brother was steaming as he rejoined Ferdy’s group. And, as it turned out, so was Ferdy’s group.

  “Did you see what that new cub just did to Harry McGill?” asked Cousin Fred.

  “No,” said Brother. “What happened?”

  “His chauffeur parked in Harry’s special wheelchair space at the front gate,” said Fred. “Harry’s mom pulled the van up behind them and honked, but they wouldn’t move until Ronnie finished talking on his cell phone and got out. Can you believe the nerve of that cub?”

  Brother shook his head. How could a single cub make such a jerk of himself in such a short time? And how could a nice cub like Bonnie go out on a date with him?

  Chapter 6

  An Afternoon Stroll

  All day at school, Brother’s friends were amazed at how well he seemed to be taking the news about Bonnie’s date with the Multiplex Prince. But “seemed,” not “well,” was the word that really mattered. Beneath his outward calm, Brother’s feelings were so twisted that if they’d had shapes, they would have looked like pretzels.

  He wasn’t just feeling sorry for himself. He was angry, too. Angry at Bonnie, naturally. But especially angry at Ronald Grizzington III. At least once a minute he would replay in his mind the scene of his first meeting with the new cub. It was like watching a scene from a bad movie over and over. Brother would put out his hand and say, “Hi, Ronnie.” And then the camera would zoom in on Ronnie’s haughty expression as he looked down at Brother’s hand and said, “That’s Ronald to you.” Then the camera would pull back to take in both the nasty little smile on Ronnie’s face and the embarrassed look on Brother’s. Every time he saw it in his mind, the scene made him queasy. But he couldn’t seem to keep himself from playing it over and over and over…

  That afternoon, Brother didn’t walk home from school with his usual group of friends. He told them he needed to buy something at Biff Bruin’s Pharmacy, and set off toward town. He did, in fact, go downtown, but he didn’t stop at Biff Bruin’s. He walked right past and kept going. Past the computer store, past the Red Berry restaurant, past Town Hall and the town square, and off toward the outskirts of town. He didn’t really know where his feet were carrying him, but it was obvious that they were taking him in the opposite direction from home.

  All the while, he played new scenes in his head: scenes of things that hadn’t happened—but which very well might happen. In one, Bonnie beamed at Ronnie as he handed her a beautifully wrapped gift. Then she opened it and let out a squeal of delight. In another, Bonnie and Ronnie were sitting together in a darkened movie theater, watching a romantic movie. Ronnie had his arm across the back of Bonnie’s seat, so that they were snuggled up close together. Before Brother could stop the scene, Ronnie leaned even closer to Bonnie and kissed her on the cheek…

  Those scenes led to others: scenes of things that hadn’t happened and wouldn’t happen. In one, Ronnie fell and scraped his shin as he stepped onto the front porch of Grizzly Mansion for his date with Bonnie. In another, Ronnie opened his wallet to pay for dinner at the Red Berry, only to find it empty, while Bonnie looked on in shame and embarrassment.

  As he walked, Brother realized that these last scenes were pictures of his own wishes. He felt ashamed of himself. He had always thought of himself as a nice cub, a good cub, a cub who was kind to others and wished them no harm. And so did Mama and Papa, Gramps and Gran, Sister and Cousin Fred, and all his friends. How could he tell any of them about his jealous thoughts and feelings? He couldn’t. That must be why he was walking away from home, away from his own neighborhood and the neighborhoods of his friends and relatives. But where was he going?

  He was now far enough from town that it looked small in the distance when he glanced over his shoulder. He was on the highway out of town, and Birder’s Woods loomed ahead. Pretty soon he reached Parts R Us, Two-Ton Grizzly’s auto parts lot. He walked along the fence, past the rear gate, and through the scruffy woods in back until he entered a small clearing.

  And there, at last, he stopped. Right on the doorstep of the Too-Tall gang’s clubhouse.

  Chapter 7

  Talkin’ Business

  Why? thought Brother. Why am I here? He felt an urge to knock on the clubhouse door. But what would he say to the gang?

  Suddenly the door opened and Vinnie peered out. He looked very surprised. Over his shoulder he said, “I was right, boss, someone’s here. Come see who it is.”

  Too-Tall appeared in the doorway. A big smile spread across his face. “Well, hello there, Brother Bear,” he said. “I had a funny feeling we might be seein’ you this afternoon. Come on in.”

  As Brother stepped inside, Vinnie said, “Whaddya mean, boss? Why would Brother come here this afternoon? He never comes here.”

  “That’s ’cause he’s never had a problem quite like the one he’s got now,” said Too-Tall.

  Skuzz and Smirk chuckled. But Vinnie still didn’t understand. He stared at Brother and said, “So what’re ya doin’ here?”

  Brother shook his head. “I … I’m not really sure…”

  Too-Tall laughed. “I know why you’re here, Mr. Straight Arrow. You need some help. Not the kind of help you can get from your wimpy straight-arrow family and friends.”

  Vinnie looked from Too-Tall to Brother and back. “You mean he wants us to st
eal somethin’ for him?”

  “Shut up, knucklehead!” snapped Too-Tall. “Me and Brother are talkin’ business.” He turned to Brother. “We’d be glad to help you in your time of need, Mr. Goody Two Shoes. In fact, we’ll do it for free. I been watchin’ that new cub, and I don’t like him one bit. We’ll take care of him for you. That’s what you came here for, ain’t it?”

  When Brother didn’t answer, Too-Tall said, “Oh, I get it. You’re too much of a goody two shoes wimp to say yes. I got a system for helpin’ guys like you. If you don’t want our help, say so right now. If you do want it, don’t say anything.”

  But Brother didn’t hear Too-Tall—not after he said, “That’s what you came here for, ain’t it?” Because he was lost in thought. It was amazing the way Too-Tall had read his mind—even before he himself had understood! He thought about the scenes of bad things happening to Ronnie Grizzington. While he’d been playing those scenes in his mind, his feet had carried him straight to Too-Tall’s clubhouse. Hardly a coincidence!

  Oh, no! thought Brother. I can’t have Too-Tall do anything to Ronnie Grizzington! At least, not on my account!

  Without saying another word, Brother turned on his heels and ran out of the clubhouse.

  “Well, boss,” said Smirk, with one of his famous smirks, “I guess we’ve got our answer.”

  Skuzz laughed. “Boy, what a goody-goody wimp!”

  But Vinnie still looked puzzled. “I don’t get it, boss,” he whined. “Who are we supposed to take care of?”

  Chapter 8

  A Prank Fit for a Prince

  After explaining the situation to dimwitted Vinnie, Too-Tall asked the gang for ideas on how they could “take care of” Ronald Grizzington III.

  “That’s a no-brainer, boss,” said Smirk. “We’ll just threaten to beat him up if he goes through with the big date.”

  “You’re a no-brainer,” said Too-Tall. “What good would it do to threaten a cub whose rich daddy can hire a bunch of bodyguards to protect him?”

  “Sorry, boss,” said Smirk. “I didn’t think of that.”

  “That’s it, boss!” cried Vinnie. “The whole problem with this cub is that he’s rich. If we steal all the Grizzingtons’ money, Ronnie won’t be able to go on his big date ’cause he’ll be broke!”

  Too-Tall just stared at Vinnie for a moment. Then, in the most sarcastic tone of voice he could muster, he said, “Good idea, Vinnie. Why don’t you go over in the corner by yourself and work out all the details. Meanwhile, the rest of us’ll try to come up with a sensible idea!”

  His feelings hurt, Vinnie moped while the others thought. After a while Skuzz said, “I got it, boss! I hear Ronnie’s been braggin’ about how he’s gonna buy some diamond earrings to give Bonnie when he picks her up for their big date. We could ‘borrow’ the earrings just long enough to booby-trap the box with a paint bomb. When Bonnie opens it, bingo! She’ll never forgive him!”

  “Not bad, Skuzz-brain,” said Too-Tall.

  “But what if he has the box gift-wrapped at the jewelry store?” asked Smirk. “How could we booby-trap it?”

  Too-Tall shook his head. “Nah,” he said. “If I know that stuck-up little cub as well as I think I do, he’s not gonna have the earrings gift-wrapped at the store. He’ll bring ’em to school so he can show ’em off to everybody first, then have his fancy butler gift-wrap ’em. When he leaves his briefcase in his locker at lunchtime, we’ll ‘borrow’ the earrings for a few minutes. Remember, guys: the locker I can’t get into doesn’t exist!”

  “That’s right, boss!” Vinnie piped up, eager to get back into Too-Tall’s good graces. “And if it doesn’t exist, who cares if you can’t get into it?”

  Too-Tall just stared at Vinnie again. “Good thinkin’, pal,” he said. “I don’t know what we’d do without ya.”

  Chapter 9

  A Misunderstanding?

  Sure enough, just as Too-Tall had predicted, Ronald Grizzington III stood in the middle of the schoolyard the next morning, showing off a pair of diamond earrings to anyone who wanted to see. (And to more than a few cubs who didn’t want to see, too.) When Bonnie’s limo arrived, he quickly closed the box and slipped it into his briefcase. Too-Tall and the gang exchanged winks. Their plan was on track.

  Later, the gang’s lunchtime locker caper went off without a hitch. As Too-Tall had said, the locker he couldn’t get into didn’t exist. And Ronnie Grizzington’s locker certainly existed. It was hard to miss. He had advertised its existence by putting large gold stickers spelling out Ronald Grizzington III on the door. Too-Tall’s nimble fingers found the combination of the lock in an instant. It was left to Skuzz, the gang’s booby trap expert, to finish the job.

  By afternoon recess, everything was ready for the big date. The day before, Lady Grizzly had taken Bonnie shopping at Bloomingbear’s for a new dress to wear. Now Ronnie had his diamond earrings and Too-Tall had booby-trapped them for Brother. All that was left was for Too-Tall to decide whether or not to let Brother in on their little secret. He talked it over with the gang. Skuzz and Smirk voted for telling Brother what they’d done. But Vinnie was doubtful. “I don’t know, boss,” he said. “If you tell him, it’s gotta be under one condition: that he be sworn to absolute secrecy.”

  “Secrecy?” laughed Too-Tall. “You gotta be kiddin’, birdbrain! Brother’s not gonna rat on us. He’s the one who told us to do it in the first place!” And, with that, he strolled over to Brother, who looked for all the world like a lost soul.

  “Hey, there, Brother Bear,” said Too-Tall. “I’ve got some info that just might lift your spirits a little.”

  Brother glanced up at Too-Tall with eyes that looked as if they hadn’t seen the backs of his eyelids all night. “Lift my spirits?” he said. “It’d probably be easier to lift an elephant.”

  Too-Tall leaned down and whispered in Brother’s ear. “You know those diamond earrings the Multiplex Prince was showin’ off this morning?” Brother nodded. “You might wanna hide in the bushes at Grizzly Mansion and watch when Ol’ Ronnie Boy gives them to You-Know-Who. Pay special attention when You-Know-Who opens the box…”

  Brother frowned. “Why?” he said. “What are you talking about?”

  Too-Tall smiled. “Oh, you wanna play dumb about it? Okay, that’s cool. Anyway, we did what you wanted.”

  “What I wanted?” said Brother. “But I never told you to do anything.”

  “Of course you didn’t,” said Too-Tall, with a chuckle. He winked at Brother and elbowed him in the ribs. “And what you didn’t tell us to do, we went and did for you. We fixed Ronnie ‘That’s-Ronald-to-You’ Grizzington III. And good. We booby-trapped those fancy earrings with a red paint bomb. When your once-and-future girlfriend opens that box—boy, is she gonna be red-faced!”

  Brother’s eyes widened. “Oh, no!” he cried. “You didn’t!”

  Too-Tall laughed. “Why ya puttin’ on such a show? Nobody’s listenin’ to us.”

  “There’s been a misunderstanding!” said Brother.

  “There sure has,” Too-Tall chuckled. “It happened when Rich Boy and You-Know-Who thought they could treat you this way. You, a cub with powerful friends like Yours Truly!”

  “You’ve got to call it off, big guy!” said Brother.

  It suddenly dawned on Too-Tall that Brother wasn’t playacting. “Call it off?” he said, frowning. “Too late for that, my friend. The deed’s been done. Boy, you’re an even bigger wimp than I thought.”

  Brother’s stomach did flips as he watched Too-Tall strut back to his gang. Bonnie’s big date would be ruined, and it would be his fault! And not just her date—her beautiful new dress, too! He had to tell her. At least, he ought to tell her…

  But no sooner had Brother realized what he ought to do than a new scene began playing in his mind. In it, Bonnie tore the wrapping paper off Ronnie’s gift and opened the box. The camera zoomed in on her face as red paint splattered it, then pulled back to show both Ronnie’s shocked expression an
d Bonnie’s furious one… Brother couldn’t help snickering. That scene made him feel good all over.

  Oh, no, thought Brother. I know what I should do…but what will I do…?

  That afternoon, Brother didn’t go straight home from school. Instead, he headed into the woods behind school and made a bee-line for his Thinking Place.

  Chapter 10

  To Tell or Not to Tell…

  To tell or not to tell…

  …that was the question. Brother sat on his favorite rock at the Thinking Place and pondered his dilemma. It was a peaceful spot, with birds twittering and squirrels darting to and fro in the trees. But there was no peace in Brother’s heart. He was torn between telling Bonnie about the paint bomb and watching her and Ronnie get what they deserved.

  But did they really deserve it? Brother’s thinking went back and forth. One moment, his brain told him they didn’t deserve it; the next moment, his jealous heart told him they did. One moment, his brain formed a perfectly clear image of the right thing to do; the next moment, that image disappeared in a fog of jealousy.

  Thinking clearly about what to do wasn’t easy. He was so confused about his jealous thoughts and feelings. He was ashamed of them, too. But, at the same time, they were so powerful…

  Suddenly Brother remembered a conversation he had had with Mama. At the time, he hadn’t really taken it to heart, because Mama was talking about Too-Tall’s jealous behavior toward Queenie McBear, and that was Too-Tall’s problem, not his. But now he realized that what Mama had said applied to him, too. He remembered in particular one thing she’d said: “Jealousy is nothing to get too worried about.”