Ficlets

Bear Bones Beginning

Things are not going well with my girlfriend.

A few nights ago, you see, I was taking out the garbage. She accompanied me, though I can’t say why at this particular juncture. We rounded the corner of my cabin by the woods and saw an unmistakable silhouette in the moonlight. A bear. A large one. Brownish. Facing the other way.

We hushed our idle conversation and backed slowly to the porch. The massive beast heard our tender footsteps and followed, its great head lumbering curiously side to side. In gentle cadence we made it up the three porch steps, across the slats and into the sliding glass door.

I slid it closed and fumbled with the latch while the bear approached. I was so occupied with the latch, I failed to notice the oddity of the situation.

My girlfriend did not, stating, “Does that bear have a beak?”

Understandably, I froze. Bears don’t generally have beaks. That’s not the natural order of things, not here. Her next statement only made matters worse.

“I-I-I think he’s talking to us.”

Comments

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Bear Bones Beginning
Storykeeper of Fae
Posted 7 months ago

Oh, goodness! I’m hanging on the words here.
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
SKermitgorf
Posted 7 months ago

very odd..lol. great description of the bear??
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
.:band baby:.
Posted 7 months ago

Strange.. But if it’s not a bear.. what exactly is it? This just begs for a sequel! Nice job.
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
Will Hindmarch
Posted 7 months ago

Look out! Owlbear!

Great pacing for suspense in this one.
Bear Bones Beginning
yoITSme
Posted 7 months ago

ok that just scared me…a lot. thanks a lot i was trying to sleep well tonight!!! lol
Bear Bones Beginning
Phosphate11
Posted 7 months ago

Sequel!!!
Bear Bones Beginning
Ana Cristina
Posted 7 months ago

Just when I was waiting for the guy to start fumbling with the door knob as the bear reached for his girlfriend, the bear ends up having a break. One thing’s for sure: I can never predict where your stories will take me.
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
Ana Cristina
Posted 7 months ago

Of course, I meant beak. Not that the bear doesn’t need a break, it having a beak and all.
Bear Bones Beginning
Tad Winslow
Posted 7 months ago

Creeeeeeeepy!—at first, and then the talking part… I don’t know where you are going with this but I want you to keep writing, please continue. Love it.
Bear Bones Beginning
Tad Winslow
Posted 7 months ago

I love a good monster!
Bear Bones Beginning
White Hat
Posted 7 months ago

Will called it, and I’m seconding. Totally an owlbear. Maybe even an owlbear skeleton. Those things are damn nasty.
Bear Bones Beginning
Crown Me Tarzan, King of Mars
Posted 7 months ago

No, I’m pretty sure what he’s describing is a Duck-billed Platypus Bear from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Bear Bones Beginning
THX 0477
Posted 7 months ago

Hey, you watch that cartoon too!? I’ll have to give a clearer description in a sequel, since I did have a particular image in mind. Thanks for all the great comments guys!
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
Kevin Lawver
Posted 7 months ago

A bear with a beak? Really?

Great job with the suspense!
Bear Bones Beginning
Sturek
Posted 7 months ago

That was such a great, unexpected twist. I thought she was gonna say something like “The bear would come in anyway.” But that ?! I have to read the sequel now.
Bear Bones Beginning
Storykeeper of Fae
Posted 7 months ago

It coulda been an Avatar character! I love that show!
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
emma jo_234
Posted 6 months ago

Yep, pretty unexpected alright….great way to leave us hanging, really makes people want to read more!
LoA
Bear Bones Beginning
Ridcully Calvert
Posted 5 months ago

Loved the beak on the bear. This story definitely bears following (heh – excuse the pun)