A basket full of love

Bear opened her eyes and stared around the cave. The ice had melted. Even the water had evaporated. Stretching her limbs, Bear slowly ambled towards the cave’s entrance. The world outside the cave was a riot of colourful flowers, announcing the arrival of spring. Though she had missed her friends, the long winter hibernation had done Bear a world of good. She was ready to tackle everything life threw at her.

Bear walked towards her house, trampling the soft grass moist with early morning dew. The gentle sun smiled at her. Removing the key from under a pot, she opened the door; she was surprised to see the house clean and tidy, smelling of baked goods and fresh flowers.

Bear smiled, seeing the colourful notes stuck all over the house. ‘Welcome home, Bear.’ ‘Enjoy the pie.’ ‘There is a book for you.’ ‘Fresh flowers to brighten your day.’ ‘Water for you.’ ‘Hot tea to start your morning.’ Her friends were so kind; everyone had contributed something. Wolf had cleaned the house. Fox had washed the curtains and the bedsheet. Deer had dusted the bookshelf. Zebra had made tea. Hippopotamus had baked a pie. Monkey had brought a basket brimming with fruit. Elephant had filled the drum with fresh spring water. Squirrel had left a bowl of nuts. The bees had placed a pot of honey. The butterflies had decorated the house with fresh flowers.

Sipping tea and eating a slice of apple pie, Bear sighed with contentment. Life without her friends was nothing. They loved her unconditionally, and it showed in their actions. She loved them to the moon and back. Bear realised that because of her long sleep, she had missed her favourite day of the year, 14th February, which was her birthday and also Valentine’s Day. Though it would be belated, she wanted to celebrate it uniquely.

Bear spent the morning rummaging through her belongings. Humming a tune, she baked, weaved, stitched, and painted.

“Love is round and round, it has no shape and makes no sound, it never ends, it only sends, it is here, there, and everywhere,” Bear sang as she went about her chores. She plucked grass and flowers, and gathered seeds, bird feathers, and pine cones.

She rummaged through all the different objects she had collected over the years. “They all can be put to good use,” she said. Her eyes brightened as ideas popped into her head.

She made a hairband by sticking different quills. She turned the claws of a wolf into two hair clips, painting them a bright blue. She made buttons from dried seeds, painting them in green and red, adding a stripe of gold. She made two plates from the discarded shell of a tortoise and coloured them brown and silver. She baked a dozen cupcakes and decorated them with honey and cherries. She made hats from the grass that grew in abundance around her house. She wove colourful flowers into necklaces and made tiaras from her collection of different bird feathers.

Filling a basket with all the goodies, she placed it under the tallest tree near her house, with the poster she had made: ‘Happy Belated Valentine’s Day from Bear. Take some love, leave some love.’

Returning home, she sat on a chair near her window and watched.

The animals walked past, stopped at the tree, read the poster, glanced at the goodies, and walked past.

Bear’s face fell.

In a few minutes…

“These hair clips are lovely, I’ll wear them to school tomorrow.” Monkey took the hair clips and left a pair of belts she had made from long leaves.

“It’s ages since I have eaten a cupcake.” Squirrel took a cake and left a pouch of nuts.

“I need a hat to protect me from the sun.” Giraffe wore one of the straw hats and dropped a mango and a guava into the basket.

“I’m going to meet my friends; this garland will make me look cool.” Fox picked up a garland and replaced it with a handkerchief she had made from flower petals.

Bear laughed as Hippopotamus wore the hairband and placed a handful of peacock feathers. Mouse devoured a cupcake and replaced it with pine needles.

“I need buttons for the jacket my mother is making for me.” Deer took six buttons and kept an antler inside the basket.

“Ahh, the perfect plate for my meals.” Wolf admired the plate made from a tortoise shell. He held it close to his cheek. Then he rushed home with it.

Bear frowned. “Wolf took some love but left no love behind?”

Wolf returned an hour later, carrying a pot of soup. He placed the soup beside the basket and covered it with a large leaf. “That’s so thoughtful of him,” Bear blew a kiss at Wolf.

“I have such a bad cold.” Zebra gulped the soup and burped, and then he walked away.

An hour passed, then another hour. “How can Zebra break the circle of love?” Bear grumbled.

Soon, Zebra returned. He had made many accessories with leaves and flowers.

The bear smiled and walked towards the tree, lifting a bracelet made from flower buds.

This birthday, plus Valentine’s, was truly special. A never-ending circle of love.