Mishka’s Bubble Bath

Chapter 1 : A Surprise Visit
Morning dawned crisp in the Silvana Woods, just like Mom’s freshly baked cookies. Mishka was outside her little cottage reading, when Pashkin came to visit with gingerbread and honey. Mishka and Pashkin were grizzly bear cubs and the best of friends.

“Hello Mishka!”
“Good Morning Pashkin.”
As Mishka munched the gingerbread, Pashkin settled comfortably on her couch and closed his eyes. After a few moments, he jumped out of the couch.

“What happened? Did a bee sting you?” asked Mishka, seeing him jump.
“No, I have an idea! Let’s go meet Anya.” Anya, their friend, was a duck who lived by the shores of Lake Ronja. “We could swim, catch fish and have a party …” Pashkin stopped and looked at Mishka who had gone silent.
“Do we need to swim?” she asked, softly.
Pashkin laughed loudly and joked, “Mishka, you are the only bear in Silvana to be afraid of water. C’mon, this would be fun.”
Soon they were on their way to Anya’s house, their swimsuits neatly packed in a small basket, along with a bottle of the tastiest honey in the entire Silvana. You just can’t drop into meet friends without a bottle of yummy honey.

Chapter 2: A swim, few fishes and a wild adventure

Within minutes they reached Anya's beautiful white cottage. As the other two jumped into the lake, Mishka walked slowly and finally sat on the shore. Pashkin was doing back strokes; Anya dove into the lake and resurfaced with a fish in her beak.
“How could anyone dislike a swim?” It was Anya.
“But the lake is cold. I won’t get in.” said a stubborn Mishka.
“Idea!” shrieked Anya and waved to Pashkin who swam back immediately.
“Let’s go to Goldie’s house. It’s Sunday and they won’t be home. We can sneak in and use her tub. Ready?” Mishka knew she had no say and the trio quickly ran across the fields towards Goldie’s house.

Chapter 3: The Magic Ingredient

The adventure of Goldilocks and The Three Bears was common legend in Silvana. It took days to pacify Little Bear. Goldie’s family moved to the suburbs to avoid meeting Little Bear. When they reached the house, there wasn’t anyone home. They quickly jumped in through the window. Goldie’s room was beautiful with fairies painted on the walls and stars on the ceiling.

“Yippee!” screamed Anya and pulled Mishka inside the bathroom. There was a huge white bath tub against a yellow wall filled with flowers and hearts. In the corner, stood a shelf lined with various colorful bottles. Above the tub was another window decorated with potted plants. Pashkin started to fill the tub with hot, steaming water..
“Climb in,” ordered Anya. Though small, when Anya used her grown-up voice, there was nothing much one could do but obey. Mishka gingerly put one paw inside.
“Ouch. That’s hot.” she shrieked.
Anya added cold water. An uninterested Mishka climbed in, and sat huddled in one corner of the bath tub.

“Time to add the magic ingredient,” winked Anya. Pashkin and Anya picked up bottles of blue and purple crystals each and poured the contents into the tub, turning the water, a bluish purple.
“What did you do?” screamed Mishkins.
“That’s the secret ingredient which will dissolve all fears.”

The trick worked. Slowly Mishkins moved away from her corner and began to play with her bubbles, spilling them everywhere, while Anya sat on a chair and sang. Pashkin added more crystals, turning the water a reddish, greenish blue color. Suddenly they heard the sound of a car pull up.

Chapter 4: The Great Escape
Pashkin peeped through the window. It was Goldie’s family.

“We might get caught. Let’s go.”

But Mishka was lost in her own world of bubbles. ”Look! I can do back stroke,” she shouted excitedly. ”Shh. Now get out of the tub. We need to go.” whispered Anya. Pashkin who had climbed onto the window sill, urged them to hurry.
With great difficulty Anya pulled Mishka out and they escaped through the window and ran home. “Wow! That was one awesome adventure. Joining us for a swim, Mishkins?” asked Pashkin. “Join? I’ll race you and Anya.” Her friends grinned and hugged their little Mishka.

Ever since, the folks of Silvana always found the three friends playing in Lake Ronja. As for Goldie, she could never prove to her Mom that it wasn’t she who emptied all those bottles of crystals and made the bathroom float on bubbles.