A story by Jesse Greist

Cubby was ten months old, which by black bear standards made her practically almost halfway to being an independent young adult – at least she thought so.  Cubby was one of those bears who was full of youthful curiosity.  She pestered her mother with questions all the time, day and night.  Her mother often sighed, and wished she could just stick some bees wax in her ears and get some peace and quiet, just for a few minutes.  But Cubby was relentless.  “Why is the sky blue?” “Why are acorns bitter?” “Why do birds sing?”  “Do they ever just…talk?” cubby’s mother found the questions to be… unhumanable!

But the days were getting short, and the nights were getting long, and soon the great seasonal sleep would be upon them and at last, there would be a break from all the questions.  Cubby and her mother were eating all the nuts and berries and North Hamden birdseed they could get their paws on, but still the questions came, at times one between each mouthful. 

When it was time to head for the den, Cubby asked “Why do we need to hibernate? What would happen if we just… stayed up?”

My word, Cubby!  Of all the silly questions you could ask, how in Ursula’s name did you come up with that one?  Said mom, exasperated.

“Well, I just wanna know why?”  Everybody always acts like the solstice is the end of the world or something and I just wanna know what’s the big deal?

Cubby, we sleep because we’re tired.  We sleep because the whole world sleeps.  The trees, the insects, the animals, the plants – everybody hibernates! 

Everybody hibernates?  Cubby echoed, wide eyed, imagining the living thing in the world asleep all at the same time.

For the first time in as long as mama bear could remember, Cubby stopped talking, so she considered the matter closed, rolled her eyes skyward in gratitude, and enjoyed the last of a pumpkin someone had tossed out into the woods.

Cubby’s mouth may have been quiet, but her mind was running a thousand kilometers an hour (see, even bears use the metric system).  When her mom’s back was turned, Cubby set out to ask around and see if it was true that everyone sleeps in Earthly peace through the winter.

Cubby came across a turtle.  “Excuse me, turtle” she said politely “I was wondering if you sleep through the winter?”  Why yes I do, replied the turtle slowly.  In fact, I’m just on my way to dig a sleep den right now.  See you in spring!

Wow, muttered Cubby.  Mom must be right.  I can’t believe it. 

But just then, there was a rustle in the bushes and a hare hopped out. 

Excuse me hare, but do you sleep through the winter like I do?

Of course not!  Said the hare.  Winter is the most wonderful time of the year.  My coat turns white as snow, the pesky biting insects leave me alone, and most of my -gulp- predators are nowhere to be found. I love this time of year!  With that, hare nervously hopped back to safety, not totally sure he trusted Cubby’s intentions. 

Well, that threw Cubby for a loop!  If hare stayed awake, perhaps there were others too. 

Just then a breeze picked up, causing the fur to twitch on Cubby’s head.  She quickly realized that it wasn’t a breeze at all.  A Great Horned Owl had swooshed in and landed on a nearby branch.  “Excuse me, owl” said Cubby, never forgetting her manners.  But do you sleep through the dark winter like I do?”

Sleep through winter?  Owl repeated back, turning their head nearly 250 degrees to make eye contact.  Why would I ever want to sleep through winter?  Winter is my jam!  Dark nights, perfect for these eyes to see, no leaves to block the view, peace and quiet all around, and best of all, the pitter patter of little feet on new fallen snow, with the moon giving light to all objects below!  I say to you again, this is a season of magic and wonder, and I wouldn’t miss it for the squirrel!  With that, Owl swooped and glided gracefully away.

Well that was it!  Now cubby was bound and determined to stay awake to see all that winter had to offer. 

She slunk back to the den, determined to wait until her mother fell into stillness, and then she’d sneak out and see what every bear since the dawn of time had missed!  She was so excited, she even forgot to pester her mom about not telling her the whole truth.

As mom settled in, full, content, and ready to rest her weary bear feet, she sensed that Cubby was too excited to find the stillness a mother knew cubs need to make it through the season.  “Cubby, what’s wrong?  It’s time to hibernate, but you’re shaking like the last leaf on a beech tree.”

“I’m ok, mom, just go to sleep and I’m sure I’ll follow you to dreamland shortly after”.

Cubby, I get the feeling you’re hiding something from me.  Oh goodness, how mom always just KNEW was another mystery for another day. 

“No mom, I swear, it’s nothing, why don’t YOU just hibernate already?”

Mom, who had the wisdom of seasons past, and prior cub adolescence, figured it would be better to just let her daughter talk it out.  

Sure enough, Cubby couldn’t contain herself: “Ok, fine!  You see, I went out to ask everyone about the whole earth hibernation you told me about, and at first it seemed legit (yawn) and everything, but then I met a hare and I met an owl and they said this is the most wonderful time of year, and it’s all magical and luminous and stuff, and (yawn) that no bugs bite and there’s like pitter patter of feet on moonlit snow (yawn), and last week I overheard on a gas station TV that this was the season of big discounts and something called “doorbusters” and I just (yawn) want to stay up until you close your eyes and I was just gonna check it out a little…

But Cubby’s eyes closed, not to open again until late March, when she’d surely start in with the questions again – or perhaps she’d be in that “broody” phase.  Only time would tell.  In the meantime, the den door frosted over, a curious hare sniffed the air and danced a “safe for now” jig, an owl glided by, deep in profound enjoyment, and the cycle of seasons and lives lived continued apace.