"SoMasakichigothispawsfullofhoney—waymorehohanhecouldeatbyhimself—aitinapail,anddo-o-ownthemountai,allthewaytothetown,tosellhishoney.Masakichiwastheall-timeNo.1honeybear."

    "Dobearshavepails?"Salaasked.

    "Masakichijusthappeohaveone,"Junpeiexplained."Hefounditlyingbytheroad,andhefigureditwouldeinhandysometime."

    "Anditdid."

    "Itreallydid.SoMasakichiwenttothetownandfoundaspotforhimselfinthesquare.Heputupasign:DeeeliciousHoney.AllNatural.OneCup￥200."

    "bearsoney?"

    "Absolutely.Masakichilivedwithpeoplewhenhewasjustacub,aaughthimhowtotalkandhowtooney.Masakichiwasaveryspecialbear.Andsotheotherbears,whowerentsospecial,teoshunhim."

    "Shunhim?"

    "Yeah,theydgo,like,Hey,whatswiththisguy,agsospecial?andkeepawayfromhim.EspeciallyTonkichi,thetoughguy.HereallyhatedMasakichi."

    "PoorMasakichi!"

    "Yeah,really.Meanwhile,thepeoplewouldsay,O.K.,heknowshowtot,aalkandall,butwhenyougetrightdowntoithesjustabear.SoMasakichididntreallybeloherworld—thebearworldorthepeopleworld."

    "Didnthehaveanyfriends?"

    "Notasinglefriend.Bearsdontgotoschool,youknow,sotheresnoplaceforthemtomakefriends."

    "Doyouhavefriends,Jun?""UncleJunpei"wastoolongforher,soSalajustcalledhimJun.

    "Yourdaddyismyabsolutebestestfriendfromalong,longtimeago.Andsosyourmommy."

    &qu