wants to walk home by himself.

“Snowy? …Snowy?” Jeffery called, looking under the bottom bunk. “Where are you, you silly rabbit?” He then looked in the wastepaper basket, in the closet, under the desk, but still no rabbit. “AH!” Jeffery cried in frustration. “Snowy, c’mon, this was funny yesterday when I found you in my top hat, but not any—” he stopped talking abruptly and smacked himself on the forehead. “Why do I always forget her favorite hiding place?”      

He then moved over to the shelf and lifted Snowy the white rabbit out the top hat.

“There you are,” Jeffery said, cuddling his pet rabbit. “Time for your dinner, Snowy.” He set the rabbit down and gave her rabbit food in a bowl. “That’s a good girl, Snowy, you eat that right up.”

Kit smiled at the scene and couldn’t resist teasing Jeffery a bit.

“See, Jeff? Your memory’s getting as bad as your Mom’s.”

 “Okay, okay,” Jeffery said, looking a little grumpy at being teased for his memory problem again. “So I have some memory lapse, but they’re not as bad as Mom’s.” He looked up at the clock on the wall and let out an excited gasp. “It’s time for my favorite band!”

He rushed over to the radio and turned it on.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you—the one, the only—the Country Bears! Ha, ha!” said the radio announcer.

And then a soft, lively melody of country music begins to play.

You can’t sit around waiting for the, path to glory
You've gotta get moving to, tell your story
The bigger they come the harder they fall
From a littlest acorns come trees so tall

Kit’s ears perked up to the lyrics that define his life in a lot of ways. He begins to have flashbacks of his escape from Karnage, his crash-landing on top of Baloo at Louie’s, of his meeting Rebecca and Molly for the first time, all the good times he had at Higher for Hire, and finally, the discovery of his brother, Chris. 

Where you're coming from, where you're going.
Until you get there, you got no way of knowing

All the love in the world won't find you if you don't let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride
And every mistake is a break, but only if you get it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride

Kit glanced at Jeffery and Chris; they were both swaying to the music. And Chris looked as though he was playing an invisible guitar.

“I like this song, Jeff,” Kit said, allowing himself to sway to the music as well. “It’s got really good words and music to it. I think Baloo would like this too.”

“Yeah,” Jeffery said in agreement.

And all the love in the world won't find you if you don't let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride
And every mistake is a break, but only if you get it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride

Every day's brand new place

Feel the sun up on your face
Try something new, you won't regret it
The hole in your shoe, buddy, just forget it

Let it ride, oh you got to let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride
Let it ride, oh you got to let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride
Let it ride, oh you got to let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride
Let it ride, oh you got to let it
Let it ride, let it ride, let it ride

The song ended and the three bear cubs, minus the rabbit, applauded just as Melissa was calling to them through the intercom between the kitchen and Jeffery’s room that was time for dinner. They find this convenience for commutating between four and a half floors, from the kitchen to Jeffery’s attic bedroom.    

“Oh boy, dinner! I’m starving, how about you two?” Jeffery asked happily.

“Yeah!” Chris and Kit said in unison as their stomachs gave a huge rumble.

“Dears, come on already, it’s getting cold, and nothing’s worst than cold lasagna.” Melissa’s voice said from the intercom, sounding playful.

Too true, Jeffery thought. He walked over to the intercom, press and held down the call button.

“Okay, we’re coming, Mom.” Jeffery called back.

Quickly the boys headed down to the kitchen, stopping on the way down to wash their hands, to meet Melissa who was setting their plates.

“Yummy, Mom; that smells great! Your cooking’s always the best!” Jeffery said, kindly complementing his Mom’s cooking. She was teaching him, but there was still room for improvements.

“I’m glad you like it, Jeffery dear.” Melissa said gently hugging her son. “I just hope Kit and Chris will like it too."

It was at that moment did Melissa and Jeffery noticed that both Cloudkicker twins were staring their plates, their mouths drooling hungrily as the four bears took their seats.

“Heh-heh,” Melissa laughed. “I guess that answers my question.” She chuckled, and then said. “Well dears, it looks like you three are ready for a good dinner, huh?”

“You bet!” the tree cubs exclaimed in unison.

“Heh-heh, okay, I won’t make you wait any longer. Go on, dig in.” Melissa said. “Oh hold it!” she added, holding up a hand and sounding forgetful. The three cubs froze with their forks halfway to their mouths, looking a little impatient. “Jeffery, would you be a dear and say grace for us, please?” she asked.

“Sure! I would be happy to, Mom.” Jeffery said, putting his hands together under his chin, bowing his head and closing his eyes.

Kit, Chris and Melissa imitated him, putting their hands together and bowing their heads as well.

“O Mighty Lord in the heaven above,” Jeffery begins. “Thank you for giving us today our daily bread. Thank you for our family, for we are so blessed to be together. Thank your for love and peace. Thank you for providing us with this wonderful meal, for we are so grateful and blessed. Amen.”

“Amen.” echoed Kit, Melissa, and Chris."

“Jeffery dear; that was so pretty.” said Melissa gently wiping a tear from her eyes.

“Thanks Mommy,” Jeffery said happily in response. “I always love saying grace,” he added. “I’m glad you asked me to, Mom."

“Oh, you’re welcome, Jeffery dear.” Melissa said.

“Wow, this is really good, Aunt Melissa.” Kit said happily, trying not to talk with his mouth full.

“Yeah, I agree!” piped up Chris, while breaking a piece of garlic bread and eating it.

“Oh, thank you, dears, I’m glad you like it.” Melissa said, smiling pleasantly, while picking up a bit of lasagna off her plate with her fork.

“Told you Mom’s lasagna’s the best,” Jeffery said, grinning at his cousins. “It’s a bit of an old secret family recipe Mom learned from my Grandma. It’s pretty cool, I want to make something this good someday. I only know how to make some breakfast stuff, pizza and-and baking for now though.”

“That’s just great, Jeff.” Kit said encouragingly. “I know you’re only just learning, but you’ll get there. Just like me with becoming a magician.”

“Aww…Thanks, cuz.” Jeffery said sounding slightly embarrassed. Kit really knew how to make him feel happy.

Just then, there was a knock on front door. They looked toward the door to see a red pilot cap through the square window in the door.

“It’s Daddy Bear!” cried Chris delightedly, he then bolted from his chair and dashed down the hall to open the door. “Daddy Bear!” he yelled as he jumped up into Baloo’s arms. “I’ve missed you, Daddy Bear.” he laid his head on Baloo’s chest, happy to be with his Daddy Bear.

“Aw, I’ve missed you too, Lil Buddy.” Baloo said, cuddling Chris and gently patting the back of Chris’ head.

“Ah, Baloo, come in, come in.” Melissa said from the kitchen doorway. “Why don’t you join us for dinner?”

“Hey, sure thing!” Baloo exclaimed, making his way into the kitchen, carrying Chris. “Thanks, Millie.” He set Chris back down in his seat and took the available seat next to his Lil Buddy.

“Uh, Baloo dear, don’t call me that.” Melissa said with distaste toward the nickname Baloo gave her. “Either call me Melissa or be booted from my house…. the painful way…” Her voice was calm but at the same time, it sounded so dangerous that Baloo didn’t even attempt to argue.

Chris looked down at his plate; he has only eaten half of the square piece of lasagna that was on his plate. He picked up his fork and picked at his food, not feeling hungry anymore.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Melissa, I can’t eat anymore, I’m full.” Chris said, looking apologetically toward his aunt.

“Oh, don’t worry about it, dear.” Melissa said kindly from her side of the table. “Just leave it sitting there, unless somebody else wants it.”

“I’ll take it, Chris.” Kit offered kindly, and he gently took Chris’s plate.       

“It was really good though, I’m really sorry I couldn’t eat it all.” Chris continued, still looking apologetic.

“Oh, thank you, dear.” Melissa said, smiling warmly while taking a sip of her drink. “And don’t worry about it, Chris dear, I’m just glad you like it.”

The rest of the meal was an enjoyable affair, as Baloo told the three eager cubs about his