foot and hopping up and down on one foot. They both look at Baloo, he was grinning with his eyes still closed.

“How did you—?” Kit began but Baloo cut him off.

“I heard the crab attack on Chris.”

“Oh great, attacked by an army of crabs for nothing!” Chris groaned despairingly, reminding Baloo of the way Kit had said ‘Oh, no, not gorilla birds!’ “Life is so cruel...”

“Well, what do ya want?” asked Baloo, opening his eyes and turning his head to look at them. “Lemme guess: Becky told ya ta get me up outta’ this hammock and you two couldn’t resist prankin’ me by setting a crab loose on me.”

“Uh, that was Kit’s idea…” Chris said nervously, backing away. “I was just going to watch…” And then, he turned on his heels and dashed back to the building, which told Baloo that Chris was not fond of getting in trouble.

“Well, Kit…” Baloo said, sitting up and stretching. “What’s Becky wants me up for?”

“Aunt Melissa called, she got a surprise for me and Chris and we wanted to go, so Mon told us to get you up.” Kit said.

“Oh, well, ya didn’t have ta set a crab on me fer that.” Baloo said, frowning. “I’d be glad to take ya.”

“Thanks Papa Bear.” Kit smiled as he took hold of Baloo’s arm and heaved him out of the hammock.

They walked up the dock toward the tall wooden building before them, Kit tugging on Baloo’s arm the whole way.

Rebecca’s car was out in front of the building and she, Chris and Molly were standing around it, waiting for them.

“Finally, what kept you, Baloo?” Rebecca said, climbing into the passenger’s seat.

“Well, I dunno, Becky…” Baloo said; a sarcastic edge to his voice. “Maybe I was doin’ what I’m supposed ta do on a day off—takin’ it easy!” 

“Just get in, Baloo; we’re going to be late.” Rebecca said in her no-nonsense voice.

Grumbling about being ordered around on his day off, Baloo climbed into the driver’s seat while the kids got into the back seat.

Kit, trying to lighten the mood between him and Chris, was being silly with Chris, teasing him about the crab attack. Chris wasn’t totally mad at his brother, he in turn teased Kit on his failed attempt to prank Baloo. After a few a minutes, Kit, Chris and Molly were chatting and laughing, Chris returning to his cheery self again.

“Kit?” Chris said. “I wonder what Aunt Melissa has as a surprise to show us.”
“Hmm?” Kit thought for a moment before saying: “That’s a good question, bro, I only know Aunt Melissa some from our last meeting, she didn’t say much about herself, just that she loved me and had something to show me one day.”  I wonder if this is that something?  he thought eagerly.

“Oh, I know what it is, Kit!” Molly cutely chimes in with a smile.

“Oh no you don’t, young lady.” Rebecca said gently and firmly at the same time. “Want me to tell Aunt Melissa that you ruined her surprise for the boys?”

“No, Mommy.” Molly said, imagining her aunt’s disappointed look.

 
“Let’s let Kit and Chris see for themselves when we get there.” Rebecca said gently “Speaking of which, we’re nearly there.”

“Whoa”! Kit shouted, noticing his surrounding, looking at the beautiful building passing by his window. “Hey, this isn't the way to Aunt Melissa’s house,” he stated, looking confused. “This is the way to the theater downtown, right?”

“That’s right, kiddo.” Baloo replied, answering Kits confusion,

“But if were going to see Aunt Melissa, we need to go the other way.” Kit said

Chris was staring at his brother amazement, seeing that Kit had good navigational skills.

“Wow.” Chris said in awe. “Where did you learned to read maps? I wish I could do that.”

“I learned it when I was younger, I’ll teach you if you’d like.” Kit said with a smile.
 Rebecca interrupted them, saying: “I can’t say boys, but we’re going to meet Melissa there and then you’ll get your surprise. She asked me not to reveal anything at any time till we got there.”

Kit and Chris both sighed and said: “Okay,” looking disappointed.

“Oh don’t be like that, boys.”  Rebecca said gently, “you’ll have a great time today, I promise. Until then, turn those frowns upside down.”

They gave her a weak smile and said: “Okay, Mom.”

Later, after arriving at the Cape Suzette Theater of the Performing Arts, they all walked inside, meeting Melissa backstage.

“Kit!” Melissa shouted, running forward and engulfing him in a big ‘Aunt Melissa’ version of the bear hug. “Ohh, how’s my favorite nephew? I missed seeing you, sweetie.”  

“I missed you too, Aunt Melissa.” Kit said, snuggling up in Melissa’s embrace and hugging her back. “Oh, and you can’t say I’m your favorite anymore, Chris might get jealous,” he said, gesturing toward Chris.

Melissa looked over at Chris. “Aw, you both can be my favorite! Come over here, Chris and give your Aunt Melissa a hug.”

Chris walked slowly up to Melissa before she scooped him up in her other arm and hugged both him and his brother. They hugged for a moment before Melissa released them and was now looking Chris up and down.

“Aw, Chris, you’re so cute, I could just eat you up!” Melissa exclaimed, pinching Chris’ cheek. “And you have such adorable, pretty blue eyes!”

“Thanks, ma’am.” Chris muttered, looking down to hide the fact that he was blushing scarlet at her complements.  

“What’s the outfit for, Aunt Melissa?” Kit asked, noticing her magician costume for the first time. “I didn’t know you were a magician.”

“Oh sorry, Kit, I wanted that to be a surprise, sweetie,” she said, looking at Kit while ruffling Chris’ hair affectionately. “Yes, I am, in fact, a magician and here I have something for you and the family.”

Melissa conjured five tickets with backstage passage, sparkling with a firework effect, out of thin air. She handed Kit and Chris two special ones.

Kit noticed that his and Chris’ tickets were gold while Baloo, Rebecca and Molly’s were silver.

“Wow, you really are a magician!” Chris exclaimed, overjoyed. “That’s a neat trick! I love magic! Kit’s been teaching me a few tricks.”

“He has?” Melissa said, acting surprised. “Well, that’s just wonderful. You’re such a sweet little gentleman, aren’t you?”

Chris nodded, blushing again as Melissa tussles his hair. He’s such a modest bear cub.

“Heh, heh, heh, heh.” Chris laughed, almost giggling at the kindness of his new aunt.

“Aww…” the rest of the adults cooed,

Just then, another bear cub came walking backstage from his dressing room. His fur was chocolaty brown and his eyes were hazel blue. He was dressed in his junior magician’s assistance costume. Kit knew him as Jeffery, a friend from school.

“What’s all this awwing for, Mom?” he demanded, “Are you embarrassing Kit?”

“Who, me?” Melissa asked innocently, gesturing to herself.  “Oh no, son, I would never do such a thing! I was just having fun with your other cousin.”

“COUSINS?!” Kit and Chris shouted together, looking confused.

“Oh yes!” Melissa exclaimed in delight. “Kit, Chris, this boy here in the ruby red and gold assistants outfit, is my twelve—almost thirteen— year-old son, Jeffery.”

“What?” Kit exclaimed, his jaw dropping. “B-b-but how? I though you were just my friend from school, Jeffery! No way your m-m-my cousin.”  Kit was so shocked by this revelation that he couldn’t help stuttering a little.

Jeffery laughed at Kit’s shocked and stupefied expression

“Yeah, sorry bout that, Kit.  Mom told me not to tell you yet.” Jeffery explained with a grin, both hands behind his head, trying to keep his composer.

“Wow!” Chris said in awe, gazing at Jeffery with admiration. “You’re my cousin and you work with you Mom doing magic?”

“Yep” Jeffery said, moving over to Chris and ruffling his hair like Melissa did.  “It’s pretty neat too, gives me something to do with my Mom. My hobbies have been magic for a few years now, so Mom added me here as her assistant. You’ll see me in every trick tonight, except one.”

Jeffery leans over and whispered in Chris’s ear that he and his brother are going to be helping in a trick at the end of the show.

“Wow,” Chris exclaimed, excitedly. “Hey, can we tell Kit?” he asked in a voice so low that Kit could not hear, he wouldn’t be able to any way, as he was getting yet another hug from his Aunt Melissa.

“Not yet,” Jeffery said, pointing his finger to his head. “Keep it in here, Chris, till later.”

“Okay, Jeffery.” Chris said with a slight laugh.

“Kit, Chris, I hear that you two are working on doing magic together, like me and Jeffery.” Melissa said, ruffling Jeffery’s hair.

“Mom…!” Jeffery whined,