wonderment dancing in his eyes.

“Not now, Baloo. Can’t you see I’m tired?” She grabbed an Orange Fizzie from the refrigerator, popped the cap off, and glanced around the kitchen, wrinkling up her nose in distaste. “What’s that smell?”

“I don’t smell anythin’.” Baloo surreptitiously kicked some macaroni that he had missed during clean-up under the refrigerator. He quickly changed the subject. “Ya coulda radioed, ya know. Were you at Louie’s?”

Rebecca plopped down on the couch. “No, we were definitely notat Louie’s. We ran into a storm, then more bad weather, and soccer balls.” Rebecca giggled at the memory. “Right, Kit? Soccer balls?”

“Soccer balls? If you think fer one prop-spinnin’ second that I’m buyin’ that mumbo-jumbo...” Baloo stopped mid-rant. An astonished look crossed his face. “What am I sayin’?”

Kit was on the floor, rocking with laughter. “You sound just like each other!”

Baloo grinned. “Soccer balls? That’s a good one, Beckers. Might hafta borrow it sometime.”

Taking a big gulp of soda, Rebecca shook her head wearily. “It’s not an excuse, Baloo. It really happened.”

The big bear settled on the couch beside his wife, draping an arm about her shoulders. “This I gotta hear.”

Rebecca and Kit told their side of the story. Then Baloo shared his day.

“I’m tellin’ ya, Becky, if I never hear that blasted phone ring, it’ll be too soon. How do ya keep it all straight? All them customers, I mean?”

The bearess smiled, placing the pilot’s cap back on Baloo’s head. “How do you keep from falling asleep on long cargo runs? You’re right. Flying is hard work.”

Husband and wife locked eyes for a long time, not saying a anything. Kit waited, staring at his feet in silent expectation. Periodically, he stole glances up at his parents.

“I’ll...I’ll try to be more patient and not yell so much,” Rebecca said contritely, putting her small hands in Baloo’s larger ones.

Baloo squeezed her paws. “An’ I’ll try to be on time more an’ cut ya some slack when ya get pushy an’ crabby.”

“Pushy and crabby?” The bearess yanked her hands away. “You’re lazy and sloppy, not to mention...!”

Kit whistled shrilly.

Their mouths still open, Baloo and Rebecca halted mid-argument.

“Time out! Haven’t you two learned anything today?” the boy asked reprovingly.

Turning their backs to each other, the adults shook their heads petulantly.

“Don’t you appreciate each other more now that you’ve switched jobs,” Kit said pointedly. Gee whiz! For being adults, they sure can act like stubborn little kids sometimes!

“I s’pose,” Baloo muttered, turning around.

Rebecca’s expression softened as she met her husband’s eyes. She held out a hand. “Truce, darling?”

Baloo took her paw, a tender smile on his face. He pulled his wife into his arms for a hug. “Truce, Beckers,” he whispered in her ear. “Love ya.”

“I love you, too, Baloo.” Chin resting on her husband’s shoulder, she said, “Thank you for the valuable lesson, Kit.”

Baloo ruffled Kit’s hair affectionately. “Yeah, it was a good idea, kiddo. A little painful and crazy, but a good idea.”

Then, the phone rang for the millionth, trillionth time that day.

Baloo groaned. “Not again! I’m gonna rip that dang thing from the wall!”

With the pink scarf streaming out behind her, Molly skipped downstairs and answered it. “Higher for Hire. This is the secretary, Miss Molly, speaking.”

“Baloo...” Rebecca shot daggers at her husband. “Has she been answering the phone all day?”

The big bear shrugged innocently. “Not all day. She’s just playin’ a game, honey.”

“Mommy, it’s the Mango Wango people, and they don’t sound very happy,” Molly sang. She held out the receiver.

The exhausted expression returned to Rebecca’s face. “I forgot all about that.”

Baloo went over to the phone. He cracked his knuckles. “I’ll take care of this one.” Politely, yet emphatically, he said, “Sorry, we’re closed,” and he clicked down the receiver. “Deal with ‘em tomorrow, Becky. They’re all bananas over there. This bear needs ta get out of the office. We’re eatin’ out tonight.”

“Yay!” Molly shouted. “I’m real hungry, Mommy, ‘cause all I had for lunch was a bologna sandwich and crunchy maca...”

Baloo quickly placed a paw over his daughter’s mouth.

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the big secret?”

“You really don’t wanna know, Beckers,” he chuckled wanly.

“For once, Baloo,” Rebecca said, smiling tiredly, “you’re right. I don’t want to know. Let’s go eat.” She took Molly by the hand and started for the car. “Come on, guys.”

“Coming, Mom,” Kit said.

Rebecca stopped in her tracks. “What did you say, Kit?”

Kit thought for a second before it dawned on him. He had accidentally called Rebecca ‘Mom’. He repeated softly, “I said, ‘Coming, Mom’. Is...is that okay? To call you ‘Mom’?”

Her eyes shining with joyful tears, Rebecca shared a smile with Baloo before answering. “It’s much more than okay. It’s fabulous, sweetie!”

Grinning from ear to ear, Baloo ruffled Kit’s hair. “Yeah, fan-dang-tastic, Li’l Britches.”

“Ya know what I want for supper? Macaroni and cheese,” Molly proclaimed loudly as she skipped to the car.

Locking the door, Baloo groaned, “Anythin’ but that, Button-nose.” It had taken an extremely long time to clean up that nightmarish mess and Baloo despised cleaning. He never wanted to do Rebecca’s job ever again. “Anythin’ but that!”

The End