getting to her feet to see the front of the truck, a million thoughts coming through her mind as she feared for her daughter.

But what she saw was not her daughter, but a man's body dressed in dark blue jeans and a checkered blue shirt, laying on the street before the truck and curled to the side.

-M-Mommy?- a small voice came out and Rebecca darted to the man's side, afraid of turning him...but in his arms, there was her beloved yellow bear cub...safe and sound.

- Oh Molly! My baby! - she picked her daughter in her arms and hugged, fighting off tears for the relief she felt.

Then reality came back and the truck driver, a big gorilla was next to them. Inside the ice cream shop, people were already calling for police and ambulance.

-Are you ok lady? - asked the worried driver, then he looked at the unconscious fella on the street -I'm sorry, but you two crossed the street by surprise and I tried to stop, but then that guy came outta nowhere and pushed you and held the little girl! But he seems hurt!

Rebecca carefully checked the man after setting down Molly. It was a bear, with almost coppery fur, apparently in his late twenties, by his side, a broken pair of glasses. He wasn't bleeding at least, which she felt it was good, but when she touched his head he moaned.

-NNn...what the hell did you put in my coffee? - he whispered and then he was out cold.

Fortunately the ambulance and police had arrived and were already isolating the area and getting him checked. They escorted Rebecca to the side and asked her and the driver a few questions, filling a report while the bearess half-replied and half-tried to spot how their rescuer was, but soon he was taken away in the ambulance.

-Will he be alright?- she asked a dog police officer.

- We will see Ma'am, but you are lucky he showed up. He's being taken to Cape Suzette General Hospital. Right now, we need to ask you a few more questions...

A few more questions for a police officer maybe, but for a shaken Rebecca, quite a bit. The driver, however, seemed to be even worse as the gorilla was trying to explain to the cops what happened, making wild gestures with his arm and hand, slamming his fist against his palm, making strange crashing sounds and opening his eyes wide as he waved his arms up and then lied on the street with his tongue out, which prompted the questioning police officers to exchange glances between each other and shake their heads.

Eventually however, mom and daughter managed to arrive their home.

She walked through the door, carrying her sleeping daughter in her arms and closing it behind her with her foot. Then she carefully carried Molly to her bedroom where she placed the young girl in her bed to sleep. She felt somewhat guilty and wanted to go to the Hospital to see if that young man would be ok, but she could not leave the bear cub alone in the apartment and just go.

But she would make sure she would go there in the morning. She was worried. And as she got changed into her nightgown and lied in her bed, sleep would not come easy for the brown bear woman.

-Next Morning, Cape Suzette General Hospital-

Rebecca walked in and walked straight to the receptionist at the information counter, a strange looking white bunny girl dressed as a nurse, with huge green eyes and a pair of stethoscopes around her neck.

-Good Morning - greeted Rebecca. -I'd like to...

-Hi Welcome to Cape Suzette General Hospital! Are you sick? You look sick! lemme check you!- the bunny girl blurted and got up on the counter, placing a finger on Rebecca's left lower eyelid and pulling it down to check it -Oooh you look sick! Have you been drinking coffee? I have been drinking coffee! it's good for you!- and then before the bear woman can say anything the crazy bunny pries her jaw open and places a stick on her tongue, looking deep inside - ooh minty! you brushed your teeth, good! - she then takes the stethoscope and places the chestpiece on the bear woman forehead - Eeep, can't hear anything! You are really sick! Don't worry, I have this great laxative! - and, from who knows where, she takes out a spoon and a bottle that doesn't look like anything Rebecca would drink in a million years and starts opening the cap.

-MISS WIGGLEBUN..- a stern looking middle aged Otter with glasses and dressed as a doctor stood before them both, with a large notepad tucked under his left arm. -Mr. Grubbles from room 14 needs his medicine...and for the last time, please, stop placing our receptionist under quarantine! I assure you that she is very healthy!

- Okay Dr. Jones! - the bunny said bubbly and quickly hopped off the counter and walked humming happily to room 14, opened the door and entered, greeting - Hello Mr. Grubbles!!- and closed the door behind her. Rebecca could swear that she heard a man screaming and pleading for help from the room and winced.

-I am sorry, Ma'am, our new intern is a bit...eager to help. I'm Dr. Jones.-the otter offered a hand which Rebecca shook. he was just a little taller than herself.

-Pleased to meet you Doctor. I am Rebecca Cunningham. I came to see a patient, a bear in his twenties I believe. See, my daughter and I were almost run over by a truck yesterday but that brave man saved us in the last moment, but he got hit in our stead...

-Ah, yes- the doctor said -The young man from last night...he was quite in luck. He only got a minor concussion and a bruised elbow. He quickly recovered conscience and was very lucid. We kept him under observation for the night, but we released him a couple hours ago.

Rebecca was relieved by those news, but somewhat disappointed that she could not thank him personally for saving her and Molly's lives. Still, that was solved now, and she had to get back to Higher for Hire. She had a business to run and an ad to place.

And at Higher for Hire, a certain bear pilot was juggling phone calls and about to go crazy.

-Ah yeah, Mister Brown...hey, You the guy from them blue flamingoes right? Man, do You know they come from Cape Suzette and are painted in Thembria? One Minnit! Hullo? Mr. White? Mangoes, really? No, no! See I luv Mangoes! Pay us in Mangoes? Uh, I guess ma boss won't like that..

The bear woman in trenchcoat quickly walked through the door and, spotting the sad scene before her eyes, she took over, gently shooing Baloo from her desk and taking the phones.

- Hello Mister Brown! Oh of course we can deliver them, no problem! But we have a policy of air-dropping those these days because of Thembria's custom regulations! Sure! On Tuesday then Sir, thank you! Mister White! Yes Sir, we do love Mangos but we don't trade them, we only deliver them! Very well, Sir, it's a deal then!

She hung up and sighed. Then she picked one of the phones again and dialed a number.

-Cape Suzette Gazette? Rebecca Cunningham from Higher for Hire. I'd like to post a job ad please. Yes, the economic size, repeating every day for the whole week. It will say "Office helper wanted and Higher for Hire. Bonus for knowledge in accounting, management or marketing. Call us on..."

-Aw man...- Baloo winced. -Beckers, c'mon, we don't need an uptight business type here! - which prompted Rebecca to glare at him - Well, Ah mean, yer not like that! You are...hum...You! But nobody knows this place like you, see?

She finished placing the ad and smiled at Baloo's attempt to convince her.

-Baloo, look at this desk! We are getting good customers and business is booming, but the paperwork is also a lot more. I need someone who can help me organize this a bit. Come on, it's not as if I am hiring another pilot! - she reasoned.

He chuckled - Yeah right! Coz You know that I wouldn't let anybody else fly ma Duck!

-Don't forget it's MY Duck buster!- she grinned but her words did not come so serious, as she knew they could upset Baloo.-And if I have someone helping me here, perhaps I can then spend more time with Molly! I won't have to work the office during the weekends.

-Hey, yeah!- he agreed. -Shortstop would like that! And we can all go fishing together on some weekend!

-See? It will be helpful! You gotta admit that this was another GREAT idea!- she crossed her arms and grinned.

And the week pass. We find Rebecca sitting on the floor by her desk, since even her chair now is full of papers, her hands under her chin and a very frustrated look on her face.

-That was a TERRIBLE idea!- she finally blurted out.

Baloo sighed from his easy chair - Sorry Boss Lady, but I toldja. Remember the first one?

Rebecca groaned as her memory instantly recalled the first one she interviewed

            A smug looking leopard in a business suit sat cross-legged before the desk. He immediately started:

            -I have come to deliver my considerable knowledge and experience to this quaint little business. You have done well, for a woman, but I will take this place to new heights. We can turn this into a real name and then sell it for such a profit, more money than you probably ever imagined in your little dreams, and invest it into a market that promises to be the biggest in the future: Kumquats! -he grinned, flashing pearly white teeth and fangs.

-I swear that I almost asked you to throw him through the window, Baloo.-she grinned at the big bear.

-Woulda been happy to please, Beckers! - the pilot chuckled.

Kit stopped polishing his airfoil for a moment. -And the one after that...

            The big, fat warthog dressed in thembrian military gear stood before Rebecca's desk.

            -And we will run this business as a tight Thembrian

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