The Bear Brothers
Perhaps you've heard of Smokey the Bear, but who's Sparky?17 total reviews
Comment from Susan Newell
Tom,
One of your best. Definitely Story of the Month material. You "showed us" (while you educated us) all the way through. Inventing Sparky and his antics are strokes of genius. Picture me crossing my arm across my waist and bowing.
Sue
. In no time at all the fire was born, and like all
Perhaps you've heard of Smokey the Bear, but who's Sparky? ==> Smokey Bear. But
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Extra space inside " at beginning of fourth paragraph
newborns, it was hungry. -- ten stars
Rabbits and chipmunks were bounding down the hill, panic on their whiskered faces.
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Tom,
One of your best. Definitely Story of the Month material. You "showed us" (while you educated us) all the way through. Inventing Sparky and his antics are strokes of genius. Picture me crossing my arm across my waist and bowing.
Sue
. In no time at all the fire was born, and like all
Perhaps you've heard of Smokey the Bear, but who's Sparky? ==> Smokey Bear. But
Missing line break after second paragraph
Extra space inside " at beginning of fourth paragraph
newborns, it was hungry. -- ten stars
Rabbits and chipmunks were bounding down the hill, panic on their whiskered faces.
Comment Written 09-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Holy cats Sue! Thanks so much for the generous review and comments. I'm honored by your high praise. I was just looking for something for the This sentence starts the story contest. I had been talking to a friend who shares a bizarre sense of humor like myself and somehow the conversation got around to forest fires or some such thing. Being who we are we started thinking of alternate characters. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. There was actually a song about Smokey the bear, but you're correct, his name was actually Smokey Bear.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
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You are most welcome, Tom. Very creative story!
Comment from Wendy G
A different take on the topic, imaginatively written. I didn't realise before reading this that Smokey was a real bear. Had known of him re forest rangers but thought he was just a symbol. Best wishes for your entry.
Wendy
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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A different take on the topic, imaginatively written. I didn't realise before reading this that Smokey was a real bear. Had known of him re forest rangers but thought he was just a symbol. Best wishes for your entry.
Wendy
Comment Written 09-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Thanks so much for the great review and thoughtful comments Wendy. Yes, he was a black bear cub that somehow made it through a forest fire clinging to a tree. The poor little thing was burned. I saw pictures of him and you just want to hug the little guy. Of course bears are wild and when they're small they may be cute, but they aren't tame. I was reminded of the pictures of the Koala that was caught in the fires in Australia and the lady who rescued him. I was so glad she was brave enough to step up and help.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Congratulations on your 100th post!
Your story was interesting and creative, even though I can't believe Smokey can teach Sparky a lesson - he seems to be a bear that just keeps making the same mistakes. Bad bear!
I found your author's notes interesting, as I always thought Smokey was made up. He lived out his life at the National Zoo? I know you can't release a bear back into the wild after he's been around people.
Good luck in the contest, Tom.
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Congratulations on your 100th post!
Your story was interesting and creative, even though I can't believe Smokey can teach Sparky a lesson - he seems to be a bear that just keeps making the same mistakes. Bad bear!
I found your author's notes interesting, as I always thought Smokey was made up. He lived out his life at the National Zoo? I know you can't release a bear back into the wild after he's been around people.
Good luck in the contest, Tom.
Comment Written 09-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Hello Pam,
Thanks so much for the great review and good wishes. A lot of people thought Smokey was just a symbol, but he was the real deal. If you look him up on the internet you'll see the whole story, including pictures of him as a cub. He was cute as a button. It's a miracle that he survived the forest fire. Of course Sparky was just a figment of my imagination, and for this contest, he fit the bill.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear
The sentence makes the story completing, two bear brothers, Smokey the bear and Sparky a 2 year elder step brother bear, encountering, they had the same mother with different father, Sparky ever chase humans, he had unnatural infatuation with fire and showy but he did a good job saving his brother; well said, well done, post god speed more, share post not 4 self-joy-pride but 4 God and readers worldwide Alcreator Litt Dear (DR)
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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The sentence makes the story completing, two bear brothers, Smokey the bear and Sparky a 2 year elder step brother bear, encountering, they had the same mother with different father, Sparky ever chase humans, he had unnatural infatuation with fire and showy but he did a good job saving his brother; well said, well done, post god speed more, share post not 4 self-joy-pride but 4 God and readers worldwide Alcreator Litt Dear (DR)
Comment Written 09-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Hello DR,
Thanks so much for the great review and comments. Back where I used to live, the town dump used to burn garbage in an open pit. The brown bears would dig around in the pit and drag out bags of trash that hadn't caught fire yet, but one got burned pretty badly when he grabbed some plastic and it melted on his fur. It was sad to see. Now they have it fenced off to keep the bears out.
Have a blessed day.
Tom
Comment from aryr
Good luck wishes regarding the contest entry, Tom. I loved your narrative note. Imagine Smokey and Sparky together one last time. I enjoyed the picture. Blessings n Hugs!
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Good luck wishes regarding the contest entry, Tom. I loved your narrative note. Imagine Smokey and Sparky together one last time. I enjoyed the picture. Blessings n Hugs!
Comment Written 08-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 09-Oct-2022
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Thanks so much aryr for the good wishes. I wasn't going to enter the contest, but I was talking with a friend who has a humor similar to mine (hard to imagine) and for some unknown reason Smokey Bear came up and then we decided his brother would be the exact opposite, a bit of a pyromaniac. Anyway, the story came from that. Not what I had imagined it might be, but I never know what I'm going to get until it's done.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom
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You are so very welcome, Tom. You as well have a blessed day. Blessings n Hugs!
Comment from GWHARGIS
This was a fun what if. You took an imaginary Bear and gave him an imaginary step brother. Kudos on the name choice. Plus thank you for the author notes. I didn't know the history of Smoky the bear. This was a very fun read. Gretchen
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reply by the author on 08-Oct-2022
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This was a fun what if. You took an imaginary Bear and gave him an imaginary step brother. Kudos on the name choice. Plus thank you for the author notes. I didn't know the history of Smoky the bear. This was a very fun read. Gretchen
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Comment Written 08-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2022
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Hi Gretchen,
thanks so much for reading this little story. When I was reading about Smokey, the powers that be said that he was just Smokey Bear, but that years ago someone had written a song about him and inserted the into his name. I guess they prefer just Smokey Bear, but I personally don't care. I always called him Smokey the Bear too.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom
Comment from prettybluebirds
This is a cute and creative take on the writing prompt. Now I know that Smokey the bear has a brother, so I guess one is never too old to learn something new. I wish you luck in the contest.
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reply by the author on 08-Oct-2022
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This is a cute and creative take on the writing prompt. Now I know that Smokey the bear has a brother, so I guess one is never too old to learn something new. I wish you luck in the contest.
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 08-Oct-2022
reply by the author on 08-Oct-2022
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Hello Pretty,
Thanks so much for your kind review. I wasn't really planning on entering this contest, but there was a few days before it closed, so I thought I'd give it a try. I was joking with a friend and somehow Smokey came up, then Sparky was born. You never know what's inside your mind until you tap into it I guess.
Have a blessed evening.
Tom
