Chapter Seven

Bearing with the Blackfaced Bear

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, stood the Castle...

Oh hang on. You've already heard that one. Now hear this.

The latest addition to the Castle is the Blackfaced Bear. And while it's commonly felt that Blackfaced Bear's name may not truly justify the blackness of the black, and the bearishness of the bear, the moniker is largely accepted as accurate.

Blackfaced Bear entered (with quite a huff, I must say) the Castle by invitation of Jellyfish. He had meant for her to work for him, but things quickly evolved such that she was working against him.

Now, as any Placemat would know, this did not sit well with Jellyfish. He was the reigning supreme! The one! The only..('Spineless little twerpt', Placemats would add with a chuckle)!

But I digress.

Blackfaced Bear was as vocal as any bear (and stubborn and aggressive), and had an unfortunate ear-piercing, eerie growl that she was evidently unafraid to flaunt. Grunting and panting, she attacked her subordinates with the gusto of a hungry predator.

And blackfaced as she was, she hobbled around the Castle with a perpetual frown and snide remark for luckless Placemats who crossed her path.

So one fine day, Blackfaced Bear was doing as she always did when she bumped head-on into Sea Snake. Both ladies glared at each other antagonistically.

Tension thickened the air.

Bystanders watched with bated breaths.

This could be it! The showdown!

And suddenly! Sea Snake tossed her two heads in a show of mock magnanimity, threw the growling Blackfaced Bear a faint nonchalant smile, and sashayed off. That left Blackfaced Bear feeling very indignant and silly indeed!

The audience of Placemats quickly scampered off, each harbouring a knowing smile.

This, they knew, was only just the beginning...

Continue reading Chapter Eight