The Hugging Place
Sherry Morris
The day the bear came to town, the light was just right. It transformed the fading yellow walls of our stone homes to a golden honey hue. Some said it was a sign. We’d been wondering how to improve our lacklustre lives, address the depression that had bedded down with us. We all wished to refresh, dreamt of starting anew. Instead we sat like blobs of glue wondering what to do.
He caught us by surprise, this bear – walking upright, his claws clicking a beat through our worn cobblestone streets, tipping a chartreuse top hat to everyone he’d meet. We could’ve simply stayed in and cowered as he towered over us all. Ignored his booming ‘Good day, fine people!’ that ricocheted all around our town’s tired walls. But somehow, we knew he was alright. That we didn’
