Sasha the bear makes a spectacle of herself

Zoey and Zeek come upon a spectacled bear in the Enchanted Sanctuary. Helping the rare Tremarctos ornatus may not be much of a spectacle, but it’s every bit as informative.

Zoey: What’s that sound?

Zeek: Sounds like someone reading out loud.

Sasha: (Reading) D-d-…do…DO! Do….N-

Zoey: They’re spelling something,

Sasha: (Reading) Do…N-…Not!  Not! Do not!

Zoey: (Whispering) Let’s be quiet. We don’t want to disturb them.

Zeek: It’s getting a little dark out.

Sasha: Do…Not….F….Ffff-.. Oh, what does that say?

Zeek: Look—it’s…it’s a small bear?

Zoey: Oh, and she’s having trouble reading that sign.

Zeek: Can you see what it says?

Zoey: Not from here. It is starting to get a little dark.

(They approach cautiously.)

Zeek: (Giggling) Hey, Zoey—the bear is wearing glasses. I wonder why it can’t see the sign, then?

Zoey: I’ve never seen a bear with glasses before.

Sasha: (Still reading) “Do Not Fee”…Do not fee? That doesn’t make any sense.

Zoey: Pardon me, miss. Do you need help?

Zeek: Yeah, are you having trouble seeing the sign?

Sasha: Excuse me? Oh, hello there. I didn’t know I was being watched.

Zoey: I’m Zoey, and this is Zeek.

Zeek: Pleased to meet you.

Sasha: Oh, yes. You’re that reporter mouse and her photographer mate. It’s lovely to meet you.

Zeek: Er…mate? We’re just friends, really.

Zoey: We couldn’t help but notice you were having trouble reading this sign. Are your eyes okay?

Zeek: Maybe you need a stronger prescription of glasses.

Sasha: Glasses? I’m not wearing any…oh, that’s just my face, you see?

Zeek: (Looking closer) Hey, yeah. They’re just markings!

Zoey: It sure did look like glasses from back there.

Sasha: That is what everybody says. I tell them it is not glasses, but the next time someone sees me for the first time, it’s “Hey, look at the bear with glasses” all over again. It’s just light markings on my dark face that look like spectacles, yes? That’s why I’m called a spectacled bear.

Zoey: Ah! That’s cute!

Sasha: It doesn’t look too funny, does it?

(She covers her eyes with her paws.)

Zoey: Oh, no. It looks very distinguished and unique. It makes you quite attractive.

Zeek: Worth taking a picture!

Sasha: Oh? You have a camera?

Zeek: Sure. I’ll just get set up. (He loosens his collar.) Wow, it’s getting hot in here. These tropical environments really take it out of me.

Sasha: Oh, yes. The rainforest is my home. What’s left of the rainforest, at any rate. I’m glad the zoo provides some of the trees I’m used to. I love to climb.

Zeek: Just look at those claws of hers!

Zoey. Those are enormous.

Sasha: Yes, they do help me.

Zeek: So I hear you just eat plants. No meat at all, right?

Sasha: Well, I do eat palms and cacti and things, sure. My teeth are built for it. But I’m ashamed to say I have eaten my share of… um….

Zeek: (Suspicious) What?

Sasha: Well…mice. I can’t help it.

Zeek: I knew it, Zoey! Another thing that wants to eat us! Let’s go! (Zeek runs behind a bush.)

Sasha: Oh, no! Don’t worry. I could never eat the famous Zoey and Zeek.

Zoey: You hear that, Zeek? We’re famous.

Zeek: That’s fine. You just stay over there.

Sasha: Well, we all have to eat. I don’t eat that many mice. Sometimes birds and rabbits, or even berries. Whatever I find to eat. There is less and less to eat when the forests are shrinking.

Zoey: That’s why some animals are endangered, Zeek. You can’t blame Sasha for trying to survive.

Zeek: I suppose not. (Zeek comes out.) I just hope you haven’t eaten any friends of mine.

Sasha: I’ll make you a deal. You tell me what this sign says, and I promise never to eat any more mice.

Zeek: Deal. Now, let’s see.

(Zeek walks up to the sign.)

Sasha: What does it say?

Zeek: “Do not feed the bears.”