Yellowstone National Park - Part 5

Here’s the rest of the story: part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

As they hiked through the forested undergrowth of Yellowstone National Park, Kootie and Koobert carried the souvenirs of their adventure on their back, and just about everywhere else. Their most obvious new possession was the thick coating of mottled black and gray ashes that made them difficult to see in the underbrush. Even if you couldn’t see them, you would still know they were around, however, because of the other souvenir they had gotten from a friendly skunk; an aroma that had diminished only a little with the passage of time.

By and by they came upon a picnic area, with wooden tables and benches, a campstove, several coolers and baskets, tableclothes, and signs of a recent feast. Funny that no one seemed to be around right then. It seemed strange to Koobert that all of this good stuff would be left behind, but he was hungry, and God always saw to it that there was something to eat.

“Are you hungry too?” Koobert asked his big sister Kootie, and she nodded.

“Very Hungry! Let’s eat!”

Kootie and Koobert thanked God for the food and then dug right in. There was potato salad, and chips, and sandwiches galore - some laying out on the table with bites missing out of them, and some still in stacks with their plastic wrappers in place. It wasn’t long before Koobert found his favorite.

“Ballooony Samwich! Yipee!” Cried Koobert.

“I found Peanie Buster and Jam,” replied Kootie with a sticky grin. “And Pickles too!” she added…

Of course, Kootie and Koobert both had to get up onto the tables to reach the best food, and they had a ball chasing from one delight to another. No matter how big a hurry they got into, though, they were very polite - no pushing each other into the pickle relish, and each was careful to make sure that they stayed on the table - no sense in spoiling someone’s clean plate by getting sooty footprints on it.

“Oh boy, This basket has Grapes!” Yelled Kootie, and stuck her head deep into one large basket at the end of a table. Koobert, who especially loved grapes, hurried over to see.

“Can’t reach. Can you help me Koobie?” Kootie said, as she leaned further into the basket. Koobert reached down and grabbed Kootie’s foot, to give her a boost. But the ashes on Kooberts hands were a little slippery, now that they were also mixed with mayonnaise from his sandwich, and he lost his grip almost as soon as he had it.

“Oopsie”, said Koobert, as Kootie flipped over the edge and into the basket. Koobert peered over the edge of the basket that had eaten his big sister, and giggled.

Just then, a rustling in the trees at the edge of the picnic area startled Koobert, and he hopped up into the basket without even thinking. Down came the lid, and the two adventures were trapped, with nothing but napkins, catsup, plastic containers of salad, and luscious grapes to keep them company. They didn’t really mind.

Meanwhile, two bears had emerged from the undergrowth, and began pawing through the picnic area. They were not being nearly so polite as Kootie and Koobert, though - putting their big furry paws right on the plates, and pushing pickle relish on everything. The larger of the two was wearing a funny green hat, and seemed to take particular interest in the picnic baskets.

“Shhh”, Koobert warned his sister, who was wiping grape juice from her chin. “I think we gonna have some company”.

From outside the basket, Koobert and Kootie could hear the bears discussing the picnic area and its contents.

“I don’t think Mr. Ranger’s gonna like this”

“Nonsense, Booboo boy, We’re just, yah know, cleaning up the park and taking care of these old pic-i-nic baskets. Eh? Ooooooeee, This one is spoiled!”

The basket containing Kootie and Koobert lurched, then seemed to sail through the air. For a brief moment everything in the basket seemed to float in midair, then suddenly crash with a metallic thud. Kootie and Koobert bounced playfully around among the food, then collapsed on a puffy pile of napkins.

Now it was dark outside the basket, and Kootie and Koobert lapsed into contented slumber. With full bellies and tired feet, the pair slept soundly, and only a little disturbed when the dumpster they were in was upended into the park service garbage truck. Yes, they were leaving Yellowstone National Park in style, and their next adventure was bound to be just over the horizon, and just as much fun.