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It was a peaceful afternoon. Haru sat at the kitchen table with a bowl full of Ice cream. She ate her ice cream while she watched her mother piece a quilt on the kitchen table.
Ding dong
The doorbell rang, and Naoko looked up from her quilt. “Haru, could you answer the door for me,” asked Naoko.
“Sure thing, mom,” replied Haru. She got up out of her chair, haru set the bowl on the kitchen countertop, and then she made her way to the front door. Opening the door, she looked around and saw no one. Then, for some reason, she looked down. A small emerald green bear-like creature looked up at Haru, and Haru stared back from the doorway. The bear wore a pair of black overalls over a white tee shirt. On his head was a black straw hat, and Haru noticed that the bear had no shoes.
The bear tilted his head. “Ma-ma? The bear asked as he walked up to Haru and latched onto her leg. “Ma-ma. Ma-ma. Ma-ma.” He said as he tried to climb up Haru’s leg.
“Huh?” Haru blinked once, Haru blinked twice, and Haru blinked a third time before it finally dawned on Haru what was happening. “What,” shouted Haru. Gently, she shook the leg that the bear was on, hoping that the bear would let go of her leg. ”I’m too young to be your mama.”
“Ma-ma!” He shouted happily as he held onto Haru’s leg even tighter.
”I’m not your mother.”
“Ma-ma!”
Haru sighed in defeat. She picked up the bear off her leg, and she held him like she would hold a small toddler. She took one look at the green bear in her arm. “I wonder what your name is,” said Haru to herself.
The bear was named Hiroki, but he could only say half of his name at a time. So, he replied,” Hir.” Then he paused for a few, and then he added,”oki.”
“Is your name Hiroki?” Haru asked the green bear.”
Hiroki nodded.
“Well, Hiroki, I’m not your mother, but I know who can find your mother .”
She quickly slipped into a pair of black ballet flats that were in the entryway by the door.
“Haru, who was at the door?” Naoko shouted from the kitchen.
Haru stopped in her tracks. She had one foot out the door. She looked down at Hiroki in her arms.”Umm, it was old Lady Hasegawa. She needs help with her garden. I’m going to help her. I'll be back in time for supertime.” Haru shouted, and with that, she went out the door.
“Ok, take care.” Naoko replied as Haru closed the front door.
Haru made her way out of her front yard and made her way to the Cat Bureau.
After a nice walk, she finally made it to the Cat Bureau. She was greeted with the sight of Muta. Muta was sitting on a chair in front of the Bureau, reading the Daily Cat newspaper.
“Good afternoon, Muta,” greeted Haru.
The cat looked up from his newspaper. He took one look at Hiroki in Haru’s arms, and whatever He was going to say died on his lips. Hiroki noticed Muta; he pointed at the fat cat. “Kitty,” shouted Hiroki happily. He started to squirm in Haru's arms, so Haru set him on the ground. Hiroki ran up to Muta. He stopped in front of Muta. The bear tilted his head. “Ow?” The bear asked Muta.
Haru's eyes widened. “ Hiroki,” scolded Haru.
Muta’s ears flattened back against his head. “I’m not a cow,” growled Muta.
“Ow!” he said happily.
“I said I’m not a cow,”
“Ow.”
“Sorry about that, Muta,” apologized Haru as she picked up Hiroki.
“Ow, Ow, Ow,” said Hiroki. He tried to squirm out of Haru’s arm.
"By any chance, is Baron home,” asked Haru. She was struggling to hold him in her arms.
“He’s here. Baron is making Leaf water as we speak.” Muta paused and glanced at Hiroki, who was now silently struggling to get out of Haru’s arms. “Haru, where did you find that creation,” asked Muta as he eyed the still-struggling bear.
“Creation?” Haru said as she looked down at Hiroki in her arms. She didn’t think about what he was. All she thought was that he was missing his mother.
“Yes, Chicky, what you are holding is a creation. Unless there are green clothes-wearing bears that live in the wild that I don’t know about.”
“You make a good point,” said Haru. Haru stared at the Bureau’s front door, and then she stared at the struggling bear in her hands. “Hey Muta, could you open the front door,” asked Haru,” My hands are full.”
“Sure,” replied Muta as he got out of his chair. He made it to the front door, and he opened the door. He stuck his head in the doorway and shouted. “Hey Baron, chicky is here.”
Baron sat at his desk; a cup of tea was in his hand.
He looked up from his cup of tea to see Haru crouching through the front door. “Hello Haru, how are you doing on this fine day,” greeted Baron. Baron set down his tea cup on the desk, and he could help but not to stare at Haru. She wore a green shirt with a pair of white jeans. Haru looked very lovely.
“Papa!”
“Oh.”Baron blinked; he was so focused on Haru that he didn’t notice the green bear creation that was staring at him, very still in Haru’s arms.
Poor Haru, she turned red as a tomato. All she could do was to stutter.
Thankfully for Haru, Muta was there beside her.
“Chicky found this creation.” Muta stated as he pointed at the creature in Haru’s arms
“Baron got a better look at the creation from where he was at. “ Haru, where did you find him?”
Haru got her voice back and sat down on the floor. “ I found him on my front porch, his name is Hiroki,” said Haru as she sat down on the floor. She set down the green bear on the floor beside her. Hiroki sat for a few seconds before getting up.
“I see. Did you notice anything when you opened the door?” Baron asked as he got out of his chair. He made his way towards Haru and Muta.
“I didn’t notice anything unusual,” replied Haru.
While they were talking, the green bear noticed Baron’s teacup on his desk. He made his way toward the desk when the teacup was in reach. Hiroki grabbed the teacup. When they all noticed what Hiroki was doing, it was too late. He took a big swig of tea. He spat out all the tea that he had just drank. He made an “Ick” sound and set the teacup back down on the desk. He made eye contact with Haru. “Icky, Ma-ma,” said the creation.
Just then, Muta burst out laughing. Haru and Baron couldn’t help but chuckle as well.
Hiroki frowned because he did not like being laughed at, and then he looked up to see Toto entering through his window.
His frown turned into a smile “Birdy!” He said happily.
“Hi, Toto,” greeted Haru.
“Good evening, Toto.” Baron greeted.
Toto sat on his perch. He took one look at Haru, and then he took one look at Baron. Then he took one look at Hiroki, and he asked,” Is he yours.”
That question took both Haru and Baron off guard.
Haru started to panic internally. I’m too young to be a mother. What would my mother think? How could I explain this to my mother?
Baron noticed Haru was panicking. So he said, “Haru, can you take a deep breath.”
Haru took a deep breath, and she felt better.
“No, bird brain, it's not their kid.” Muta glared at the crow.
The green bear took one look at Muta, and his smile grew even bigger. ” Ow!” He said happily as he walked towards the fat cat.
Muta glared at Hiroki, who was walking to him, and Toto burst out laughing.”He called you a cow. I like this kid. What’s his name?”
Stopping in front of Muta, he looked at Toto. “Hir.” Hiroki Paused,”oki.”
“Well, Hiroki, I give you full permission to call Muta a cow whenever you like.”
Before Muta could get a word in, Hiroki tried to pet Muta on the head. Muta barely dodged a head pat from Hiroki. “Hey,” shouted Muta, "watch the ears.”
“Ow,” said Hiroki happily. He tried to pet Muta's head again.
Toto laughed at Muta’s suffering.
“Laugh it up, bird brain,” grumbled Muta
Haru watched the proceedings with a smile on her face, and then she wondered. Then she stared at the cat creation that stood by her side.
“Say Baron, I wonder where Hiroki came from,” Haru asked.” I hope his maker isn’t missing him too badly.”
“Don’t worry Haru, we will find Hiroki’s maker no matter what,” Baron replied.
While they were talking, Hiroki noticed the front door, so he decided to check out the front door. Grabbing the doorknob, he opened the front door. He looked at Haru, and said, “Bye, bye mama, bye bye papa. He walked through the door, and the door closed behind him.
Haru blinked. “Did Hiroki just walk out?”
“Yup,’ replied Muta as he realized what happened
“Hiroki, you get back here,” shouted Haru, hoping that Hiroki could hear her.