The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 39

Everyone seems to be fascinated with our new guests. Sheriff Pete, Casey, and Tony have been spending a lot of time out at the Spurs campsite. Apparently, they are learning to rope and ride. They look like they have been eating a lot of dirt. With the exception of having several new bruises they all claim to be having a good time.  Joshua stopped by to see me earlier. He wanted to thank me for my kindness, and he invited me to dinner. I will not be the only one attending. The Spurs invited several people. Joshua said we would eat well. I am thinking “steak”. I don’t remember the last time I sat down and had meat that wasn’t a fish, squirrel or rabbit.

Journal 38

Casey, Lisa, Tony, Jonas, and I walked out to the Spurs campsite to see Joshua to ask if they needed anything. Actually, curiosity was killing us.  We heard they actually had a herd of cattle. They do have a herd and it’s a very large herd.  We weren’t the only gang to come for a visit. Apparently, people have been dropping by all day.  It was an interesting visit. As soon as we reached camp, we entered the 1800’s all over again. There were cowboys and cowgirls everywhere. I don’t think I have ever seen so many guns and rifles in one place before. It was actually a little scary.  Joshua seems to be a very strong leader, and I could tell that the people in his gang respect his authority.  He was conducting business even as we talked. He invited us to look around but cautioned us to stay away from the herd.

Journal 37

Joshua and his friends were in Bear Country looking for supplies. They were just passing through. Most of the people in his gang were setting up camp on the edge of town. It’s somewhat weird. You don’t see very many people dressed in western clothes and wearing guns. They were real guns. I asked if they had had much trouble along their way. Joshua smiled and simply said “Not Much”. He changed the subject when I asked if everyone in his gang carried guns.

Journal 36

People come and go in Bear Country all the time, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw someone new.  Not surprised but interested. I found that new pair of shoes today and while I was shopping, I ran across a couple of wagons and a team of horses hooked up to each of them. The old west had come to Bear Country. Who would have thought in this day and time that cowboys still roamed the plains or at least Lafayette Blvd? People dress how they feel around here. How you dress is part of your identity, but it is a little odd and strange to see cowboy hats and boots. Curiosity was killing me, so I introduced myself. His name was Joshua. He was tall and he wore a black hat.

Journal 35

I think most of Bear Country is still asleep even though it is almost noon. The festival was a great success. I had a wonderful time. I ate too much and stayed out too late. I watched Bear Country defeat the Dirt Bike Knights in a game of flag football. It was so very funny. Neither team had very athletic players. I think we won by accident. The Dirt Bike Knights have asked for a rematch next weekend. It should be an interesting game.

Sheriff Pete spent a couple of hours in the dunk, your favorite deputy and sheriff booth. Casey was the local fortuneteller. She had a long line of people leading up to her tent. Lisa and her band spent most of the day singing. I think Matt and Jonas spent most of the day making out with their girlfriends or any lonely girl they came across. Mostly Jonas, Matt was only making out with Hemy. The Library Trio had people oohing and aaaahing at their science experiments. It’s actually kind of fun watching a volcano explode. I didn’t see much of Tony or the Runt until the evening hours. They said they had a good time.

When the sun went down the bands began to play slower romantic music. People began to slow dance on the football field. It was interesting to watch. Sometimes the oddest-looking couples hook up. I think I watched people dance for a couple of hours before Tony asked me to dance. It was a nice dance, unexpected. I never really realized how good he smells up close.

Journal 34

Today is the festival. I’m excited. Everyone is excited. People have been awake since dawn. Most people around here usually sleep until at least 10:00. Not today, today it was a race to see who could get to the showers first. I can already smell the food. It smells so good. The bands have already begun to play. I love hearing musicians play. Bear Country has several talented musicians and singers but so do several of the other gangs. I expect to hear a wide variety of music throughout the day. There will be many games to play. There will be several tournaments, just pick your sport and somewhere on Lafayette Blvd. a game will be playing. It’s time to start my day. I love Festival.

Journal 33

I’m having one of those moments of thought when you wonder how you got where you are today. I don’t know the history of everyone that lives in Bear Country. We all have a past that we wish we could have back or one that we wished we could forget. I want mine back. I want the life I had before. I want my parents to help make my decisions. I want to look forward to going to college. There aren’t any colleges anymore. This is a depressing mood. I need to get out of this slump. Ok, what can I do to make myself cheerful? I have an idea. I will go and interrupt the make-out session that Matt and Hemy are having down the hall….and grab Tony and make them play spades with me.

Journal 32

Preparations for the festival continue. The backfield of Bear Country is a live with activity as the different gangs put up their booths. I think that this year’s festival is going to be great especially after everything that has happened recently.

Hemy dropped by today to see Matt and she brought back the fuel that was stolen from us by the Hulk. She said she was trying to return everything that the Hulk and his goons stole from the other gangs. I tried to tell her that she doesn’t need to make amends for what the Hulk did. She said she did.

I invited Central to the festival. There isn’t a reason why they shouldn’t be able to attend. It is a little late to prepare a Central booth, so I told Hemy to make sure everyone who wants to enjoy the festivities comes to the party.

Journal 31

Today we gathered to celebrate life. We welcomed a new member to our gang. It is a tradition in Bear Country to hold a naming ceremony when a new member finds their way here because of a birth or because of a desire to join this community. Casey, a member in good standing in Bear Country presented her daughter to our gang. Casey named her baby girl Aleece in honor of her own mother. I hope the baby’s life is long and happy.

We had a little drama during the ceremony. I was giving Aleece my blessing when I heard Casey suddenly blurting out the name Xavier. My back was to the door, I swung around to see why people were making a fuss. I don’t know how he safely arrived in Bear Country without notice. He was dressed differently but he was standing right there. Sheriff Pete and his deputies surrounded him quickly with weapons drawn. He didn’t put up a fight. In fact, he just raised his hands in the air.

Casey apologized to everyone present. She said she had to invite him. The Hulk (Xavier) asked to step closer to his daughter. He kissed her on the forehead.

The Hulk looked at me and said he was alone. I scolded Casey and then demanded the Hulk leave. He wasn’t welcome in Bear country. Xavier (the Hulk) kissed his daughter one more time than Pete and his deputies escorted him out.

The ceremony continued with the rest of the blessings. Lisa sang, the Library Trio read poetry, and we partied. Life in Bear Country was happy again.