10 Wind in the Trees

10 WIND IN THE TREES John and Annie whirled around to look. The shaggy brown bear was walking slowly toward the campfire. It stopped and stared at the three of them. "Be very still," John said softly to Jack and Annie. "Is it a grizzly?" whispered Jack. "She is, indeed," said John. "You were right. I thought there were no grizzlies left in Yosemite. Perhaps she is the last one." "That's sad," said Annie. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" John said. "Can you sketch her for me?" "Yes," whispered Annie. She reached into her pocket and took out her sketchbook. Though he was scared of the bear, Jack did the same.

The grizzly didn't move. She stood very still and kept gazing at the three of them.

Jack's heart was pounding. By the firelight, he pressed his pencil against the white page. The pencil started moving. Soon Jack had sketched the outline of the bear. He then drew clumps of shaggy fur and big paws and claws. He darkened the bear's nose and ears. By the time he finished his sketch, Jack wasn't afraid of the grizzly anymore. The bear was beautiful, just as John had said. The grizzly huffed and shook her large head. She directed her gaze at Annie and stared at her. "Okay, I'll tell them," Annie said to the bear. The bear huffed again. Then she turned and lumbered back the way she had come. "Tell us what?" John asked Annie. "Yes, what?" said Jack, eager to hear. "She wants us to know that she didn't mean us any harm yesterday," said Annie. "She believes all living things have a right to exist. Because she's the last grizzly bear in Yosemite, she's moving on. She's going to find a place where she's not around people, so she won't scare them anymore, a place where she can be her true self and be—"

"Wait, wait, wait, stop," said Jack. "With other grizzly bears," finished Annie. "She didn't say all that!" said Jack. Annie grinned. "Trust me," she said. John of the Mountains laughed. "I trust you, Annie," he said. "And the bear." Then he looked around. "Friends, it's nearly dark. I think you'd better return to the hotel with me." "Oh, wow! I hear her!" said Annie, jumping up. She stared at the forest. "I hear her calling us!" "Who? The bear?" said Jack. "No! Morgan! Our teacher! She's here! I just heard her call out our names—from beyond the trees!" Annie shouted at the woods. "Hold on, Morgan! We're coming! Stay there!" "Oh, right," said Jack. He jumped up. "Our ride home is here! Calling to us from beyond the trees!" "I didn't hear anyone," said John. "Really?" said Annie. "Yes, but to be honest, I don't hear people as well as I hear nature," said John. "I will wait here by the fire awhile. If you don't soon find your teacher, promise me you will come right back." "We will! Thank you!" said Jack. "Thank you

for everything! For bringing us back here and for a great camping trip." "We'll never forget you, John!" said Annie. "Please take our sketchbooks as a gift. And say good-bye to President Teddy for us!" Jack and Annie handed their sketchbooks to John of the Mountains. "Thank you, friends. I will treasure these," he said. "Have a good trip home." "You too, John. Bye!" said Annie. Then she called toward the giant trees, "Coming, Morgan!" She grabbed Jack's hand and pulled him deeper into the forest. "There!" said Jack. He and Annie ran to the rope ladder hanging on the other side of the giant tree. Annie started up. Jack followed. They climbed through the dark step by step…step by step…until finally they reached the top of the sequoia. By the time they slipped inside the tree house, the sky was filled with stars. The leaves of all the big trees were shaking. Far below they could barely see the glow of John's campfire. "Good-bye, John of the Mountains. Good-bye, California," Annie said softly. "Good-bye, President Teddy and mules and last grizzly bear

and—" While Annie kept saying her good-byes, Jack started to hear a humming sound. The sound seemed to be coming from the windblown trees. "Annie, listen," said Jack. "Good-bye, Douglas squirrel, Alpine butterfly," said Annie, "waterfall and stars—" "Annie, listen!" said Jack. Annie stopped talking and listened to the rustling leaves of the giant trees. More and more sounds filled the evening air… the strange, whirring voices of all the living things of Yosemite. The wind stirred the voices together, blending them into one timeless, wordless song. The song grew louder and louder, until it was nearly deafening. Then suddenly it softened, died down, and stopped. "What—what was that?" Jack said with wonder. He'd never heard anything like it. "Nature's song," said Annie. "The song that John hears." "Oh. Whoa," breathed Jack. After a long moment of silence, Annie sighed. "Time to go," she said.