February 5, 2010     Dow 10,0012

Mama Bear and Goldilocks had just finished cleaning up the dinner dishes when Goldilocks’ cell phone rang.

"Hi Ferdinand, Where are you? I can hardly hear you. The background noise is very loud" she complained. She jammed the phone against her ear and listened.   

"How did you get to Mexico?" She asked. "Yes, I heard their stock market set record highs."

"How did you land in Mexico?" Goldilocks asked again as the three bears gathered around listening intently.

Now, Ferdinand's voice was very loud, Goldilocks quickly pulled the phone away from her ear.  "Do me a favor, OK? I think you should call up Mrs. Santa and tell her to buy him new bifocals." 

"OK but where are you in Mexico?"

Ferdinand's voice continued to boom through the cell phone "I'm staying at Speedy Gonzales' Cheese factory. You should see all the lovely heifers who live here. Speedy is a great friend. He knows everything about flowers. This is one great country."

Mama Bear whispered, "He sounds very happy"

"But I thought you planned to go with us to Dick Whittington's Cat's wedding in India. " Goldilocks voice was a bit irritated.

"Of course I plan to go, I'm ready, I even have a present for the lovely bride." Ferdinand explained.

Mama Bear signaled Goldilocks to say good bye quickly.

"I'll get right back to you, Ferdinand. We have to call Mrs. Santa right now."

"Oh, don't worry Ferdinand, I'm sure Santa will pick you up in time for the wedding, but he can't fly anywhere until he has new glasses."

Goldilocks scrolled down her cell phone numbers. " Mama Bear this is Mrs. Santa's number right?"

"Here let me talk first, I'm sure that Grumpy Old Man hasn't told her a thing"...Mama Bear took the phone and pushed the send button.

“Merry we have a problem.” Mama Bear’s explanation tone of voice was very deliberate. “You have to talk Santa into going to the eye doctor for new bifocals. We have several in our neighborhood, if you two could fly down for a visit.”

Mama Bear and Mrs. Santa chatted for a while and the arrangements were made. Mama Bear then sat down at the kitchen table and started making a list. 

Goldilocks and Baby Bear sat down across the table and waited for Mama Bear to stop writing.

“Are they really coming? Goldilocks asked.

“They’ll be here for Valentines Day”  Mama Bear handed a ‘to do’ list to Goldilocks and Baby Bear I’ll make an appointment at the optometrists for Papa Bear, too.

Valentines Day brought new bifocals for Santa and Papa Bear.  Both gentlemen spent many happy hours reading the newspapers. The newspapers began to stack up and on Mardi Gras Day Papa Bear and Santa were reading the Business newspapers.

Suddenly Papa Bear jumped up from his chair folding his IBD newspaper in half and in quarters and pointed to a one inch news item in the right hand corner of  page 2.  He handed it to Santa who  studied the item. Santa read it out loud.

"Ponzi Scheme operator Artful Dodger escapes from Minnesota Federal Prison believed to be in route to Wall Street.  Papa Bear took the paper and continued to read the item aloud as Mama Bear, Goldilocks, Baby Bear  and Mrs. Santa gathered around. “ Believed to have stashed gold coins in the area of Wall and Broad St.”

“Santa you have to take Goldilocks out of here and maybe we should go with her.”

Goldilocks pulled her cell phone out of her apron pocket. “ Yes, but Papa Bear where should I go”

Back to the North Pole with us? Mrs. Santa suggested.

To London, I could stay with Dick Whittington. Goldilocks suggested.

"Mexico " said Baby Bear. “ Ferdinand would introduce you to Speedy Gonzales”

“India and you could help with the wedding” Mama Bear said quietly.

Santa lit his pipe and the rings of smoke circled round and round and round. Everyone knew he was thinking about travel plans.

“Papa Bear do you think we could teach your RV to fly? “ 

Papa Bear nodded his head

“OK this is the plan I take Goldilocks Mexico leave her with Ferdinand. Then I’ll come back and we will give flying lessons for your RV, then Mrs. Santa and I  will pick up Dick Whittington in London fly to Mexico pick up Goldilocks and Ferdinand and you all fly to India and we all meet at  the rehearsal dinner.”

“Sounds like a plan” Papa Bear nodded his head and sorted through his key ring while Mama Bear called everyone on Goldilock's cell phone.

Mama Bear put the cell phone into Goldilocks' apron pocket then ordered “Go get your suitcase Goldilocks and don’t forget you new dress and be sure to put on your hat and scarf and mittens.”

Everyone trundled up to the roof to the sleigh. Santa grabbed the reins for the sleigh and signaled the reindeer  “I’ll be back in the twinkling of an eye. Climb in Goldilocks. Rudolf find Ferdinand they tell me you dropped him off in Mexico at a cheese factory”