Seasonal Wardrobe: Bundle up!

Patchington tucked himself into his coat after tightening his scarf. He leaned down to help Bud with his attire too. Bud was so small, he only needed a scarf tightened around him to cover the majority of his body.

“You will need a hat too,” said Patchington patiently.

“But I’m not cold.”

“You’re not cold now, but you will be once we are deep in the forest.”

They were planning to head out for a hike. Around this time of year, Patchington enjoyed taking his roommates to a nearby park where they could walk around the frozen lake or partake in other activities like skating or tobogganing. Bud was excited to do the last.

Truffle waddled over with just a hat on. He stifled a yawn as he passed Patchington.

“And where do you think you’re going without proper clothes on?” Patchington asked the sleepy brown baobear.

He blinked at his landlord. “Uhhh…,” Truffle didn’t have any good excuses other than that he was too lazy to grab them.

“You will not be enjoying any hot chocolate if you do not dress up properly, mister.”

Truffle sighed and turned around to head back up to grab his coat and scarf.

“Put these on too,” ordered Patchington. Bud slipped on the little baobaby booties. As a baobaby, he needed to keep his feet warm. They weren’t covered in sufficient fur like the rest of them.

“Can I still toboggan in all these clothes?” Bud asked while his landlord secured his knitted cap on his head.

“Of course you can!” Patchington reassured. “You will be nice and toasty while doing it. Now, where are the rest of your roomies?” Tarte was seen sitting at the kitchen table drawing. “Are you sitting this one out?”

Tarte nodded without looking at him. Patchington sighed. It would do that boy some good to teach him some proper manners, he thought. Bud was yanking on Patchington’s trousers.

“Can we go now?” he asked, eyes filled with excitement.

“Not yet, we have to wait for Mr.Truffle and Mr.Shelbert.”

At the mention of his name, Shelbert came running down the stairs, his scarf around his neck, sherpa hat in hand and his parka in the other. “I was just coming down!” Truffle descended the stairs slowly behind him, looking half asleep.

“Do you need a coffee?” Patchington asked Truffle.

He shook his head and yawned. “I’m okay.” In addition to the hat before, he now had on a pair of boots and a coat.

“Last call Tarte!” Shelbert called out to his yellow baobear friend.

“No thanks.”

“Then off we go!” Shelbert yanked open the front door before Patchington could reach the handle. He ran out into the cold and waved at them from the end of the driveway. “Come on!”

Everyone else sauntered out of the home and were immediately hit with the winter breeze. All their hats and scarves flapped in the wind.

“Brrrrrr! It is a cold day,” said Patchington, stuffing his scarf into his coat some more.

Bud was running off after Shelbert. The two took off ahead, knowing the way to the frozen lake already. Truffle fell in step with Patchington. They took the slow approach. The snow had piled up overnight and was about hip deep on the adult baobears. Patchington watched where he stuck his cane in case of black ice.

“Good thing they plowed early this morning,” he muttered.

Truffle nodded. “The snow banks look quite comfortable though.” He gently touched the piled snow with his paw; it was soft like a mattress, a very cold mattress. Truffle stuck his paw back into his coat pocket.

Patchington chuckled. “Before we know it, spring will be here. Best we enjoy this winter before it runs out.”