Bennie scrambled out of the leaf nest, trailing a leaf on his bottom. The little puffy brown bear cub wanted to play. Now!

His sisters, Luz and Tamara, followed him to the den entrance. The three bear cubs put their paws together.

“One paw, two paws, three paws—ready to play!”

Freda the squirrel arrived with a pinecone. Plop! She set it beside Bennie. Then she fetched one more. Her bushy tail flicked as she pointed toward a track between the mossy roots.

“One pinecone,” whispered Luz. “One pinecone.”

“And one more!” said Bennie. “We can roll them both!”

Luz reached to make a neat row.