The Bear Who Wouldn't Giggle

Barnaby the bear was a very serious fellow. He didn't have time for jokes or games. This week, he had a very important project: building the most magnificent birdhouse the world has ever seen. It had three stories, a tiny balcony, and even a miniature welcome mat.

Just as he was about to attach the tiny balcony, a cheerful voice called over the fence. "Hey there! I'm Pip, your new neighbor!" Barnaby looked up to see a round panda beaming at him. "I've got a joke for you! What do you call a bear with no teeth?"

Barnaby grunted. He did not want to know what you called a bear with no teeth. He wanted to finish his birdhouse. "A gummy bear!" Pip shouted with a giggle. Barnaby just sighed and picked up his hammer.

The next day, Barnaby was carefully painting the tiny window shutters blue. "Hey, Barnaby!" Pip called out, holding a slice of bamboo. "Why did the panda bring a ladder to the party?" Barnaby pretended he couldn't hear.

"Because he heard the drinks were on the house!" Pip bellowed, laughing so hard he almost dropped his bamboo. Barnaby dipped his brush in the paint with a little too much force, splattering some blue on his nose. He scowled.

On the third day, Barnaby was on a small stepladder, carefully placing the roof on his masterpiece. "Barnaby! Oh, Barnaby!" came the voice. "What's a panda's favorite breakfast?" Barnaby grumbled, "I don't know, Pip. A quiet morning?"

"Pancakes!" Pip cheered. Barnaby was so annoyed that he rolled his eyes. He rolled them so hard that he wobbled on the ladder. He wobbled to the left, and he wobbled to the right.

Then, with a great "WHOOPS!", Barnaby tipped over completely and landed with a soft, sticky *SPLOOSH* right into a giant pot of honey he'd left out for his afternoon tea.

Pip peeked over the fence. He saw Barnaby, covered from head to toe in gooey honey, with a leaf stuck to his ear. Pip didn't tell a joke. He didn't have to. He just started laughing. It was a deep, rumbling belly laugh that shook his whole body.

Barnaby looked at the honey dripping from his nose. He saw the leaf stuck to his ear in his reflection in the honey pot. And then, a strange sound started in his own belly. It rumbled, and it grew, until a loud "HA HA HA!" burst out. From that day on, Barnaby was still a serious bear, but sometimes, he and Pip would share a sticky pot of honey and a good laugh.