A Friendly Walk

 It was a lovely April morning on the Isle of Swemmit, and Mr Ibsen Finch - scholar, gentleman, retired librarian, bear - was on his way to deliver his post just outside the village of Trosset. He had nothing on his mind except good food, good friends and good books which is always the best thing for anyone to have on their mind. He was also humming a little song to himself, one his housemate Aloysius, a parrot of no fixed breed or manners, was probably singing to himself as he prepared his lunch. Aloysius was always singing something or chatting to himself, always a bit suspicious of a bit of peace and quiet which Mr Finch always enjoyed, as it was the perfect way to enjoy a good book.

And as we shall see, Mr Ibsen Finch always loves enjoying a good book.

Anyway, on this April morning Mr Finch was half way through his song when he heard a friendly voice pipe up behind him.

"Hallo there Mr Finch!" said the voice, "wait up and I'll walk with you!"

"Why hello Mr Minton," said Mr Finch, smiling to see the small dog in the bright red hat scampering up the coastal road behind him. Mr Minton was a fisher man and gardener, but most importantly something of a dreamer and Mr Finch loved nothing more than people who were dreamers. They were his kind of people.

"Off anywhere exciting?" asked the pup.

"Just to post a letter to a friend from Yorkshire," explained the bear. "I have a lot of friends I write letters to and this is one of my favourite kinds of letter - all about books and pictures and friendly chatter."

Mr Minton thought for a moment. "I don't get many letters I think, but if I did I think I'd like them mostly to be about food. That's my favourite thing to talk about. I do like my food. Who's your friend?"

"He's one of those human types, a fellow called Mr Browning. Wants to be a writer and an artist and particularly loves books, especially picture books which happen to be some of my favourites as well. He wants to make his own. We talk a lot about them in our letters."

"What on earth is a picture book?" said Mr Minton. "A book full of pictures?"

"Yes, but usually with a story. So you might have a story about a cook or a baker making lots of food, so you'd see the food being prepared and the people about to eat it. I imagine you'd enjoy a book like that!" 

Mr Minton smiled. "Oh Yes, very much. Doesn't need to even be a story. Just looking at food will do me, although I do tend to prefer eating it."

"Well," said Mr Finch as they reached the post box, "let me post this letter and then why not come home and not only look at some food but also eat it. Aloysius has made a cake you know and everybody loves Aloysius' cakes."

Mr Minton smiled. He remembered a large fudge cake the bird had made for the St Tressop church fete a couple of years ago. That was a fine cake. "Oh that sounds lovely, thank you very much."

And as they turned home to Mr Finch's house, the bear added "And I'll show you some picture books while you're there and show you one of Mr Browning's letters."
"Will it be about food?" asked Mr Minton happily.

"I'm sure we can sort something out, yes." smiled the bear. He loved nothing more than good food, good friends and good books and any opportunity to combine all three was always excellent for him.