April slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed out the back door of the library on the way back to her dorm room. She barely took a dozen steps when a voice calling her name caught the vixen’s attention. She looked around and saw no one, and was about to continue on when she heard her name again. She followed the voice and looked up, seeing her friend Tony standing on top of the library entrance which she just came out of.
She was about to ask the bear what he was doing, yet as soon as she saw what he was wearing she groaned in dismay. “Oh please Tony. Don’t tell me your going to try and fly again with that contraption.”
Tony smiled brightly and finished attaching a belt around his waist, securing the backpack, which held two giant wings, which sprouted from the sides. He reached under them and took the handles in his large hands, giving him the appearance of having two giant white wings.
“Of course I am.” He said. “I improved it though. I replaced the chicken feathers on it with those of a sparrow. They are much lighter so I will get much more lift.” He then flapped his arms experimentally, loosening up.
April sighed out loud. “Tony? You’re a four hundred pound grizzly bear. Changing the feathers on those wings is not going to help. The only way you are going to fly is by an airplane. The last two times you tried this I had to drive you to the hospital. Haven’t you learned yet that flying is for those born with wings, or by a machine? Plywood wrapped in chicken wire and covered with papier-mâché and feathers is simply not going to do it.”
Tony chuckled, his god nature was not so easily countered. “Stop worrying. By my calculations I will be able to maintain flight for almost twenty seconds before I get tired.” April said as she watched him, her arms folded across her chest. “You got a D in calculus last semester Tony, so don’t act so sure.”
“Watch then ye of little faith!” Before April could speak again, the bear flapped his arms franticly and then jumped off the library. The vixen could only watch as he fell the entire twenty feet to the ground like a stone. She winced a bit as he hit the ground with a THUMP, and laid motionless, facing down on the grass.
April walked over and looked down, shaking her head sadly. “Want me to bring you to the hospital now?” The bear grunted an affirmative and nodded softly. April smirked a little, seeing the only real damage done was to his ego. “I’ll go get my car keys then.” As she turned and headed to her dorm, she wondered if this third failure would make the bear give up this silly idea. Inside she knew he wouldn’t though, not until he was among the clouds.
By, Bombur
