Bea and the Thank You Trail

Bea the Bear bounced down the sunny street of the Town of Paddington. Today was the Bright Day Parade, and the town felt like a busy drumbeat.

Bea carried a basket of blank cards. She wanted to leave thank you notes for the helpers who made the parade shine. She had a ribbon too, just in case she needed to tie something.

A gust of wind swirled around the corner and fluttered the bunting. Bea hugged her basket close and looked up at the dancing flags.

"Woah," she whispered. "This town is loud today."

Near the bakery, a baker set a tray on the sill. The warm smell wrapped around Bea like a soft blanket.

"Good morning, Bea," said the baker.

"Thank you for the cozy smell," Bea said, and she wrote her first note.

She padded on and heard a splash. A bucket of water had tipped by the flower shop, and the sidewalk glittered with little puddles. The shopkeeper knelt, trying to mop fast.

Bea stopped. She could have hurried on, but the puddles were in the parade path.

"Can I help?" Bea asked.

"Yes please," the shopkeeper said.

Bea tied her ribbon around the bucket handle so it could not roll again, then she handed over a cloth. Together they made the path safe and dry.

A small child skipped by and almost slipped, then giggled and stayed steady.

Bea watched the child and felt a warm squeeze in her chest. Help was everywhere. Sometimes it wore an apron. Sometimes it held a mop. Sometimes it was two friends doing one job.

Bea wrote another card and tucked it by the flower pot.

At the town bridge, Bea paused and looked back at the street. She took a slow breath and smiled.

"Thank you, town," she said softly. "For all the little helps."

When the parade finally started, Bea did not feel rushed. She felt ready, and she felt full.