Once upon a time there was a bear. And in those days, the bear had a beautiful long tale, and he was very proud of it. And one day, the bear was out on the ice, and he met a fox. The fox had a string of fish, that he'd just stolen.
And the bear said, "Where'd you get them FISH?"
And the fox said, "I caught them. I been out ice fishin'."
And the bear said, "Gimme some of them FISH."
And the fox said, "I'll tell you what. I'll teach you how to catch your own fish. Then you can have fish anytime you want. Wouldn't you like that? Wouldn't that be cool?"
And the bear said. "OH, yeah! Fishin! I'm gonna learn how to FISH!"
So the fox said, "Here's what you got to do:
First you got to drill a hole in the ice. Then you stick your tail in. At first it'll be really really cold, but don't worry, you'll get used to it. Just hold still.
Next, you'll feel sharp little pins and needles. That means the fish are bitin'. Hold very still so you don't scare them away.
A little while later, you won't feel anything at all, but your tale will be really heavy. That means you got a full load.
Now, pull HARD, back, forth and sideways, and you'll have a big load of fish."
So the bear drilled a hole in the ice. He said, "OH boy, FISH."
He lowered his tail in the water. It was cold!
He held very still, and after awhile his tail started going to sleep, it felt like sharp little pins and needles.
"It's the fish," the bear said, "the fish are bitin. OH boy, gonna have FISH." He held very still.
After awhile, the ice closed up around his tail, and his tail got completely numb: he couldn't feel a thing. "I think I got a full load " said the bear. He tried to pull out, but his tail was frozen in the ice, he couldn't move it at all.
"Oh, it's really heavy" he said. "I got a full load, for sure! Now, what did the fox say I was supposed to do? Oh yeah, I'm supposed to pull HARD: back, forth, and sideways. Here goes--
Uh! Uh! UNH!"
---and he left his tail back in the ice.
And that's why the bear has got a stumpy tale.
