There was a rib joint where I could go and get take-out. It made me extremely happy to be eating those ribs at home, they were so tender and tasty. When I’d clean up I’d feel completely happy. Then I’d go and watch a movie on television and fall asleep on my recliner. One night while I was sleeping I thought I heard some scratching on my door. I woke up and went and opened it. There was a bear standing there. I said, “What do you want?” The bear pushed me to the floor and stepped over me. I stood up and grabbed a kitchen knife. “You shouldn’t be in my house,” I said. The bear walked into my living room. He seemed careful not to break any lamps. I followed him in there. He sat down in my chair and fell asleep. I couldn’t kill a sleeping bear, so I sat down in the chair next to him and fell asleep myself. When I woke up an hour later he was sniffing me all over. I pulled my knife and aimed it at him. “Stand back,” I said. He made whining sounds and stood back. “I don’t think you should be in this house,” I said. I stood and pointed the knife at him. He roared and looked angry. He reached out and shoved me back in my chair. I waved the knife at him. He raised a paw and knocked it from my hand. I didn’t like my odds in this kind of game. The bear walked into the dining room. I picked up my knife and followed him. He sat down at the table and demanded that I bring him some food. So I went and filled a bowl with raspberries and brought it to him. He gobbled them up in a surprisingly short time. He wanted more, so I took his bowl and filled it with blueberries, which he quickly ate. I filled his bowl with strawberries, which he lingered over, eating them one at a time. By the time he was finished he wanted no more. He stood up and yawned. He lumbered toward the door and asked to be let out. I opened the door and we said good-bye. After that night he came often. Some nights we’d watch TV and fall asleep. Other nights he just wanted his berries. I no longer carried a knife. I no longer had to.