Once upon a time, there was a big bear named Benny. Benny was known for his big belly and his big, deep laugh. But what most people didn't know about Benny was that he was also incredibly slow. He moved so slowly that sometimes it seemed like he wasn't moving at all!

One day, Benny was taking a leisurely stroll through the forest when he suddenly heard a strange noise. It was a small, high-pitched cry. Benny immediately sprang into action (or as much as a slow bear can spring), and followed the sound until he came upon a tiny kitten who was stuck in a bush.

The kitten was so small that it looked like it could fit in Benny's paw. Benny was so close to the kitten that he could see the fear in its eyes, and he could hear its short, rapid breaths. But as he reached out to help the kitten, something unexpected happened: the kitten suddenly leaped out of the bush and ran away as fast as it could go!

Benny was taken aback. He had never seen anything move so fast! He watched as the kitten disappeared into the distance, then looked down at his slow, lumbering body and let out a long, slow sigh. Suddenly, he heard the tiny cry of the kitten again. He turned around and saw that the kitten had gotten itself stuck in another bush, even further away from Benny than before.

Benny knew that he had to act quickly if he was going to save the kitten, so he summoned all of his strength and ran as fast as he could go. And for a slow bear, he was moving pretty fast! He closed the distance between himself and the kitten in no time, and he finally managed to rescue the tiny creature from the bush.

The kitten was so grateful that it jumped into Benny's arms and gave him a big, wet kiss on the nose. Benny let out a big, deep laugh, and he knew that this was one adventure that he would never forget.

And from that day on, Benny and the kitten became the best of friends. They had many more adventures together, and every time Benny laughed, the kitten would join in with a short, happy meow. And even though Benny was still slow, he was now the fastest slow bear in the forest!

Reflections

1. Why was Benny known for his big belly and deep laugh?
2. How did Benny feel when he first heard the kitten's cry?
3. What did Benny do to rescue the kitten from the bush?
4. How did the kitten show its gratitude to Benny?
5. Why did Benny and the kitten become the best of friends?
6. Can you think of any other adventures that Benny and the kitten might have had together?
7. Do you think Benny learned anything from his adventure with the kitten? If so, what do you think he learned?
8. Why do you think Benny was called the "fastest slow bear in the forest"?