The Cinnamon Bear 🐻🌟

[Breanna]

Christmas is such a magical time, isn't it? Personally I'm not one for big celebrations but one thing I do every year is listen to a very *magical* little radio show from the 1930's called The Cinnamon Bear. 

It's rather silly but full of charm. I'm not sure the little bear's Irish accent is authentic 😂 but he does his best. I thought it would be fun to do a little listen-along throughout the month. For those who aren't up for listening to singing bears, I'll post a description of the episode in the comments each day. 

The first one is below! Feel free to listen ahead, of course.

Ep. 1: Paddy O'Cinnamon

Twins Judy and Jimmy are writing their letters to Santa when their mother asks them to help go through a treasured box of Christmas tree ornaments. The tinsel, ornaments and lights are all there, but the silver star is missing! Uncle Jed might have put it away in the attic so the siblings head up the steep stairs to search.

After racing up the stairs, they spot an old spinning wheel and a music box...and there's the old trunk mother told them to look for! It's heavy and covered with an old crazy quilt, but still no silver star.

The children begin to dig through the trunk and find some curious little things: a box of broken ornaments, a golden glass aeroplane, and a teeny little teddy bear with a green ribbon round his neck.

And, oh boy, there's a telescope too! Jimmy takes a look and it makes everything a million times bigger. The teddy bear is the smallest Judy has ever seen so the pair decide they might be able to take a look at him with the telescope they found. Bigger he grows indeed but then...he moves!

Garah! Garooh!

He talks! Judy is a bit frightened and asks Jimmy to ask the teddy who he is. He sings:

I'm the Cinnamon Bear
With the Shoe-button eyes
And I'm looking for someone
To take by surprise
I go growling and prowling
Each night after dark
But the folks say my growl's
Just a cinnamon bark...

Paddy O'Cinnamon is his name and the children ask him if he's seen their beloved silver star.

"Oh I've seen it lots of times," he says. But it's gone now. It's been stolen away by the Crazy Quilt Dragon who's terribly fond of shiny, bright things. Judy is rather distraught about the star, but Paddy offers to help them find it. He think Crazy Quilt will have taken it to the Lollipop mountains which is just through a little hole in the wall by the music box.

"But we'll never fit through there," says Jimmy. "Oh, yes you will," Paddy replies, "all you have to do is de-grow. Just de-grow! Get smaller and smaller and smaller until you're four inches high like me!"

The children think that is rather impossible, but the Cinnamon Bear says he'll tell them how to do it. 

See you tomorrow! 😉

[TallTrees]

---

@Cleoriff wrote:

Loved it @Breanna.

As @TallTrees  said, it really fires your imagination. Not keen on Weary Willy though!!😂

---

@Cleoriff  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂

[Breanna]

This is one of those stories that can almost only live in your imagination. They did give it a try as a TV show in the 50's but I don't think they captured the magic. @TallTrees 

It's admittedly been a few years since I listened and I did not expect Weary Willie to be so rude! @Cleoriff 

[Breanna]

Ep. 3 Crazy Quilt Dragon

Judy is worried they'll just never get the silver star back and begins to cry but Jimmy is a bit more practical. 

"Do you have any tools we can use to climb the mountain, Cinnamon Bear?" he asks, "Like to cut steps into the side of the mountain like the Alpine mountain climbers do on ice."

"Oh, this looking glass is just much too hard for that, Jimmy. The only thing to do is wait until it rains." 

The children look at the bear in confusion. You see, in Maybeland it doesn't just rain water, it rains soda pop. Just what they need to fuel the golden aeroplane. But how long will they have to wait?

"Oh me, oh my," says Paddy, "It might rain tomorrow or it might not rain until the next 4th of September."

 From far down in the valley, the children spot who but that villain Weary Willie. Jimmy is still quite angry with him for drinking all the soda pop gas, but Paddy O'Cinnamon is a clever little bear.

You see, Weary Willie is awfully conceited and if they flatter him a bit, he might just feel ashamed of himself and take the three stranded travellers out of the valley. Jimmy would still like to punch him right in the beak.

Hello below! I say hellooo belooow!

"We're ever so sorry we don't have any more soda pop, Weary Willie," says Paddy but the stork is still quite satisfied from his previous drink. 

"Did you really tell Crazy Quilt we were coming after the Silver Star?" asks Judy. 

"Yes, I did. I was so angry that you wouldn't give me a lift that I lost my temper. Stork raving mad. I feel so ashamed of myself, I feel I should offer you a lift," says Willie

Up and up and up they go to the top of Looking Glass Valley but they can't spot Crazy Quilt anywhere! Both Willie and Paddy are quite familiar with Crazy Quilt's habits and at this time of day, he's usually having a siesta somewhere near the Root Beer Ocean.

Jimmy asks Willie to fly fast and away they go. Finally they've spotted Crazy Quilt just snoozing away!

"We've got to close in on him," says Paddy "Jimmy, you take that side, and Judy you go around that way. Quietly now."

BZZZZZZZ BZZZZZZ BZZZZZZZ

Oh dear, a military-minded mosquito is making it straight for the dragon and he's bit him right on the nose!

What's that?!

The dragon awakes and the quick-thinking Cinnamon Bear takes a different tack. "Hey you, Crazy Quilt!" he shouts.

"I am very busy right now! I'll talk to you some other time," replies Crazy Quilt as he tries to make his escape. 

Paddy rallies the children. "Quickly now, close in on him before he gets away!"

Crazy Quilt is backed up right on the edge of the cliff. The children demand to know what he's done with their Silver Star but he admits to nothing. Maybe scaring him will make him give it up.

Scram you bad dragon! Scat, scadoo!

Grrrah!

Paddy's growl scares that dragon right out of his skin! "Oh good heavens, what was that?!"he says as he trips over the cliff and falls into the Root Beer Ocean

The children rush to the shore just in time to see Crazy Quilt pull himself out, still terrified. "Don't you know you should never say boo to a Crazy Quilt dragon?"

Don't every say boo to a Crazy Quilt dragon

In hopes he'll turn tail and run

There aren't many words

That will make him go crazy 

But boo is decidedly one

(Apparently it's quite rude to say boo to dragons, don't you know)

After a bit of interrogation, Crazy Quilt turns out to be less of a villain than the children previously thought. He just loves shiny things so much that he took the Silver Star without asking. If he could, he'd happily give it right back but...it's fallen down down down into the Root Beer Ocean

Well now the children have found Crazy Quilt, but still no Silver Star. What ever will they have to do to get it back?

[TallTrees]

Good read @Breanna 

Reading whilst having a cup of coffee ☕ 

A very elusive star 🌟 🤩 ✨ 😍 👌 ❤ 🌟 

[Cleoriff]

Looks as if someone needs to dive into the Root Beer Ocean to get that silver star.....😂

[Breanna]

Ep. 4 The Inkaboos

Well Judy and Jimmy overtook the Crazy Quilt dragon last time and cornered him on a cliff over the Root Beer Ocean, but no amount of convincing could make him hand over the Silver Star which he had stolen. So nothing remained but to scare him, and scare him they did. And what did Crazy Quilt do but leap off the cliff and land kersplash! into the Root Beer Ocean. They rushed down to meet him as he emerged from the waves only to discover that he'd dropped the star when he jumped.

Crazy Quilt is feeling awfully ashamed but Jimmy is still angry with him. "You better scram before I say BOO!" says Jimmy, and Crazy Quilt begins to cry.

"Don't pull any of that weepy-weepy stuff around here, Crazy Quilt," says the Cinnamon Bear. "It won't work on us!"

Judy does feel a bit sorry for him since he did apologize after all. Crazy Quilt offers to to help them find the Silver Star.

"Apple sauce with raisins in it! Don't let him fool you children," says Paddy.

Jimmy and Paddy don't want the dragon's help at all and are telling Crazy Quilt a thing or two when suddenly they hear far off sound...

Owowowowow

"Listen! What's that noise, Cinnamon Bear?" Judy asks.

Everyone stops and listens intently and just coming around a rock they see something that scares the pants right off that Crazy Quilt dragon.

"It's the Inkaboos! Run! Run for your lives everybody! See you later! Woooow..." shouts Crazy Quilt as he jumps back into the Root Beer Ocean to make his escape.

Owowowow

They're getting closer. They look just like paper dolls made out of blotting paper with little faces drawn on.

"Aren't they funny?" says Judy. 

"I don't know about that," replies Paddy, "They've got pens for spears and they certainly are scowling alright."

Halto! Halto! I arrest you in the name of His Majesty the King Blotto the Third. Owowowow

Paddy and the children are feeling rather confused and angry about all this business but a poke with pen spear sets the trio of prisoners marching.

"I wish I had my water pistol," says Jimmy under his breath" I'd soak 'em up like anything!"

Soon they're passing a little village of cardboard houses that blow in the breeze. And doesn't it look exactly like the one Judy and Jimmy made last Christmas? 🏠🏠🏠

On they march until they reach the audience chamber of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the Inkaboos Incorporated, King Blotto the Third. Owowow

"Prisoners, when you enter the audience chamber, you must bow your heads and keep them there until His Majesty speaks." 

"But my head is fastened on to turn side to side, not up and down. I know, I'll just turn my head clean around and leave it there until he speaks. How about that?" replies the Cinnamon Bear.

"Highly irregular, highly irregular, but it will have to do," says the Inkaboo.

Guard! Sound the royal fol-de-rol! 🎺

Hail King Blotto the Third! Owowow

King Blotto sits on an empty ink well. And oh what a silly sight he is. Paddy O'Cinnamon spins his head back round and lets out a little chuckle.

Finally they find out their charges: Standing with their shoes on while on the Inkaboo boundary line 😱 which is a violation of Ordinance #23 Skadoo.

"Well that sorts me out," says the Cinnamon Bear, "I can't even wear shoes so I couldn't very well take them off."

"What?! Well you're doubly guilty because you didn't have any shoes to take off. Royal secretary, take an amendment 'People who don't have shoes to take off when they stand on an Inkaboo boundary line are guilty of double treason and arsenic. I, King Blotto the Third, so will it.'"

The king is still mulling over what terrible punishment they will receive but then offers them the chance to win their freedom. You see, he is King because he bears a mysterious, magical inscription upon his chest. No one has ever been able to decipher it.

If they can tell him what it says, he'll let them go! The clever Cinnamon Bear can already tell it's writing that's been blotted through from another sheet. It's just backwards is all. Luckily Judy has a little looking glass in her sweater pocket that will allow them to read it easily.

Now the Cinnamon Bear can read a room and he knows this needs to be momentous so he says "Your Majesty, it has been revealed to me that I may make known to you and your subjects the inscriptions on your Majesty's person. Have I your permission to perform a bit of magic?"

Looking glass, looking glass shining bright

Read us what's within your sight

Hocus Pocus, Ishkabibble

Ho ho ho, hohoho giggles the Bear as he looks into the little mirror. "Come quick and look, Judy and Jimmy." And soon all three are laughing.

1 lb. hamburger

1/2 lb. Limburger cheese

5 c. worth of onions

"I regret to inform your Majesty, that your magical inscription is just the makings of lunch."

Now the King is in a right state. How dare these three insult him so! He summons the royal guard and the royal executioner. Their punishment: to be thrown into the Immense Inkwell.

That sounds really bad for our friends doesn't it? That King Blotto sounds like he might just be good friends with the notorious Queen of Hearts. 

[Cleoriff]

Well I don't know what to think @Breanna!!

The Silver Star is still lost and now King Blotto, who has no time for anyone (and doesn't like the truth) is going to throw them in the Inkwell.

Also, please do NOT mention the Queen of Hearts 😖  😂

[Breanna]

Ep. 5 Weasley the Wailing Wail

Judy, Jimmy, and Cinnamon Bear are staring down into the Immense Inkwell and wow, it is really immense...(over 3,000 thingamajigs deep of unswimmable ink, in fact). 

🎺🎺🎺 King Blotto has arrived after leaving the accused to contemplate their fate for awhile on the edge of the well. "Where's he Royal Executioner?" he asks. 

As it turns out, it's his day off and the Executioner's union would be terribly annoyed if he were called into work.

King Blotto III, being the king after all, is annoyed and decides it's time for another proclamation: 

Be it known here and after and from this date henceforward that the Royal Executioner shall not take his day off if it's the date of an execution. 

Someone points out that maybe he didn't know today would be the date of an execution considering that five minutes ago, there were none scheduled. So the King decides maybe the proclamation needs bit of work before going on the record.

Now as we've seen, these Inkaboos are rather rigid with their following of the laws and without a Royal Executioner to do some executioning, well, they're just not sure it can even go forward. Unluckily for our heroes, the Assistant Royal Executioner happens to be available.

The Inkaboos begin to close in for the big push. "You get back blotter face or I'll scratch to shreds!" says Paddy. Grrrah! Grrrrah!

Although fierce against spiders and Crazy Quilt dragons, this seems to have no effect on King Blotto and his Inkaboo subjects. "Oh make that thing stop making that funny noise, will ya? And, for the love of ink, get on with the execution!"

Oyez! Oyez! In the name of His Majesty King Blotto III, I, Assistant Executioner, do hereby prepare to shove these prisoners into the black depths of the immense inkwellllll....

"Your Majesty," says the Assistant Royal Executioner, "I've forgotten the words that come next." The Inkaoos begin to brainstorm and they think it goes something like:

One for the money

Two for the....something?

"Oh!" says Jimmy, "I know that one! It's one for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and four..."

The Cinnamon Bear shushes him as quick as he can. "You're just helping them throw is in Jimmy, don't let them trick you."

Unfortunately it's too late and the Assistant Executioner's got the idea now

One for the money

Two for the show

Three to make ready

And four to HO HO HO

Wait, but who is that?! It's the Crazy Quilt Dragon and he's brought reinforcements.

The scissor soldiers are coming and they're going to snip those nasty Inkaboos to shreds. 

Crazy Quilt is fighting his way through the line but the Inkaboos have called in their Fountain Pen reinforcements.

How will they ever get away? Crazy Quilt has the crazy idea to jump right into the Root Beer Ocean and swim for it. Maybe a great idea for two strong children and a mighty dragon, but that soda pop would be the end of the Cinnamon Bear's extra special stuffing 😞

Crazy Quilt offers to let them ride on his back and kersplash into the ocean they go. My oh my there are some big waves in here! And look! Over there the Silver Star is just floating as peaceful as you please. "Swim for it Crazy Quilt!" shout the children.

The're almost there, but suddenly a they see a huge polka dot whale emerge from the waves. He's opening his mouth...and......

He's swallowed the Silver Star in one gulp. 

[Cleoriff]

Oh No! Now how on earth will they get the silver star? 😂

[Breanna]

I have totally forgotten how ridiculous this story is!