In all we had a great summer, Daz became a most welcome

friend and always made sure we had the things we required

to make life in The Warehouse more pleasant and comfortable.

The sun shone much of the time beaming down upon the roof.

Our home on the top shelf of the racking became stiflingly warm

especially at night. In the evenings we climbed down and found

cooler places to sleep on the ground floor of the building,

keeping well out of the way of The Guards of course.

One night a horrendous thunderstorm awoke us all, momentarily

reminding me of the bad storm we had encountered en route to

The Warehouse, not that we knew at the time where we were going.

For what seemed liked days it rained continuously after the storm

and the stream that ran along the side of the building overflowed

its banks, flooding part of the ground floor.

Luckily for us had returned to our shelf and did not get a paw wet. Below there was an enormous amount of activity, much of the stock being moved to the storage area at the rear. Daz came to see us before going home one evening, "What about a barbecue?" He asked "one was damaged by the flood water, but it still works and is standing outside. I can give it a good clean"

Weather conditions improved again, and according to Daz, was going to stay that way for sometime. Quite how or where this information came from was a little beyond us. Daz said the television stations broadcast weather forecasts, but we had never been able watched television for more than a few minutes.

Hearing about this gave the other bears something to plan, the party would be held outside in the compound where the damaged items had been dumped. Daz said he was sure no one would notice if we used the barbecue, or anything else come to that.

During the day Daz organised it so he was working outside, sorting, cleaning and clearing up the mess! He erected a gazebo, set out tables and chairs, hung out lights to brighten the up the place. The night before the big event some of the bears, led by Woof, went off in search of suitable food and drink. They were very nearly caught by one of The Guards. Luckily the rattling noise of bottles being moved in a box, was put down to the odd sort of noises the large open top freezers often made! "Think they might require an engineer in tomorrow to put that right" said one of The Guards, making a note in his book.

The late summer evening was beautiful, just right for a barbecue and everyone had a most enjoyable time. We talked for what seemed like hours about anything and everything that came to mine, and I began to see that I did not have to worry quite as much as I had thought about the weeks ahead.

Most of the bears realised that we were probably going to be split up, quite soon, although some were concerned where they might go, every bear promised to keep in contact somehow or other.

"Suppose we had better start to tidy up." I said as a few of the bears began to look sleepy, we pushed everything under the cover of the gazebo, Daz had said he would clear the mess away the next morning. Then we swiftly return though the door which Daz had very carefully insured was unlocked and partly open, took a familiar route back through The warehouse and climbed up to our shelf.

Woof came at sat by me as usual, "Great evening" she remarked "you seemed to enjoy yourself!"

"I did, it was good to learn that most of The Bears seem to understand we will be split up soon, at least I do not feel quite as worried as I did!"

Suddenly, beneath us was a great deal of activity, "Fire!" shouted a voice, as the smell of smoke waffled in through the roof window. Then the alarm wet off, making us all jump so much we nearly fell off the shelf.

"It’s outside!" said the voice of the other Guard as they ran off through The Warehouse in the same direction as we had come in from not all that long before.

"Did you close that door" inquired Woof.

"Yes" I replied "Daz told me to make sure it was closed securely."

"Come on then" said Woof "lets go onto the roof and see what is happening." Slowly and quietly we all climbed through the opening and moved quietly as possible towards the far edge. Smoke was billowing up from the compound, where a fire had taken hold of the gazebo, the damaged boxes and goods around it.

"Oh goodness! We could not have put the barbecue out properly!" exclaimed one of the bears.

"Shhhhh" said Woof.

"Gosh, this is exciting!" exclaimed another as the sound of the advancing fire engine was heard. Clouds of dark smoke drifted skywards, blocking most of our view. We managed to get a glimpse as the fire fighters set to work to work, one crew quickly being joined by another.

Much activity followed the arrival of the fire fighters as they battled to get the blaze, now burning brightly under control. A sudden breeze had materialised, fanning the flames and making them dance higher into the air.

"This could spread quickly" we heard someone shout "there is lot’s of paper and packaging around!"

"Do you think we should more?" Asked one of the bears "if the building catches fire, we could be trapped up here …."

"Most of you should go" I said "but I will watch as long as I can …. just in case we have to make an escape."

Woof joined me after she had watched the other bears get through the opening in the roof.

"Looks rather bad" she said.

A second fire engine arrived, and the sound of another could be heard in the distance. We heard someone ask if there was anyone in the building.

"No" answered one of the security guards, "there are only the two of us on duty!"

"What happen then?" enquired one of the fire fighters.

"No idea" replied the security.

"So much for us!" Snorted Woof in disgust, then a pang of concern developed "how do we get out of the building if we have to?"

"Daz showed me a while ago how to get into the office. We can get out that way if we have to."

The battle to contain the fire in the compound continued for some time, but eventually is was brought under control without spreading to the building.

"Thank goodness for that, think it is time to go back to the others, don’t you? I remarked "we have something to discuss …"

Back the other bears were all waiting for news. "Expect the fire fighters will be around for a while, they will want to make sure it really is out -- and find out how it started." I told them, but keeping to myself a deep feeling of concern.

Later, when the bears were asleep, I asked Woof to walk with me. Without asking more she climbed down the racking, watching carefully for The Guards. We strolled silently around for a while, until finding somewhere quite and secure where we could sit and talk.

"You are worried aren’t you?" Woof said in a whisper " ……… like me, are you thinking that Daz might get the blame for all of this?"

"Exactly right. Daz has been working in the compound, I don’t think anyone else has been with him."

"I think we should warn him about what has happened. At least he will be prepared for all the questions that are going to be asked."

"How are we going to do that …"

"Tomorrow morning, early, we could slip out through the office and meet him before he gets to the gate."

"The Guards will still be here."

"We are going to have to get the other bears to cause a distraction. The Guards will be nervous after last night and on the watch for any problems ……"

"Maybe if something fell off a shelf and made a racket ……."

"All right, lets get things organised then."

Returning to our high level home, Woof woke one of the bigger bears amongst us and brought him back to the comfort and security of the dog beds we had found behind some very large boxes. After explaining the plan, he was only to keen to help. Every bear knew that without Daz as our friend, the last few months would have been very uncomfortable and lonesome.

"Shall we stay here" asked Woof snuggling down into the warm and softness of the dog bed.

"As soon as it is light, we have to go ……"

For the next few hours we dozed on and off, our thoughts on Daz and the importance of speaking to him before he arrived at The Warehouse. Just when I fell asleep, Woof was whispering in my ear that it was time to make a move. Big Bear trotted off to climb to a high point on some racking, far enough away for us to slip into the office, but close enough that The Guards simply could not miss the noise. We knew from previous expeditions around The Warehouse that there were boxes of storage tins stored that would make quite a clatter on the concrete floor.

The Guards shot out of the office on hearing the noise, as they did so we dashed in, taking a short cut under the desks and around the filing cabinets until we reached the reception area door.

"Now what, as she tried the locked door handle?" Asked Woof staring at the closed door. "We have to hit that button, up there on the well!"

"Lift me up then" replied Woof without question. She just managed to reach and pushed the red knob. The door opened when I pushed the handle down and we were in the outer office.

"Now we do the same again, to get outside!"

Cool early morning air greeted us as we crept out of the door and along the side of the building.

"Which way?" asked Woof, looking around. "Oh, I see the car park entrance is over there!"

"Better hurry!" We walked round the edge, close to the fence just in case anyone was watching then under the locked barrier, where we found ourselves close to a very busy road. Again Woof enquire which direction we should take. I had no idea, but suggested we started walking towards the houses we could see in the distance.

"I am certain Daz dose not live far away." I said as we hurried along.

"Hope not, let’s hope we are going the right way" replied my friend.

A car suddenly stopped behind us, but we kept going until a familiar voice called after us "Where are you two going ….?"

Turning round we saw a rather surprised Daz standing on the pavement.

"Oh! Thank goodness, we wanted to see you before you got to work!"

Daz bent down and picked us both up, putting us in the car on the back seat. His girl friend was driving and started to move off…

"No, wait!" I said "Can we talk first?"

"You look very worried …." They said together .

"We are" replied Woof who briefly told the story.

Daz’s girlfriend looked shocked as the realisation of what we were trying to say hit.

"You think Daz is going to be blamed, don’t you!"

"Yes" we muttered together.

"But it was not his fault! You should have made sure the barbecue was completely out!"

"Yes, we know" we replied rather humbly.

"Daz! What are we going to do …." Shouted his distraught companion.

"Don’t let panic yet" he replied, but with concern in his voice "come on, we had better get Ben and Woof back."

We were driven back to The Warehouse, we were carefully placed in their bags and taken inside where Daz quickly returned us to our shelf. He left to attend a meeting the manager had called, learning later Daz had been asked a great many questions about his activities out in the compound.

Just before lunch he came to tell us all this, saying a report was expected later in the day from the fire investigators. All afternoon we sat around waiting to hear what had been discovered.

Very late Daz returned, he came right up to our shelf on the fork lift.

"What a day!" He said "I was sure they were going to sack me. He then looked very relieved ………… "….. but you will never believe this! The investigators say they think a tramp managed to get into the compound and started a barbecue!"

"Gosh, thank goodness for that" I said, feeling rather relieved. "How did they work that out?"

"They discovered the gate was unlocked, and there was a sleeping bag and old clothes in a roll tucked away in a corner - away from the fire."

"Oh, ummmm ….. so it wasn’t our fault?"

"No! Not your fault! See you all tomorrow." He said disappearing downwards on the fork lift.

"Now I wonder, who possibly could have unlocked the gate and place the sleeping bag and clothes in the corner .…..?"

Big Bear slowly climbed up the racking, looking very black from the soot he was covered in.

"Yes, I wonder ….." replied Woof ……

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