It was a cool Sunday morning as Paddington left the Brown’s residence for a nice relaxing stroll. Aunt Lucy had told him that exercise was a vital part in maintaining a young bear’s health, but he never quite understood why there were gyms if all one had to do was run an errand to feel out of breath. Suddenly shouting filled the air around him.
“…no I don’t have any food on me!”
An old man at the intersection ahead was evidently angry at a rather formal-looking pedestrian who was repeatedly waving his arms in a cautious way. Continuing with his stroll, Paddington approached the elderly man by the intersection who had now proceeded to crouch down like a frog as the younger businessman crossed the street.
“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but overhear that you wanted some food” Paddington said as he rummaged through his blue jacket’s pocket, and held out a soggy marmalade sandwich.
The man stared up at him and slowly raised himself to his feet. He was almost three times taller than Paddington.
“I haven’t seen you before,” the man said in a scratchy and parched tone as he gratefully accepted the sandwich.
“Well if it makes you feel better, I haven’t seen you before either,” Paddington replied to the smiling face as a dark green car came to a halt in front of them.
“Humph!” he exclaimed grasping his waist as the light changed for him to walk.
“Hey you!” the hobo shouted tapping the car’s side-window, “move back a bit!”
At once the car retreated a few metres back allowing Paddington a clear crossing.
“Thank you,” he waved to the elderly man as resumed his route to the supermarket.
Upon arrival, men shouting religious messages immediately greeted him,
“Save yourself now!”
“You’ll enjoy this read Mr….”
“Mr. Brown” Paddington answered.
“You’ll enjoy reading this booklet Mr. Brown,” said the well-suited man handing Paddington a pamphlet.
“Who is God, Who are We, and other questions will be answered inside” he pointed.
“Well thank you,” Paddington replied, “although I know who I am and I’m quite certain I know your group is as well. Mr. Curry frequently complains about the amount of unsolicited pamphlets he receives from local churches.”
“He doesn’t seem rather nice….” The man added.
Paddington pocketed the pamphlet, “Oh but he is, you just have to get to know him. Although he has a nasty temper, so I don’t suggest you do so before he has had a meal.”
“Thanks for the advice Mr. Brown, best be off then.” The man said as he departed to a group of teenagers who had just emerged from a café.
As Paddington entered the supermarket he immediately shivered as the cold crisp air of the vegetable section mingled around him. Moving away towards the part labelled ‘Good Grains’ he rummaged through another one of his pockets and pulled out the shopping list Mrs. Bird had given him.
“Whole Wheat Bread, Eggs, and Milk,” he read aloud as a cart was rolling towards him.
“Watch out Mr. Brown!” Paddington heard stepping to his right just in time as the cart slowly came to a halt in front of a pile of bananas.
“Paddington looked up from his list as the man came to retrieve the cart.
“Mr. Gruber!” he said startled, “are you also shopping?”
“Yes Mr. Brown,” he chuckled, “ and by the looks of things I gather you are too?”
“Mrs. Bird asked me to run this errand for her as she’s baking a cake and ran short of ingredients.” Paddington explained as he helped Mr. Gruber pick up some of the stray bananas which had fallen.
“How kind of you Mr. Brown, now would you like to shop together as I’m afraid I might incur another accident if I leave it astray again!” he said as he took a look at Paddington’s list “and some of these items here, are on sale right now!”
“I’d be delighted to accompany you Mr. Gruber, but something is troubling me.”
“And what is that Mr. Brown?” he replied.
Paddington pointed towards the cart‘s wheels, “why does your cart have grease on its wheels?”
