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EXCERPT: From the unpublished story, "Jesse the Bear" by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

It was cold in the winter. So cold that everyone had to stay indoors. Jesse, an old bear was indoors too. 

Each passing day, the bear would move near the window to check if things had improved. 

The reason for the constant check on the window was clear. Jesse had eaten all his supplies. He had little or nothing left to eat and he was hungry. 

Anything would do. 

Frozen fish. Flesh of dead animals preserved by the cold weather would come handy. 

The only danger facing the bear to go out and hunt was the weather. 

He could be trapped in the snow while hunting. This could be bad. Jesse could die while he hunts for food under such a bad weather. 

Waiting in his hole wasn't a good idea too because hunger could kill him. 

One thing was certain. The bear had to eat. He needs to feed and stay alive. 

What could Jesse do?

One quiet morning, it was snowing and Jesse was going to die of hunger. The bear was so hungry and could barely move. 

Suddenly, there was a movement around the hole where had hid himself for months. 

Jesse raised his head and looked about. He tried to figure out what must have caused the disturbance. 

He could hardly think straight. Partly because he was sad and hungry. 

Things had not gone according to plan. The long months in the hole had left him with no food. 

Jesse didn't know that the winter would be so long. The bear was at the receiving end of climate change. 

Before now, there was not enough kill that would take him through the dark months of winter and snow. In most cases, in the past, Jesse could still hunt during the final months of winter. So not  saving enough meal that could take him through the months of winter was never an issue. 

With the climate change biting so hard, it wasn't a good time to be an animal. 

As Jesse tried to stay calm and sleep, the noise persisted. 

The bear frowned. He reluctantly rose to its hinderquater and move slowly to the outside. 

Jesse is ruthless. With the bad mood, who knows the punishment that the bear will mete out to the intruder. 

The weather was not clear but Jesse could still see beyond his nose. He shoved the wood and dry leaves aside and looked straight outside. 

A raccoon was in the snow. 

It was strange. "How did it get there?" Jesse pondered as the poor creature tried to find refuge. 

Jesse doubt whether the raccoon will survive an hour or two in the snow. Then he decided to do something about it. 

As Jesse watched the animal struggle under the snow, his mind began to work. Jesse thought he could make short work of the raccoon. The meal could save him from the jaws of death and defeat. 

It would be nice to get his hunger behind as quickly as possible. 

Jesse jumped out of the hole not considering he could endanger his own life. He chased the raccoon. 



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