Clunk！
The Bear family’s car hit a hole in the road.
Bump!
The car hit a bump in the road.
“Someone should do something about the road.” Said Mama.
“Yes,” said Papa. “But who?”
Back home, Mama thought and thought.
“I know what to do to fix the road,” she said. “I will run for mayor!”
“Good idea,” said Papa.
“Hooray!” cried the cubs.
“Mama for mayor!”
So Mama went to the town hall to sign up to run for mayor.
Papa, Brother, Sister, and Honey went with her.
They were going to help her run for mayor.
The whole family made posters that said “Mama for mayor.”
They put them up around town.
The family made buttons, shirts, and hats that said “Mama for mayor.”
They put them on and wore them around town.
Papa put up signs on their car.
He drove around town shouting “Mama for mayor!”
All the bears run for mayor went to the town hall.
They gave speeches.
Mama listened to the speeches.
She thought they were pretty boring.
Mama gave her speech.
She said she would fix the roads.
Everyone cheered.
She said she would put up new streetlights.
Everyone cheered.
Mama liked it when everyone cheered.
She said she would get the trash picked up.
Everyone cheered.
“Dear,” whispered Papa, “maybe you are saying too much.”
But Mama went right on.
Mama said there would be honey in every pot.
She said there would be salmon in every stream.
All the bears cheered and stomped and whistled.
“Mama for mayor!” they shouted.
The day to vote soon came.
Mama and Papa voted early.
So did the other bears running for mayor.
Mama went to the Burger Bear for breakfast.
She shook hands.
She kissed babies.
She posed for pictures.
Mama, Papa, and the cubs went home.
They waited for the votes to be counted.
Later they heard shouting outside.
“Hooray!” they heard. “Mama wins!”
Mama was the new mayor of Bear Country.
She went to sleep very happy.
But the next morning,
Mama was not so happy.
There was a big crows outside the tree house.
They were angry.
They carried signs and shouted.
“Fix the roads!” they shouted.
“Put up streetlights!” they yelled.
“Pick up the trash!” they called.
They wanted Mayor Mama to do all the things she said she would—right now!
“There is just one thing wrong with running for mayor,” said Brother.
“You just might win!”