scared and hungry

 "Grandfather, I heard a bear
last night, outside my window
I was scared."

"It's ok to be scared boy, it's ok,
but the bear's scared too
winter's coming and he doesn't have enough food."

"Should I leave him some?"

The grandfather's laugh turned into a hacking cough
filled with the word, "No...nononnono"

When he settled into his chair,
"No boy, that'd be a bad
bad... bad idea."

"Why?"

"Someday you'll leave here
and who will feed him then?"

The boy nodded, 
"I'm still scared."

A sad smile crept over the old man's gaunt face,
"Me too. Me too."