The second Oaf adventure begins with Emory and Faye returning to Baba's house days before school starts. Sorely missing their magical time with the Oaf, Baba takes them on a camping trip along the Bear River in hopes of lifting their spirits. The Oaf appears and another thrilling adventure of discovery ensues for them all. Faye meets a dragonfly named Lokni on a log in the middle of the river, and they instantly become friends. With the Oaf's help, Faye assists Lokni's dragonfly cluster to escape the swarms of yellow jackets encroaching on their river home. Emory befriends a bear cub named Takoda, who wandered off and became separated from his mother and sister. Instead of searching for his family, Emory and Takoda delight in eating and playing until the Oaf provides a little nudge. The Oaf juggles both Emory's and Faye's quest to experience challenges from another creature's eyes. Avoiding the reporter Mr. Zolo and his journalistic pursuit to reveal the Oaf's identity and magic, Baba is forced to lend a hand. Will Mr. Zolo outsmart the Oaf before Baba, Emory, and Faye can come to his aid? Linsteadt brings you into a magical world of nature and imagination, helping us to appreciate and reconnect with animals and family. A refreshing and delightful read! --Mary S. Gonzales, Teacher-Librarian, Dolores Gonzales Elementary Author of children's stories Oaf in Ophir and Oaf in Bear River , and the Nila fantasy series: Nila: Water, Nila: Air, and N ila: Fire, Daniel shares his enthusiasm for inspiring and uplifting stories--where entering the realm of the magical and spiritual blend with the heartbeat of all life--and creatures see answers to those deep questions that stir within us. Daniel received two BAs from the University of Santa Barbara and spent most of his career as an IT programmer, but his passion is creating stories. Oaf In Bear River By Daniel G Linsteadt Balboa Press Copyright © 2017 Daniel G Linsteadt All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5043-7290-9 Contents Chapter 1 I Must Hurry, 1, Chapter 2 Magic of Nature, 9, Chapter 3 Fishing, 16, Chapter 4 Dragonflies, 22, Chapter 5 Friends, 31, Chapter 6 Dragonfly Home, 39, Chapter 7 Swimming Hole, 46, Chapter 8 Pointing Tree, 57, Chapter 9 Council, 66, Chapter 10 Safe Passage, 76, Chapter 11 The Interview, 89, CHAPTER 1 I Must Hurry " I must hurry," Sunki said, huffing. She scrambled under a large moss-covered stick and then through a web of pine needles before stopping under a dapple of light. Sniffing the ripe blackberry aroma, she gazed at the maze of oak leaves, pine needles, and quartz stones between her and the heavily laden bramble. A looming shadow descended and pressed her thin skeleton body into the sand, leaves, and pine needles with a crunch and a snap. A pair of beetle eyes blinked next to her before the sunlight quickly returned, and she sprang up with fungi stuck to her tummy. "Yuck!" she vented, peering up at the large sole of Mr. Zolo's shoe. "I heard that this might happen one day," she added, wiggling her six red legs to make sure they still worked. "I must hurry," another ant said, scampering past her. "I must hurry," Sunki joined in, antennas bent forward. Mr. Zolo slipped past a forest-green tent, tiptoed around three blue folding chairs, then slid up against a Jeffery pine. The air was thick with vanilla scent, and large pine cones lay scattered about his feet as he listened to the babble of the stream behind him. An excited cheer accompanied by a splash prompted a large grin. Reaching into his royal-blue pants pocket, he pulled out a small black box with a dangling wire. Removing a paper tab from the back, he pressed the exposed sticky side onto the tree bark. Carefully, he hid the wire in the bark's deep cracks, then sprinkled a few pine needles over the box and stepped back to admire his work. Taking another small box from his green-and-yellow-plaid shirt pocket, he switched it on. "Testing, testing," he repeated. Moving toward the chairs, he whispered, "I hear me." Nodding approval, he treaded softly past the tent, careful not to leave footprints. Shuffling across the small parking lot, he stopped next to his vintage travel trailer and admired its bright metal exterior and white-walled tires with red rims. Casually looking back with a grin, he knew his covert work would pay off. Opening the smudged door, he stepped into the trailer and slid onto a creaky bench. He brushed aside a used paper plate and half-empty bag of chips before setting the receiver on the green-with-white-swirls Formica table. He popped a stale pretzel into his mouth, peered through the stained white curtains, and chewed with a smirk. Shivering wet, Faye snuggled into Babas awaiting towel. Baba rubbed it robustly, causing her to giggle. "I bet that felt good." "I'm hungry," Faye said as her lower lip shivered. "I bet you and Emory are starving. I've never seen children have so much fun playing in the river. I