Restless Winter: Isaac's Story

By Jenni Lorraine

Join Isaac, a young nature enthusiast, on an unforgettable journey as he discovers the power of compassion, community, and his own voice in "Restless Winter: Isaac's Story." When a wandering bear named Agnes stumbles into Isaac's small town, life as he knows it changes forever. Fueled by a deep love for wildlife and a steadfast belief in his own

• Language: English
• Publisher: Primedia eLaunch LLC
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798868952258

Book preview

1

New Beginnings, New Challenges

Isaac had never seen so many moving boxes. They were like a cardboard mountain range in his new bedroom, but instead of snow capping their peaks, there were bits of tape and labels that read Isaac's Stuff. His family had just moved to this small town called Maplewood because of his Dad's new job, and even though his parents promised new adventures, Isaac felt more lost than excited.

The town of Maplewood was surrounded by thick woods that stretched far and wide, like a green ocean. The trees were so tall they seemed to tickle the sky, and the air always smelled a bit like that pine tree air freshener in his Dad's car. Everything here was different — the streets, the sounds at night, even the way the pizza tasted.

School was the toughest nut to crack. The other kids were friendly enough, but they all had their own groups already, like they were different countries and Isaac didn't have a passport. He tried to join conversations, but the words got jumbled in his throat and he couldn't find the right thing to say.

But there was this one thing- one very big thing- that everyone seemed to talk about: Agnes, the bear.

Agnes wasn't just any bear. According to Mrs. Sullivan at the corner store, she was the biggest bear anyone had ever seen around Maplewood. She had fur as dark as farm dirt and paws as big as dinner plates. 

But the most important thing about Agnes was that she always signaled the beginning of spring when she would wake up from her hibernation. Every winter, she'd disappear into her secret den to hibernate and the town would wait and wonder when she'd return.

Isaac was fascinated by the story of Agnes. Back in his old city, the most exciting animal he'd seen was Mr. Franklin's grumpy cat. The idea of a huge bear living nearby was both thrilling and scary. He wanted to see Agnes for himself to confirm she was real, but he also pictured those giant paws and wondered what would happen if she didn't like him. It was a swirl of excitement and fear that made his stomach do somersaults.

She'll be waking up in the Springtime, his classmate Lily said one day during recess, her eyes wide with excitement. My dad says when Agnes wakes up the school year will be almost over! 

Everyone had their own Agnes story and they all shared their tales and predictions. Would she come to the edge of town? Would they see her from their backyards?

Listening to his classmates, Isaac found himself slowly inching into the conversations. He asked questions about where Agnes might have her den or what she liked to eat first after waking up. 

Nights at home, Isaac would peek out his window, staring into the shadowy forest. He imagined Agnes stretching in her hidden den, yawning a big bear yawn, and preparing to step out into the world again. He felt a strange connection to her. After all, she was always alone all winter, and he had felt alone in this new, unfamiliar place. In his heart, he made a silent wish- a wish to see Agnes first.

Isaac often found himself daydreaming about his old life- the familiar buzz of city sounds, the neon lights that acted like a canopy of artificial stars, and his old friends who shared his love for scavenger hunts in the city park. They'd pretend to be daring explorers, discovering new species and noting them in their scientific journals. He missed that. He missed feeling like he belonged.

His new classmates weren't unkind. It was just that they had their worlds and he didn't know how to step into them. They talked about things he hadn't heard of like local festivals, old town legends besides Agnes, and hidden forts in the woods. Isaac often rehearsed jokes he could tell, facts about animals, or interesting science experiments, but the words never seemed as cool when he said them as they did in his head.

However, Maplewood had something his old city didn't: an expanse of nature that went on forever. It was like a giant, living science lab. As he looked over local wildlife pictures in a book he found, there were bugs he'd never seen before, birds that painted the sky in new colors, and plants that seemed to pulse with life. It made him feel like his favorite scientists must have felt when they were on the brink of a new discovery. The forest was a tapestry of mysteries, and it called to him. He couldn’t wait until the snow melted so he could finally go explore!

Isaac's parents were caught in a whirlwind of adjustment, too. Dad was always talking about the big change in his job and Mom started making crafts to sell online, saying she needed something of her own in this new place. They were trying. Isaac could see that, but their smiles were a bit empty, like they weren't quite sure they fit in in Maplewood, either. 

Isaac’s little sister, Lily, had only just turned three and she was also a handful. Mom had decided to wait to find a job until Lily was older, but Isaac could tell that Mom was overwhelmed and missed her old job back in the city. He could also tell that Lily missed her old daycare. She often cried for her old friends because she didn’t understand that they now lived very far away.

One Saturday, when the sun painted everything golden and bright, Isaac's parents announced they were going to a local community event, hoping it would be a fun family adventure. At the event, booths were set up inviting people to explore different clubs and businesses that the town had to offer.

That's when he saw it — a small table with a