Journal Entry

31 October 2020

12:00 AM (GMT)

 

Part 1

 

Since I was unsure of the local customs for Halloween and whether any bears would come to the Lighthouse "Trick or Treating" I decided to go to the Arktos General Store and speak to Golly Gosh (the store proprietor), to see what I should have for treats.

 

Golly Gosh Gwynedd is a light shaded bear, with a dark green nose, sea foam green padded feet and paws, and a straw hat adorned with gumnuts (aka gunu – the currency of Arktos). She has a delightful childlike laugh, but holds great influence as she is the keeper of the gunu, and has the only key to the Arktos Depository. As I entered her store, I saw it was stocked and stacked with all types of supplies one might find in an old time general store during pioneer days.

 

The Arktos General Store is not just a place for buying items, it is a place for Bears to meet, share news (a news agent) and even play games like chess.  It is fun, fabulous, and functional. The store offers a little something for everyone! Golly Gosh tells me, “I am The Proprietor of an All-In-One-Shop.”

 

As I looked around the store I was amazed at the array of supplies available. 

 

1)  Household items:  Washboards, dishes, candles and candle holders, pots, pans, preserving jars and brooms.

 

2)  Groceries:  Locally produced milk, butter, cheese, fruits and vegetables, herbal medicines, drinks (all soft), tea, brown sugar, molasses, rice, sultanas (raisins), cocoa, spices, and goods cooked by Connie Candie.

 

3)  Everyday needs:  fabric, cotton (thread), needles, buttons, dyes, patterns, overalls, work gloves, gum boots (rain boots), shoes (for those Bears who wear them), hats (a must for the intense Australian sun), soap and other everyday needs.

 

4)  Hardware:  Nails, hammers, mallets, hoes, rakes, axes, shovels, ropes and other necessary items

 

5)  General items:  Books, paint, lanterns, lamps, lamp fuel (green and purple),  lollies (candy), butterscotch (four types), black licorice, marbles, balls, games, paper, pens, art supplies, and 'paw-made' greeting cards are among just a few things I noted as I looked around.

 

Golly told me the story of what happened just a few days earlier when Raftus and Rufus brought gumnuts to be sorted and cleaned. How, she suspected that the  Little Tuffs put the Creepy Crawly in the gumnut, knowing her distaste for (as she called them) 'mini beasts'. But she didn’t let on, she just gave them a treat even though they tried to trick her. Golly Gosh sighed and said "They can be such mischievous little Bears, but they also have good hearts – they will do anything to help someone in need." 

 

I purchased a sack (bag) of lollies on sticks (Golly’s recommendation) for my         Trick or Treaters and thanked Golly Gosh for her recommendation.

 

As I left the General Store I thought to myself,

 

“Hummm, tonight is Halloween Night. I wonder if those Little Tuffs are planning any more tricks?  I think I shall have a little chat with Raftus and Rufus tonight.  

​

Yes … tonight would be the perfect time to talk about Creepy Crawlies.”