He's heading right at me, thought Matt. Why? it's not like he's got cubs and I'm menacing them, thinking of the few reasons that bears attack humans. The only other reason is food.
The candy in my backpack, realized Matt. That's why. He considered dropping the backpack and running, in case the bear could smell the food, but then he had a better idea. Whomp! He threw a Reeces Peanut butter cup wrapped in red foil down on the ground. The bear, sniffing, moved towards the candy. Matt moved towards the ranger's big truck. Everyone stopped moving, except for the barking of the Peke, no one breathed. Carefully dismounting from his bike, backpack open, Matt threw a candy cane as he stood just at the edge of the ramp of the truck. Matt was poised between the truck and sidewalk, ready to make a break for it. Then he tossed a packet of gummi bears into the truck over his shoulder. If Matt went in the truck he would be cornered, but also -- soon would the bear. Should he go into the truck and throw down more candy, and try to lure the bear inside?
Matt didn't have to make that choice. As the bear chewed at the cellophane wrapper...
The bear moaned and began to lurch, and this time, Matt ran. He threw his leg over his bike and began to pedal, cursing his parents for not buying him a new one, with gears. If the bear had been at its full strength, it could have easily outrun and overpowered Matthew. However, soon it began to lurch and fall to the ground.
That was good you thought of the candy. We miscalculated and thought we could get the bear pretty easily, looking through the garbage like we have in other neighborhoods," said the ranger, as the policeman patted Matt on the back.
Yeah, well, um, we're pretty neat when it comes to garbage around here," said Matt, almost as dazed as the bear. "I learned in science class that bears are omnivores and like really sweet stuff," he added.
It wasn't until that night, after his parents came home and after the mayor had called him personally on the phone to tell him he was a hero and to offer Matt the chance to spend New Year's Eve at the Town Hall as an honored guest that Matthew thought: I guess no one will call me a wimp again, now
