Marvin and Elly Bear had gone only a little way when they met Raccoon.
"Well, hello there bears and bird" said Raccoon, looking up at Blue Jay, who was flying along with Marvin and Elly bear.
He had been pattering along with his favorite walking stick,
and now stopped to find out where Marvin and Ely Bear and Blue Jay were going.
Raccoon was ALWAYS very curious.
"And just where are you going this fine day?", he asked.
"We are going to the Eating Place under the Hazelnut trees", replied Marvin,
"Where we will picnic. And then we shall go sailing.
Sea Lion and Otter will be there too."
"Then so will I", said Raccoon, who did not wait to be invited.
Without even a please or a thank-you, Raccoon walked ahead,
making many remarks about the fine day and how good it was to have generous friends
who invited their neighbors to picnic lunches.
Since he was in a great hurry to get to the picnic, Raccoon walked very quickly,
and was soon far ahead of Marvin and Elly Bear.