The Wild World of Buck Bray: The Missing Grizzly Cubs
episode to be shot in Denali National Park Wow I can’t believe it I’m going to have my own TV show And I get to go to Alaska Maybe I’ll finally get to see a bear Dad was just as excited And you know what the best part is I don’t have to leave you behind I hated not being around you for months on end Me too Dad Buck said smiling up at his father Me too x Now Buck followed his father back to the strange dark green vehicle that was parked in the campground The front half of the Green Beast looked like the cab of a mili tary truck and the back looked like a mix between a tank and a school bus It had big heavy tires propane tanks on the back and solar panels on top The words BRAY TRAVEL ING FILM STUDIO had always been printed on the cab doors in big white lettering but before they left Indiana Dad had surprised Buck Above those words in fancy white t 6t
letters he had added the new show’s name THE WILD WORLD OF BUCK BRAY Buck stepped in through the back door and slid onto one of the benches at the kitchen table Inside the Green Beast was like an ordinary camper At the front Dad’s bed stretched from side to side The kitchen area was in the middle and the table’s two benches were the only places to sit In back were two narrow doors One closed off a tiny bathroom Through the other Buck could see pic tures of bears tacked to the walls beside his narrow bunk beds After breakfast we’ll head to Fairbanks to pick up Shoop and Tony at the airport Dad said He handed Buck a box of cereal and pulled a carton of milk from the refrigerator I know Shoop is your cameraman but who’s Tony Buck asked pouring milk on his cereal Shoop’s kid Dad answered Oh Buck replied but couldn’t hide the disappoint ment in his voice What’s the matter Dad asked t 7t
I thought I was the only one who would be on the show How long have you known Shoop’s kid was coming too I just found out this morning when Shoop texted me his arrival time But don’t worry It’s your show Tony will be a gofer A what A gofer Someone who goes for stuff Dad explained Plus Shoop said his kid has a good eye with the camera and is great with audio too We can use an extra hand and you’ll have somebody your age to hang around with How old is Tony I think Shoop said grade six so I guess eleven like you Buck said nothing more until he finished his breakfast You’re right he finally admitted It will be fun to have someone to do stuff with since you’re always working Well you know I’ve told you We’re not on a vacation It takes a lot of work to produce a show Dad said putting the dishes away So grab your scripts It’s an hour to the airport You can practice while we’re driving t 8t
Buck moaned Again During the long days driving to Alaska Dad had insisted Buck practice his lines He had repeated the words so many times he could have rattled off facts about Alaska’s mountains and animals in his sleep x The baggage pickup area at the airport was crowded but there were only two kids who looked like they might be eleven years old One was a boy standing at the far end of the baggage conveyor his sweatshirt hood pulled over his head The other was an Asian girl with a bright red backpack She was sketching A bearded man with a camo jacket and an identical red backpack stood near her Is that him The guy with the hoodie Buck asked But before Dad could answer the boy took a suitcase from the conveyor and walked away with a woman stand ing nearby There’s Shoop Dad said pointing toward a red headed man standing beside the baggage conveyor t 9t
