Bambi, Basil, and Benjamin the three B's of the American B-Careful Club enter the Imperial Panda Pagoda. The Pagoda temple is rustic with carved teak wood pillars and huge gate doors. Bright colors of red and orange decorate the main temple building.
A gong of brass weighing a ton and twenty feet across hangs outside the temple entrance. From the main temple elevated cut stone covered walkways extend out to smaller temples, seven in all.
"This is empressive, says Bambi as her friends stand in awe."
To one side a rather fat Panda bear picks at the grass and enjoys each morsel. Strange sounds from the Panda bear are noted by Ben as he points toward the bear.
Walking closer the three friends can tell that the bear is singing. A slow rhimed tune that strange enough sounds like English. As the three approach the bear takes notice and raises it's head and looks at the three.
"Best of the day to you my fair friends, says the Panda bear in perfect Kings' English."
Basil and Ben chime together and state the obvious, "It can Talk!"
"Oh yes I learned to talk long before I knew the lush taste of sweet grass and bamboo shutes. I was born Samuel James Booth on September 30 in the year of our Lord 1949. I came to this peaceful place five years ago next Sunday."
Basil ask's, Then you were human? I mean you were born human, but now your a bear!"
"It's a long story, Ahh please be seated and I will tell of a great wizard and an English gentleman who lived a life without respect to others."
The three sat in a half circle near the Panda.
"I came here as you about five years ago. A doctor of medicine I was for thirty plus years. I never married, lucky for some woman I'm sure! Yet I entered and went where ever I wished to walk.
Pointing to a small temple in the far northeast corner of the courtyard. There is the sacred temple of the Wizard of Panda Pogoda. I walked inside as though it was owned by me. Brash and selfcentered my fist hit the brass gong as I yelled aloud to see if it would echo.
Foolish I know, yet a fool was this Englishman. I turned to see a very old man. Slight of build and feeble, little did I know who he was. I'm sorry my mind wanders!
He spoke in a tongue of China that is very old. I could not understand and told him with a California one finger waive. He grabbed the finger and smiled.
Then in fine English he said, "You should stay here and learn manors and a considerate attitude toward others. Some are less than you and many are higher born. Your home is the temple grounds! Your food the grass in the temple. Since I cannot bear you, a Panda Bear is what you shall become. Since that day I roam the temple and give audiance."
"Have you learned from being a low animal how to be considerate, asked Bambi?"
"CONSIDERATE ! I despise that old Wizard! If he came to offer me my human self I would kiss his butt. I'm sure he knows that I am little different now from the fool who walked in here five years ago."
Bambi feeling sorry for the man, suggests to the others. "Lets visit the temple and ask the old Wizard to change him back!"
Ben and Basil agree and the three walk to the small temple.
"Mr Wizard of the Panda Pagoda please talk with us! called Bambi."
"Calm you daughter, I'm old but not deaf. I understand the three of you have come to beg for that misrable human Panda."
Basil jumps in with both feet and spouts, "He's been a bear for five years enough is enough. Ya says Ben I wouldn't think any curse should be forever, change him back!"
Bambi kneels down in front of the Wizard. "Sir, please we ask for this poor man to become himself and be on his way. We respect your desire for him to learn manors but an old dog is tough to teach a new trick!"
The Wizard smiles, "He can go, a Panda bear he is nolonger. I am impressed with you my daughter. Yet these young men are more brash than would be considered proper. The act as a bull in a china shop. A waive of his hand and Ben and Basil vanish from site."
"Oh no what have you done with my friends, asked Bambi in a fearful voice."
The Wizard smiles and with a crooked finger point out over the grassy field between the seven temples.
"There are your friends, even now their small minds begin to comprehend the new way of life each is to live."
Bambi peers out the open temple door to see two Water Buffalo grazing.