[ WP ] Monsters under the bed are real and the only protection from them is teddy bears , you are a retired bear telling one of your stories .

`` Yeah. Yeah. I kn- Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Yeah. Okay. Oka- Okay. Yep. Alright. Alright. Okay. Okay, love you. Ok, yep. Ok, bye. Love you.'' 
 
 Michael hangs up and puts down his cellphone. He looks at the clock above the door, and the surveillance camera next to it. 
 
 4:23 PM. Hm. Thirty-seven more minutes. 
 
 He pulls out a hairbrush from the bottom drawer and proceeds to brush his thick, bushy fur. 
 
 Just then, a knock on the door. 
 
 Michael sighs, exasperated. He's tired from the day's work. He really does n't want to deal with another timetable change. Especially with thirty-seven minutes left in the day. But, Michael was a professional. He knew he could n't ignore that knocking for thirty-seven minutes. He was bound, by school board by-laws, to answer that knock, and to spew the school-board mandated advice. Only school-board mandated. God forbid if you tried to tell them the truth. No, no, no. That would n't be right. Why topple their belief in the system so early? No. Michael would never. But, for the next thirty-seven minutes, he would be a sheep. 
 
 `` Come in.'' Michael does n't do much to express enthusiasm. 
 
 A small, white-ish furred cub pokes his head through the door, apprehensive. 
 
 `` H-Hi.'' 
 
 Michael smiles, weakly. `` Come in.'' 
 
 The cub walks in, nervous. Michael nods to the seat in front of his desk. The cub acknowledges the nod, and sits. 
 
 `` What can I do for you...'' Michael zooms in on the cub's name tag. `` Uh, Terry?'' 
 
 The cub looks up. `` I was, uh, told to, uh, come to you if I wanted to, uh, change my timetable.'' He nervously shuffles his feet. 
 
 Michael smiles. `` Sure, Terry.'' 
 
 Terry smiles, for the first time, confidently. He hands Michael the timetable. 
 
 `` So... what do you want to chang --'' 
 
 `` Advanced Protection, Level 12.'' There was a strange determinedness in Terry's voice. He had thought this over. 
 
 Michael surveys Terry carefully. Terry winces slightly, feeling as if he's being x-rayed. 
 
 `` Terry, AP12 is a mandatory course for you.'' Michael looks at his file he just pulled from his top drawer. `` Well, you're still in level 11, so you could take it next year...'' 
 
 Michael looks at Terry. 
 
 `` I can take it out, if you want...'' Michael pauses. `` But why bother taking it now?'' 
 
 Terry pauses. `` I, uh, do n't really like it.'' 
 
 Michael scoffs. `` Well, better get used to it. It's mandatory if you want to do something with your life.'' 
 
 `` Why?'' The strange determinedness returned, Terry, for the first time, stares directly at Michael. 
 
 Michael looks up from his computer. `` What?'' 
 
 `` Why do I HAVE to take AP12 if I want to do something with my life? Why ca n't I... Why ca n't I..., uh, be like Ted?'' 
 
 Michael, not believing his ears, lets out the most genuine laugh he's let out all day. All week, probably. Michael, realizing his short fit of laughter was extremely unprofessional, quickly adjusts his demeanour and looks to Terry, his expression almost father-like. 
 
 `` Terry, Ted is a very extreme case. He's a lucky bear. He was at the right place at the right time. It was him against the world, and 99 % of cubs will bet on being what their elders tell them and want them to be. Ted is an example of the 1 %.'' 
 
 Michael sighs. 
 
 `` He has something that we all aim to achieve. We live through him, everyday, Terry. I do n't blame you for wanting to step out from what you're destined to be.'' 
 
 Terry loses it. 
 
 `` BUT I DO N'T WANT TO PROTECT CHILDREN! I DO N'T! I HATE IT! WHY SHOULD I BE OF SERVICE TO SOME HUMAN WHEN I CAN PAINT, ACT, WRITE, DANCE, WHATEVER?! WHY SHOULD I BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE NO INTEREST IN?!'' 
 
 In his fit of emotional rage, Terry knocks over his seat and has successfully plastered most of Michael's possessions with globs of saliva. 
 
 Michael, strangely, remains calm during the entire tirade. He wipes off some saliva from his face. He sternly points to the seat. 
 
 Terry, realizing his mistake, hurriedly picks up his chair and proceeds to apologize profusely. He begins wiping Michael's desk with his paws, without any effect. 
 
 `` It's alright. It's okay. Just, sit down.'' 
 
 Terry, defeated, sits. He does n't dare look at Michael. 
 
 Michael looks up at the clock. He looks at the surveillance camera. 
 
 `` It's late. I have to leave soon.'' 
 
 Michael writes down something quickly on a piece of paper and hands it to Terry. 
 
 `` I'm changing offices next week, temporarily. Visit me at that room.'' 
 
 At this point, Terry opens up the folded piece of paper. 
 
 `` DO N'T REACT. MEET ME AT PARKING LOT, 10 MINS.'' 
 
 Terry immediately looks up. 
 
 Michael, for the first time in his life, tries to muster up the most serious look he could give, and stares directly at Terry. 
 
 `` Yeah. Sure.'' 
 
 `` Good. Have a good weekend, Terry.'' 
 
 Terry quickly gets up and exits the office. Michael looks at the clock. 
 
 4:58:47 PM. 
 
 Michael, rather hastily, gathers his things. 
 
 4:59:23 PM. 
 
 Michael grabs his cellphone and coat. 
 
 4:59:53 PM. 
 
 Michael heads to the door. 
 
 5:00:07 PM. 
 
 The red light on the camera shuts off. 
 
 Michael sprints to the parking lot. 
 
 
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 Let me know if you'd like more.
