The little bear woke up with a jump. They had got onto a train and the rocking motion sent both him and the child to sleep. Now it had stopped and it was time to get off. 

They went down some steps to a row of cars and got inside the first one. The car took them to a set of huge gates and there was a man in a window giving out tickets. The child placed the little bear on the parcel shelf so that he could see and, once they had their tickets, the car drove them inside. 

The little bear could hardly sit still, he was so excited. He hung onto the back of the seat and leaned over as far as he could. 
He saw monkeys and baboons, penguins and sea lions, giraffes and elephants. Then he saw something that made his ears tingle. There, across the other side of the track, was a Big, Brown Bear. 

The little bear slid off of the parcel shelf, out of the window and dropped to the ground. He ran as fast as little legs would go to the Big Brown Bear and looking up at him he said, "Hello up there. I was hoping you could tell me, are there bears like me here?" 

The big brown Bear looked down in surprise; "No, I am the only bear here." He said. 

The Big Brown Bear bent to examine the little bear. He studied him. He sniffed at him. He nudged him so hard that the little bear rolled over and over. "You don't smell like a bear." said the Big Brown Bear. "Where did you come from?" 

The little bear told his story, and when he had finished, the Big Brown Bear said "You have had a big adventure. I have never met a bear like you. I went on a hairy-plain once. It was when they brought me here. I used to live in a big place where there are trees and rivers. I used to catch my own fish and wander as I pleased. I had no need of humans to own me." 

He fell silent for a moment deep in thought. He turned to the little bear and said "There was another bear on the hairy-plain with me. She was a beautiful white bear. She said she came from where there is snow all the time. She too caught her own fish and wandered as she pleased so I don't think she had any need of humans to own her either." He nudged the little bear again. "She was awfully pretty though!" he said as the little bear rolled over and over. 

The little bear sat up and brushed the dirt from his fur. He shook his head a few times and dislodged a dead leaf from his right ear. 
"I think you are right" he said dolefully "You are not a bear like me". He stood up to go. 

"Wait!" said the big brown bear, "There are lots of animals here and they come from all over the world. Maybe one of them can tell you where to find a bear like you." The little bear nodded. That was a very good idea. 

At that moment a human came to feed the Big Brown Bear. The little bear slipped quietly away. 

"Thank you for telling me your story". He whispered. But the Big Brown Bear was busy eating and did not hear him. It was some time later that he realised that he had forgotten to ask the little bear his name. It was too late now. The little bear was gone.