Picture drawn by  kresblain

This is the story of a bear named Stargazer. Stargazer attended a school in a small building where he was student number 427. Student Number 427's responsibility was simple: he sat at his desk in room 254, and he listened to the teacher. Homework came to him through a monitor on his desk, telling him what problems to solve, how long he had to solve them, and in what order. This is what Student 427 did every day of every month and every year, and although others might have considered it soul-rending, Stargazer relished every moment that the homework came in, as though he had been made exactly for this job. And Stargazer was happy.

And then one day, something very peculiar happened. Something that would forever change Stargazer. Something he would never quite forget. He had been at his desk for nearly an hour when he realized that not one single assignment had arrived on the monitor for him to follow. No-one had showed up to give him homework, call a meeting, or even say Hi. Never in all his years at the school had this happened - this complete isolation. Something was very clearly wrong. Shocked, frozen solid, Stargazer found himself unable to move for the longest time. But as he came to his wits and regained his senses, he got up from his desk and stepped out of his classroom.

All of his classmates had gone, except for his friend Procyon. What did this mean? Stargazer decided to go outside to the playground. Perhaps it was merely recess.

Yet, it was dark out, and no other students could be seen. Perhaps if he sat and thought for a bit, he might recall what had happened.

So, Stargazer and his friend, Procyon decided to sit on the ground, lean back against a log and gaze at the stars. And after a while, it no longer bothered Stargazer that he was alone with just his friend staring up at the sky.

And Stargazer was happy.