Surviving the Shock

[252 words] Last year, a Summersville, West Virginia, school principal got quite a surprise as he prepared to begin the new day. It was 7 a.m. and teachers and staff were getting ready for the students to arrive. The Zela Elementary School custodian had a problem. He couldn’t get the lid to unlock on the dumpster. Principal James Marsh thought he would assist the worker with the lid. After managing to get the lock open, Marsh lifted the lid. Suddenly, a growl came from inside the container. The lid flipped open with force and out jumped a 400 lb. black bear. Marsh and the bear ran off in different directions. After reviewing security footage, it seemed that the bear had climbed into the dumpster near the end of the previous day. Apparently, he stuffed himself with leftover school lunch food and fell asleep. The janitor closed the lid and locked…