Adventures and Values in Childten's Stories

Pattimari Sheets Cacciolfi & Charlotte Huston Johnson

started feeling dizzy and sick to her stomach.
“I can’t panic. Father always told me what to do.” Kalli murmured to herself. She told herself she’d better lay down on

the ground, knowing she couldn’t walk. She hoped someone would find her soon.
All at once, the mustangs started to run down the path. Kalli looked up and screamed, “Oh no! Oh no!”
The leader was a beautiful black shiny stallion and he ran right up to Kalli. Her heart started beating fast and hard

because she was afraid he was going to trample her, but instead he stopped right in front of her. He was protecting her
from the rest of the horses.

Kalli looked up in the wild stallion’s eyes and she giggled because it looked like he winked at her.
She smiled and said, “Thank you black stallion for protecting me.”
The black stallion nodded his head as he stood and continued to look at her. He stomped his foot on the ground and at
that moment she realized he was inviting her get up on his back.
“Oh black stallion, you want to take me home?” Kalli said.
The stallion moved closer to her and she climbed up on his back. He began to walk slowly down the hill to the front
door of her house.
“Oh black stallion you are a very smart horse!” Kalli said as she was trying to get off the horse. Then she shouted,
“Mommy. Mommy. Please come quick.”
Her mother swung open the door and saw Kalli trying to get off the black stallion. She finally made it off with her
mother’s help. Before she went inside, she turned and looked back at the black stallion and said, “Thank you black
stallion. I’ll always love you for protecting me.”
The black stallion looked at Kalli and winked, then galloped off.
Soon after, Kalli’s father and Tyler took her to the hospital. The doctor gave her some medicine and said, “You are
very lucky little girl Kalli. You got here just in time.”
After that day, Kalli saw the black stallion standing on a hill looking at her. She wanted to run and throw her arms
around him, but she knew he was wild and wanted to remain free, so she waved to him and blew him a kiss. She knew if
she was closer, she would see him winking at her.

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Mrs. Vargas and her Carrot Garden

Sage and Natasha Vargas were sisters and they loved one another very much. Their mommy grew carrots and they had the
most fun carrying in a basket full every day.

They ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their mommy put brown sugar on them at breakfast and creamy butter
on them at lunch. For dinner she put them in a stew.

One morning, Sage and Natasha went out to gather in a basket full of carrots and saw a big white rabbit with her three
babies eating them all up. They loaded a big red wagon full of them and were nibbling on one in each hand.

“Hey, White Rabbit, why are you eating all the carrots?” Sage hollered.
“Why, my babies are hungry and we are all alone, so we saw these delicious fresh carrots and decided to take some.”
White Rabbit said.
“Well, you could have asked first.” Natasha said.
White Rabbit quickly told her babies to stop taking the carrots and she began unloading the wagon. She placed them
gently on the ground and said, “I’m sorry Sage and Natasha. I won’t take anymore.”
Sage looked at Natasha and said, “Go get mommy.”
Soon after their mother, Mrs. Vargas, came to the garden and she saw White Rabbit and her babies taking all the
carrots out of the wagon, and said, “What is going on here?”
“White Rabbit said her babies are hungry and she filled up their wagon to take the carrots home,” Natasha said.
Their mother stood and thought for a moment and then she said, “Where do you live White Rabbit?”
“Oh, we were chased out of our home by a red fox, so we don’t have a home right now.”
Mrs. Vargas frowned, thought for a moment and then said, “I have a plan for you White Rabbit. If you will pick the
carrots every day and put them in a basket for us, we’ll cook enough for you and your babies.”

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White Rabbit’s face lit up and she looked at her babies dancing in excitement, and said, “Oh yes, we will. Thank you.”
The next day, Natasha and Sage went out to the garden and saw White Rabbit screaming at Red Fox to go away. White

Rabbit had her hands on the wagon and was pulling with all her strength, but Red Fox was strong so he was winning the
struggle.

Sage screamed, “Hey, Red Fox. Let go of the wagon’s handle.”
The girl’s mother heard the ruckus and ran out to see what was going on.
“Red Fox, why are you stealing our carrots?”
Red Fox dropped the handle and said, “I need these carrots to take to Mrs. Boris because she is ill and is without any
food.”
Sage and Natasha’s mother put her hands on her hips and shook her head and said, “I can’t feed everybody with this
little carrot garden, but let me think for a moment.”
All of a sudden she got a terrific idea and said, “I’ll tell you what Red Fox, if you will bring all your friends to cultivate
that acre of land over there, I’ll plant more seed and then we can feed everybody that is hungry.”
Red Fox was so happy he jumped and ran around in circles, then stopped and said, “You’ve got a deal, Mrs. Vargas.
I’ll go get my cousins and friends and I’ll be right back.”
Before long, the acre was producing a lot of carrots and nobody was ever hungry again. Mrs. Vargas cleaned out her old
barn and let Rabbit and her babies make a little home for themselves in it, and Red Fox even found a warm spot to sleep at
nights next to them.

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Kirby Squirrel who learned his Lesson

Kirby was a very mischievous squirrel who loved to play tricks on people that passed by his cotton wood tree. This
particular day he was busy collecting acorns and nuts and putting them in his cheeks while running in and out his hole in
the old cotton wood tree. But most days he’d jump on people’s heads, mostly those who wore fluffy hats or had umbrellas
in their hand. Kirby loved it when they screamed in fear then run quickly away. He’d run back into his hole chuckling.

Kirby had tricked people so much that his neighbor posted a sign on the tree that said, walk at your own risk, crazy
squirrel. So people soon stopped passing by Kirby’s tree. As time went by, Kirby got bored and lonely, but one sunny
day, a boy walked by carrying a slingshot, and started shooting peas at the street sign and then started shooting Kirby’s
tree. He ran to the branch and said, “Oh goody. Finally someone is passing by. I’ll go out and see what I can do to scare
them.”

As soon as Kirby said, oh goody, the boy shot him with a pea, right on his leg. Kirby jumped back in pain and then ran
for his dear life. Back in his hole, he felt mighty frightened. He sat for a while deep in thought and then said, “Oh how
I’ve been a mischievous squirrel. What I’ve have done to people isn’t funny. I’m not going to play my tricks on people
anymore. No, I won’t. I’ll still do tricks, but only to make people laugh. I’ll make them laugh so hard, they’ll visit me
often.”

As days went by, Kirby sat on his branch and would do funny tricks instead of jumping on people or throwing nuts at
them. Soon people began to laugh and as time went by. The neighbor took down the sign posted and more and more
people began visit Kirby’s tree while they’d stand and laugh at his tricks.

Kirby wasn’t lonely anymore. He was a happy squirrel. Sometimes people would even give him nuts to show they
appreciated his tricks. Kirby laughed and felt ever so happy because he had learned his lesson well.

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Greg and Billy’s Trip to the Canal

Greg, a little boy who lived in Porterville, a small town in California, had a friend name Billy. Greg and Billy were good
friends and liked doing things together, but that afternoon they were bored because Greg’s parents were preparing for a
big neighborhood party. Greg and Billy thought being with grow-ups making puddings, cakes and party duties wasn’t that
much fun thought Greg and Billy.

In the late afternoon Greg and Billy decided to go down to the canal and float their toy boats. So off they went
laughing and carrying their boats, feeling happy.

As the boys started walking toward the canal they passed neighbors who waved and said hello.
“Hello Greg and Billy, I see you’re off to sail the big blue sea.” Mr. King said and laughed.
“No Mr. King, we’re just going down the road to the canal and float them there.” Greg said.
“Well, you boys be careful down there. It’s mighty full right now.” Mr. King said and went back into his garage to
finish working on his car.
Soon after arriving, the boys went under the bridge and out the other side to begin floating their boats.
“I bet my boat is faster than yours, Greg,” Billy said.
“We’ll see.” Greg said and became excited as he ran to put his boat into the water he got too close to the edge and feel
in.

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He went down to the bottom and the current was moving so swift that it was couldn’t get over to the side. He lifted his
hand up above the water and was gasping for air each time he got his head up out of the water. But the current was so
strong it pulled him back down under the water. He wanted to scream, but he couldn’t get enough air to let out one word.
He was fighting for his life and becoming more afraid as each minute went by.

Greg lifted his hand above the water again and Billy saw it. “I’m coming Greg, hold on. I’m coming.” Billy ran as fast
as he could to the other side of the bridge and grabbed Greg’s hand and pulled him out couching and spiting up water.
Billy stood frightened to see Greg fighting to breath.

Finally Greg spit up enough water that he got out a whisper to Billy. “Thank you Billy. Thank you for saving my life.”
Billy and Greg decided to go back to Greg’s house. They left their boats behind in the canal, but they didn’t mind
because all they wanted to do was get home where it was safe.
Greg’s parents knew right away that something had happened to the boys so Greg’s mother asked and they began
telling about Greg almost drowning.
Since Billy was a Boy Scout, they gave him a badge as a hero and the city of Porterville gave him a big award for his
bravery for saving Greg.
The boys learned their lesson about floating boats on the canal or for that matter to never go to the canal again.
Greg’s mother, purchase a small plastic pool and filled it up with water so the boys could float their boats in it. She told
the boys, “It’s a hard lesson to learn boys, but a good one because I’m sure you’ll tell all your friends to never go near the
canal again.”

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Rose Bud, the Piglet

At Roxy’s horse ranch on a hot July afternoon, she sit on her porch enjoying a tall glass of tea when she saw a small dark
figure running across the lawn. She hurried down the steps to get a closer look at the small figure in her curious but
frightened mind. Slowly walking out to the pasture, she saw her horse eating hay and near the water trough in the mud
was a small little brown piglet. She smiled and walked over near the piglet and saw that it looked tired and thirsty. She
touched it and realized something was wrong because it wasn’t moving. Soon after Roxy’s husband came out to the
pasture and Roxy hollered, “Hurry over here Jeff, you’ll never believe what is here. But first you’ll need a cage.” Roxy
stood in amazement at what she saw while her husband was getting a cage.

Soon as he returned holding the cage in his arms, he put down the cage and slipped on his gloves then picked up the
piglet. It squealed, but he checked her carefully and discovered it was a girl piglet. “Oh my goodness, this piglet is only
about one month old and so very little, but oh so very cute,” he said as he place the little thing in the cage and then hurried
out to drive around the property, down to the pond and through the orange orchards. There she was, the piglet’s mommy,
running as fast as her legs would allow. She was running away from the nearby fire, scared and in a tiff. But Jeff calmed
her down by rubbing her skin and talking quietly to her. Later, back at Jeff’s ranch, Roxy had made a nice little house for
the piglet and then put her into the pen with their goat, Mattie, who was a good goat and friendly with all the animals.
Their daughter named the little piglet Rose Bud. Kyli loved her little pig and always ran out to her pen and gave Rose Bud
a hug when she could. She was a happy little girl who would jump and play, but always had time to give her piglet a warm
hug. “I’m so glad we saved you Rose Bud. I love you! I love you!” The family later went over and brought the piglet’s
mommy back to their ranch and put it in with its piglet. Everyone, who came to visit the family wanted to see Rose Bud,
and Kylie was always happy to take them out to the pen to see her. From that on, the family laughed about the little piglet,
Rose Bud.

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Deagan

From the time Deagan was born everybody knew he was smart as a whip. He knew how to figure things out long
before his friends. He was a cute little boy who was full of energy and loved to romp and play. Most of the summer, he
was out in his yard kicking around a ball or climbing trees. Sometimes he’d help his daddy fix things in the yard, but this
particular day he wanted to go out to the forest and dig for some special things for his Show and Tell class the next day.
He packed up his bag with a shovel and a few boxes to put his things in.
The wind was blowing chilly, but he had on his warm jacket so he knew he would be warm. As he walked along the dirt
path he hummed the tune he often heard and sang in his second grade class. When all of sudden, a voice called out loud
and strong, but Deagan couldn’t see who was speaking. “What are you doing little boy walking alone in the cold dark
forest? Speak to me boy or I will not show you who I am.”

“I’m just a little boy who is searching for special things for my Show and Tell class.” Deagan said as he looked around
to see who was talking to him.

A big branch snapped and out popped a bear that looked big and clumsy.
“Don’t hurt me big bear; I’m just a little boy out searching for things.” Deagan said as he stopped, put down his bag in
fear of the bear and started trembling.
“I won’t hurt you little boy, I’m just a big lonely bear who wants to make new friends.” said the bear as he moved over
closer to Deagan and smiled.

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“What do you want big bear? I don’t have anything but my bag here.”
The big bear eyed Deagan’s bag and said, “What do you have in that bag little boy?”

“I have a shovel and boxes to put all my things in for my Show and Tell class.” Deagan said in a fearful voice and then
moved far away from the big bear.

The big bear said, “I’m Duncan and I always like to make new friends.”
About the moment the bear was getting ready to grab Deagan’s bag and take a look inside it, red fox jumped out from
the bushes and said, “Run Deagan. Run fast. Duncan is going to grab you and take you to his den and keep you there all
winter for a feast when he gets hungry. Run Deagan…run Deagan… run fast!”
“Oh no. I don’t want to be big bear’s dinner.” He ran as fast as he could and hid behind a big tree. Big bear started to
chase him but the red fox had tied a rope between the two trees and bear’s neck hit the rope and he fell to the ground.
Deagan poked his head around the tree and saw red fox tie the rope around big bear’s legs and body until he couldn’t
move. Then he took another rope out and headed toward Deagan.

“Why did you tie up big bear?” Deagan asked with sweat pouring down his forehead. About that time, big bear pushed
and pulled until he tore off his ropes and ran over and grabbed up Deagan and off he ran. He ran and ran until he was so
tired he had to sit down and rest. “Don’t you know little boy, that red fox thinks he is a wise old fox who only wants to
fool you into thinking he is trying to help you, but instead will tie you up and take you off to his ranch to work from
sunrise to sunset? I know because I’ve seen him take away many a little boy. I have…I have.”

“Why no, I didn’t know, but I think I’d better not dig for my Show and Tell class and just go home. I don’t care if I
don’t have anything to show and tell for my class.”

Duncan big bear chuckled and said, “I don’t blame you little boy, but I have a great idea. Why don’t I go to your Show
and Tell class tomorrow with you and you can tell the entire class about our adventure and escape today? How about that?
Deagan nodded his head, yes, picked up his bag and headed home thinking his class was going to be mighty surprised to
see a big old friendly bear who just wants a friend, walk into class with him.

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The Special Girls, Mabel and Sage

There once was a Nereid who lived under the sea who was called a sea nymph. She had a big family that loved their
Nereid because she was a very special sea girl. She was able to tell the future and together with her father, the ancient
Greek god Nereus, they saved many ships sinking and helped many people on the shores of Greece. So the legend goes,
but one day while Mabel was picking sea shells from the beach, she was pulled in the sea waters and couldn’t get out.

“Please help me. Help me someone.” Mabel cried right before her head went under for the second time. She was
frightened and tried to scream for help, but only bubbles came out, so she went deeper and deeper and then popped up
again.

Nereid heard the cry long before the young girl cried, so she was right there to scoop Mabel into her arms and carry her
to shore. She looked into Mabel’s eyes and said, “You will be safe now. Let out your breath and you’ll get that water out.”

Mabel looked at Nereid and said, “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before.”
Nereid smiled and said, “I am a sea nymph. I saved your life because you are a special girl who needs to be saved so
you can follow your heart and contribute to your world. The world will need you in a few years, and you should be alive
to help in your very special way. You will know when it’s time. Don’t forget you’re special.”
Mabel closed her eyes and then opened them and said, “Sea Nymph? Well, how am I to save a big wide world with
millions of people? I’m just a young girl.”
“You will grow up and at that time you will save it with your special powers. It needs your help. You will teach the
people of the world about love.” Sea Nymph said and touched Mabel on the head and sent off a bunch of rainbow
sparkles.
“Oh. Well, then I’d better leave and go home and dry off so I don’t catch a death of a cold. That is if I really am
supposed to save the world.” Mabel said as she smiled. She started walking home thinking about the Sea Nymph and then
started running to go tell her sister, Sage, about the Sea Nymph.

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Mabel ran into through the door and yelled, “Sage! Sage! Where are you?”
“Right here Mabel, sitting in my little bear chair.”
“Boy, do I have a story for you. You’re never going to believe me though.” Mabel said and then began telling Sage the

story about the Sea Nymph, but before she could finish the story, Sage leaped out of her chair and grabbed Mabel’s hand
and said, “Oh sister, you met her too??

“Why yes, just today and she told me I was special and was meant to help the world.” Mabel said as she smiled
proudly.

“I know you are, and so am I. Together we’re going to help the world. Sea Nymph told me all about it. She told me
throughout time people have been told stories of magical creatures who have magical powers. These magical creatures
send special people out to make the world a better place. She told me I was a dolphin who was turned into a human being
when it was time for me to leave my watery home. Don’t you see Mabel, that’s why I am the best swimmer in this town?”
Sage said with wisdom.

“Oh Sage, this is so exciting. I want to go back and see the Sea Nymph again. Would you come with me tomorrow?”
Mabel said.

“Yes, I will. I think Sea Nymph has a lot more to tell you. I’ve been going for a couple months and she has told me so
many stories.” Sage said.

“Please tell me some of the stories Sage.” Mabel pleaded.
“Well, let me think. She told me about the beautiful sea maidens whose sweet singing voices cast spells on the passing
sailors to help their county. And she said, to this day Japanese children keep statues by their bedside of a spirit with the
power to eat nightmares. Oh Mable, she has many more stories to tell us before we grow up and begin helping our world.”
Sage said as she twisted over to the window to see a bird setting on the window flower box.

The next day, Mable and Sage decided to go to the beach and see if they could see Nereid the Sea Nymph and sure
enough as soon as they stepping into the ocean’s water, she popped up and the three of them sat on the beach while Nereid
told them more stories. “Oh yes, there are wicked ones too, just like in the world where you two will go to seek them out
and turn them around with your powerful love. But let me tell you about some. Sirens are often confused with mermaids.
You see like mermaids, sirens have the head of a woman and beautiful singing voices, but they don’t have a fish’s tail.
No. They have the body of a bird. Sirens are wicked. Pure wicked.

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According to the ancient Greeks, they use their sweet voices to entice sailors to their islands and then crash them onto
rocky shores. Then they kill and eat them.”

“Oh, that is most terrible.” Cried Sage as she wrinkled up her nose and frowned.
“Yes, so my dear sweet special girls, I want you listen to my stories so when you do go out into the world to make it a
better place, you’ll know who you are dealing with.”

Sage and Mable decided to leave after their friend went back into the ocean’s water. They walked and they talked about
all of the things they had learned. Their favorite one was about Nymphs. Mainly, because they were female spirits hidden

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throughout the green natural world that helped protect earth. There were many different kinds of nymphs, living in
different places. They knew they had to learn many more things before they could go out into the world to make it a better
place. But from that day on, their thoughts were on goodness and keeping their mind positive.

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Sammy Turtle’s Birthday Cake

Long ago in the days of the giants, lived Tabby Lion and Sammy Turtle’s ancestors. All their life they had heard stories
of their people in the past, but today all Tabby Lion wanted to do was decorate and have a great big birthday party for
Sammy Turtle. He’d invite all their friends to participate in the celebration.
Just like in the days of the giants, Tabby Lion wanted to build big giants to sit on Sammy Turtle’s cake. That meant he
would have to bake a giant cake. But where in the world was he going to get a big enough pan to bake the cake in or for
that matter, an oven big enough.

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Tabby Lion decided to call Mrs. Rabbit and ask her since she baked so many birthday cakes for her many children.
“Hi Mrs. Rabbit,” Tabby Lion roared into the phone.
“Hello Tabby Lion, I’d know your roar any time. What can I do for you?” Mrs. Rabbit said.
“Well Mrs. Rabbit, I know you will be able to help. I need to bake a giant cake for Sammy Turtle’s birthday. I don’t have
a big enough pan. I don’t even have a big enough oven. Can you help me?”

“Humm, let me see. Well, come on by my yard around noon and I will have figured it out.” Mrs. Rabbit said.
At exactly noon, Tabby Lion arrived and was mighty surprised to see Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit building a big pit, while all
their young rabbits were building a giant pan made of tin. They cut, pounded until they had a giant pan.
“Hello Tabby Lion, we have it all figured out, but what are we going to put make the cake mixture in before we pour it
into the pan?” Mrs. Rabbit asked.
Tabby Lion thought for a moment and then he became excited and said, “I know. I know. I’ll go get my wash tub and
mix it in that.”
“Good idea Tabby Lion.” Mrs. Rabbit said as her eyes got big.
All the next day and into the night, Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit and all their 10 young rabbits worked with Tabby Lion and
had finally finished in time for the big birthday party. All of Sammy Turtle’s friends were coming and bringing presents
for him.
After everybody arrived, Tabby Lion ran to Sammy Turtle and said, “Hurry Sammy Turtle. Hurry, I need your help.”
Just as Sammy Turtle ran back to see what help Tabby Lion wanted, everyone sang happy birthday to him.
Sammy Turtle felt so happy he cried. And when he saw the giant birthday cake, he looked at Tabby Lion and said,
“You remembered. You’re the best friend a turtle could have.”
Everyone had a wonderful time, dancing and eating from Sammy Turtle’s giant birthday cake.

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Brett’s Dream

Two brothers, Brett and Brandon, lived in a small quiet town where nothing ever happened out of the ordinary. About the
only thing they did that was exciting was snowboarding or skiing. Many nights they’d stay up late talking about the
adventures they had in the snow while they listened to the wind howling through the trees and the snow beating on the
roof top.

That night it was extra cold so Brett put extra blankets on his bed and crawled in and was soon fast asleep, but he
wasn’t asleep long when he heard a strange voice shouting at him to get up.

“Get up! Get up! We have to go!”
Brett woke up and saw a caveman in his room and quickly cried out, “What are doing in my room? Who are you?”
“I came in through the window, but it’s time to go. Get dressed,” the caveman said.
He didn’t know if he was dreaming or if it was real, but he jumped up, put on his jeans up, pulled his sweater over his
head, slipped on his tennis shoes, and then climbed out the window with the man and started flying up into the dark sky.
Up ahead he saw an opening of a cave and when they entered, Brett knew he had entered into the mysterious land of
dreams.
As they walked down a long path in the cave there were yellow butterflies that were carrying lanterns. The cave had
large crystals hanging from its ceiling, and all around were different types of precious stones; purple amethyst, brown
amber, gold, and garnets that sparkled as the light beams shined down on them. Right away, Brett knew it was a unique
place to be in.
After what seemed like only minutes, they reached the other side of the cave. The air was light and it made Brett feel
happy and if he wasn’t in such a strange place, he might have enjoyed the feeling.
They entered into a big valley that had two moons and thousands of stars that danced across the bluest sky that Brett
had ever seen. Before long, they climbed over big mountains and walked along embankments, lakes and rivers. It seemed
like time wasn’t important. Brett noticed his watch had stopped working.
The caveman gestured for Brett to go to the river’s edge and when he did, he said, “Look into the water and tell me
what you see?”
“I see myself,” responded Brett.
“Look closer.” the caveman said.
The water began whirling and spinning like nothing Brett had ever seen. He heard voices. The voices said, “The lives
you have touched are a part of you. Happiness depends on your good thoughts.” Then the voices quieted down and it was
silent for a time and then the Brett asked, “What does this all mean?”
“Only you know and if you don’t know, you must figure it out,” said the caveman.

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Brett and the caveman continued on their journey, as they walked they saw large creatures in the sea. Strange creatures
with long bodies and slender necks that went down into the water and came up with fish wiggling out of their mouths.
There were birds that were flying over their heads as large as school buses.

“Wow! Look at the whales and dolphins playing with seals splashing around in the water. Where am I? What is going
on?” Brett asked.

The caveman remained silent so Brett walked under a tall tree and the tree said, “Ouch! Be careful! You are walking on
my roots and I’m very old and frail.”

Brett jumped back and said, “Oh, I’m sorry tree. I didn’t know.”
The two walked on and as they got closer to the rocks, Brett looked up and saw a large dinosaur eating grass.
“This is a magical place.” the caveman said.
The waterfall of many colors and rainbows were streaming across the sky and as they walked farther in the magical
land, they saw a butterfly pulling a carriage that was made of a leaf in the sky. The prince and princess were sitting on the
leaf carriage while throwing fairy dust all over the land. In the clearing a beautiful apple tree with big pink blossoms
which had a strong fragrance as it floated in the air. It was beckoning Brett to come closer. Brett felt drawn to the apple
tree and stepped up closer to it.
The tree spoke and made Brett jump back.
“I am a wishing tree. You may have one wish.”
Brett thought for a moment and then said, “I wish for a new puppy.”
Instantly a brown puppy appeared and then the tree said, “Always remember there will be a lot of friends that will walk
into your life, but only true friends will leave memories in your heart,” the tree said.
Brett looked up and saw sparrows blowing kisses at him as he began to feel tired.
The caveman said, “We have had you out long enough for one night. Let’s return back to your bed.”
Brett knew he was experiencing something very special and asked if he could come back again.
“Why yes, this is your dream Brett. You can come back as many times as you wish because it is your dreamland.” the
caveman said.
When Brett woke up and opened his eyes, his bedroom startled him because his dream seemed so real. He looked
around his room and murmured, “I am back in my room. It was a dream after all.”
He snuggled down into his blanket and knew the dream meant something more than just a dream, but he didn’t have
time to dwell on it because he had to get up and get dressed for school. He pushed back the covers and started to climb out
of bed when his brother, Brandon noticed the little brown puppy playing on the floor with a ball next to Brett’s bed, and
asked, “Where did that puppy come from?” Brett looked beside his bed and sure enough there was the puppy he had asked
for in his dream.

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The Commotion at the King’s Castle

One quiet autumn day, hundreds of years ago in the northern part of England, a Princess and her handmaiden decided to
go for a walk through the castle garden. The flowers had a wonderful fragrance as they walked and enjoyed the scenery,
and as always the blackbirds gathered around them eagerly waiting for the Princess to feed them.

Long ago, before the Queen had died, it was her pleasure to feed the birds with her daughter, the Princess, every
morning, but now it was left to the Princess and her handmaid.

The Princess remembered her mother always saying that the birds looked like they were dancing and as the Princess
threw out seed that morning it reminded her of the wonderful days with her mother.

One morning, the Princess heard a lot of commotion going on with the King’s staff. They were catching the blackbirds
for her father so he could eat his favorite meal, blackbird stew.

The Princess became very upset and didn’t want the blackbirds killed, so she decided to plead with the King’s staff to
please stop killing them and do something to make the King lose his desire for blackbird stew. She felt good because the
staff said they’d take care of it the best they could.

The days went by and the blackbirds were still being killed for the King’s stew. The blackbirds no longer liked the
Princess so they stopped coming to the garden to be fed. This made the Princess very sad.

As each day passed and the blackbirds were still being killed, the Princess began to lose faith that the King‘s staff
could do anything, so she sent for her handmaiden to go find the Magic Elephant and ask him to do something about the
King’s craving for blackbird stew. She gave the handmaiden 30 pieces of silver to give to him.

The handmaiden got on her horse and off they went, down deep into the dark, spooky forest where the Magic Elephant
lived. She became frightened and didn’t want to go through the dark forest, but she wanted to please the Princess so she
did as she was told. The handmaiden looked up and saw old moss covering the shack and knew he was there because
smoke was coming out of his chimney.

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“This must be the place,” the handmaiden murmured.
Her trembling hands tied her horse to the tree and she stepped up to the door and knocked. The door creaked open and

she saw a small, grayed old elephant that looked a hundred years old.
“Can I help you dear?” The Magic Elephant said in a high pitched screechy voice.
“I’m looking for the Magic Elephant.” She said nervously as she twisted her body to one side.
“Well, come on in. I am the Magic Elephant.” The Magic Elephant said.

The handmaiden stepped in hesitantly looking nervous.
“What do you want? My magic only works for good things. I am three hundred years old and lived in the land of the

good,” the Magic Elephant said.
“Magic Elephant, I’m here for the Princess. Can you help make the King stop having blackbirds killed for his stew?”

Meekly the handmaiden said.
“Oh, well, now that’s a new one, but I can put a spell on the King. Yes, I can. When he becomes sick each time he eats

a blackbird, he’ll stop wanting his blackbird stew.” said the Magic Elephant.
Soon after arriving back at the castle, the handmaiden told Princess that the Magic Elephant said he’d put a spell on the

King.
“He said, the King would never want to eat blackbird stew again when he put his spell on him.”
Later in the day, the Princess went to the castle and as she got to the entrance, she noticed everyone was sad and

crying.
“Whatever is the matter?” The Princess asked the King’s staff.
The staff manager said, “The King is dying. We took his blackbird stew as we always do, and after eating it, he

doubled over in pain. The doctor said he doesn’t have long to live.”
“Oh! Oh! No! This can’t be.” She cried and then ran as fast as she could back to her handmaiden and said, “Hurry

handmaiden, go quickly. Go tell the Magic Elephant to release his spell, immediately! Tell him to give back the King‘s
health.”

The handmaiden jumped on her fastest horse and sped off into the dark woods. Soon as she arrived at the old shack,
she jumped off her horse and began beating on the Magic Elephant’s door. She beat on it so hard that the door opened.
She immediately saw the Magic Elephant sitting next to his stove. “You must take the spell off. The Princess said to take
it off and let the King regain his health.” shouted the handmaiden.

“Okay handmaiden, this is what the Princess must do. First of all, I need a fresh plucked feather from the blackbird
because it will be the main ingredient for the potion I will fix to remove the spell,” said the Magic Elephant.

The handmaiden returned back to the Princess and told her what the Magic Elephant had said.
“Come with me handmaiden and we will go to the blackbirds and get the feather.” The Princess said.
So the Princess and handmaiden got on their horses and rode off to the nesting grounds of the Blackbirds. When they
arrived, the Princess told the handmaiden to stay with the horses while she got the feather. The Princess hurried over to
the tree where all blackbirds were making their loudest chattering. She walked up and then the chattering stopped and
there was a dead silence. The blackbirds turned to look at her and a deep harsh voice split the silence.
“What do you want Princess?”
The Princess gasped at the harsh voice and soon found herself in the presence of Basil, the eldest and wisest blackbird.
“Well, I…I just wanted to ask you for a feather so the King’s spell will be released,” the Princess stuttered.
Basil stood with his chest sticking out and said, “Now Princess, why should we help you removed the spell when the
King has had us killed for his pleasure of a good stew? Go back to your castle and forget this idle request.”
The Princess ran back to the horses and all the way back to the castle she wept because she knew her father would be
dying soon.
Later that evening the dark clouds started forming and strong winds came up. She knew the southern rains weren’t

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expected yet, at least not until the following month. Since the storm had come sooner than expected, no one was prepared.
The blackbirds had to make their nests out of corn husks to be able to survive it. She knew if the blackbirds didn’t have
durable nests for shelter, they would be blown away and killed.

So off to the cornfields the blackbirds went and they knew to be quiet so the mean old scarecrow wouldn’t wake up
and chase them away. They landed in the middle of the field and started tearing off the corn’s husk when the scarecrow
arrived. He put both hands on his waist and said in loud scary voice, “Put down my corn husks, now!”

Basil rebelled and said, “Mr. Scarecrow, the storm is coming in earlier this year so we need these corn husks in order to
survive.”

“Why should I help you blackbirds? You’ve taken a lot of corn without permission and now you want me to help you
survive? Go! Leave this place.” The scarecrow said in his mean voice.

The blackbirds left disappointed. They knew they would have to watch in horror as their nests would be blown away
and many blackbirds killed.

The fierce winds began to tear across the countryside, tearing limbs off trees and the scarecrow’s hay stomach. He
couldn’t move so he now needed help from the blackbirds. He screamed and screamed as loud as he could for the
blackbirds to return. “Come back blackbirds! Come back.”

The blackbirds heard the scarecrow’s screams so they hurried back to the cornfield.
“Please, take as much corn husk as you need. Save yourself from this horrible storm. But please help me get back my
hay stomach. I can’t move,” cried the scarecrow.
The blackbirds agreed and began fixing scarecrow’s stomach then gathered as much corn husk as they could. When
they returned for more they saw that the entire field of corn had been destroyed; now they had nothing to eat.
Basil remembered the grain the King had stored in his castle.
“But Basil, we can’t ask the Princess to get us grain. You just sent her away without a feather to help the King.” The
smallest blackbird said.
“I will give her the feather she requested, then maybe she’ll help us get grain.” Basil said.
Basil and the rest of the blackbirds flew off as fast as they could fly to see the Princess. When they arrived, they saw
the Princess at the castle window crying. Basil perched himself in front of the window’s ledge and hoped the Princess
would see him. When she did, he said, “Princess we changed our minds. We will give you the feather you requested.
Won’t you please give us a sack of grain?”
The Princess immediately agreed. Soon after the Princess put the feather in a velvet bag and hurried to her handmaiden
and ordered her to go back to the Magic Elephant with the velvet bag and give it to him.
“Hurry, handmaiden, hurry, we’re running out of time.” shouted the Princess.
The handmaiden jumped on her horse and ran it as fast as she could. When she arrived she banged on the Magic
Elephant’s door and screamed for him to open it. “Let me in. I have the feather. Let me in.”
The Magic Elephant opened the door and the handmaiden almost knocked him over when she ran quickly inside. She
opened the bag and handed the feather to him.
The Magic Elephant dropped the feather with his other ingredients into the pot, then waved his wand over the top and
said a chant. He then said, “Go back to the castle, all is well with the King.”
When the handmaiden returned, she became concerned when she saw the Princess sitting near the King’s bed. He was
still ill. The handmaiden took the Princess aside and whispered, “I did as you asked. I went to the Magic Elephant and he
said, all would be well.”
The Princess told her that her father wasn’t well. He was getting worse.
“The feather didn‘t work, because the Magic Elephant is too old, he probably didn‘t mix the potion correctly.” cried
the Princess.
The Princess moved back over to her father’s side and put her head down on the bed and whispered a prayer. “Please
let him live. Please let him live.”

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Within a few minutes the King opened his eyes and smiled at his Princess and asked, “What’s all this commotion
about?”

“Oh father, you’re alright. Oh I’m so happy, father.” the Princess cried.
The handmaiden asked the King if he would like some soup. He shook his head and said, “I don’t want any more
blackbird soup, I want vegetable soup.”
Both the handmaiden and the Princess laughed. Basil the leader of the blackbirds was looking in the King’s bedroom
window and when he heard what the King said, he flapped his wings in happiness. He flew over to Scarecrow and told
him he’d make a deal with him. He and his family of blackbirds would help him harvest his corn every year, if he’d allow
them to have the husk and a few ears of corn to survive on. The scarecrow gladly agreed.
Several months later, the Princess was out feeding the blackbirds some grain when she overhead Basil telling the
smallest blackbird that all was happy now because everyone worked together for the good of the land and the happiness of
the people who lived in it.

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