The Whale and Other Stories to Tell a Child

The Whale

"Once upon a time, a whale was swimming in the ocean on his way home when a seagull landed on his back. The seagull was very tired from a long flight, and he said, 'Please, Mr. Whale, can I rest on your back? I'm ever so tired.'

The whale said, 'Yes.’

Then a penguin swam up and hopped on his back. 'Mr. Whale,' he said, 'I'm oh so tired. Can I rest on your back?'

The whale said, 'Yes.'

Then a dolphin swam up and hopped on his back. 'Mr. Whale,' he said, 'I'm ever so tired. Can I rest on your back?'

The whale said, 'Yes.'

Then a seal swam up and hopped on his back. 'Mr. Whale,' he said, 'I'm ever so tired. Can I rest on your back?'

The whale said, 'Yes.'

Then a walrus swam up and hopped on his back. 'Mr. Whale,' he said, 'I'm ever so tired. Can I rest on your back?'

The whale said, 'Yes.'

Then an orca swam up and hopped on his back. 'Mr. Whale,' he said, 'I'm ever so tired. Can I rest on your back?'

The whale said, 'Yes.'

The whale swam with all these animals on his back for a very long time. Each animal had rested fully, but the whale had become very tired. Finally, the whale said, 'I'm sorry, I can't carry you anymore. I'm so tired that I don't even think I can make it home.'

'Don't worry,' said the animals. 'We'll carry you home.'

And they did.

The Lake

In a high mountain's heart, 'neath the sky so blue,
Lived a small lonely lake, dreaming dreams of the sea so true.
“Oh to dance with the waves, in the ocean so grand,”
She sighed, “but here in the hills, I'm bound to the land.”
Her tears fell like rain, a sorrowful sight,
Turning days into nights, her grief blocking the light.
Each tear added more to her waters so deep,
As she wept for the sea in her mountainous keep.
With each sob and sigh, her waters did rise,
Whitecaps formed on her surface, under tearful skies.
The rain, it poured down, harder each day,
Till the lake spilled over, finding a new way.
Down the mountain she flowed, a waterfall grand,
Rushing with purpose, through the stones and the sand.
Forming a river, swift, strong, and free,
Racing with joy to the welcoming sea.
And there at the edge, where the waters did meet,
The lake found her love, her journey complete.
Together at last, in a dance so divine,
The lake and the sea, forever entwined.

The Raindrop

I told this story to my 6 yr old daughter

tonight as a bedtime story.

Once upon a time, in The World of Happiness, there was a very sad Raindrop. 

Because in The World of Happiness, the sun always shines, and it's always a beautifull day. 

The Raindrop was so sad but she wouldn't cry. She kept her tears to herself because it didn't want anyone to know she was crying and have her rain spoil the beautiful day in The World of Happieness.

After a time, the people living in The Word of Happieness noticed something alarming.  The flowers were beginning to wilt. Then the bubbling brook stopped bubbling. Then the grass wasn't as green as it once was.

The people started to get thirsty, and realized it haden't rained for a very long time. So the people in The World of Happieness called out to the sky, “Rain, rain! Please come, we love you and miss you.”

The little sad Raindrop began crying, crying hard, letting all her tears out, but not out of sadness, but out of Joy!

She could be herself once more!

The rain fell on the dry world, and the grass was green again, the brook bubbled, the flowers grew tall and bright and the people were over joyed.

The Sun came out too see what was happening, and smilled at the little Raindrop and his smile made a beautiful rainbow.

Now in The World of Happieness, everyone knows that rain also brings a beautiful day.

Captain Black Ballyhoo’s Treasure

Troubles, puzzles, and chills
Filled with adventurous thrills
 
Began with a whistle
Tooting through Billy’s window

Which Tugged at his ear
With a jaunty little tune. 

Then followed by a voice
That was as bright and rough as the moon.

“Yodle-hee, Weedy-hoo! Wobble-wuddle-duddle-doo! 
Zazzell-doodle, whizzel-zuzzel! Weezy-sneezy, Ah-Ah-Achoo!” 

Sneezy? 

Billy called out, “Gesundheit!” 

And heard back, “Thank you!” 

Ding Dong! Went the Door Bell 
“Wheezy-hoo!” went the song! 
Billy raced to find out
Who was whistling all along. 

“It’s the babysitter, sport!”
Said his Dad with a grin. 
“Although she looks a little funny
What’s that growing on her chin?” 

Mom sang, “She’s nice, Honey.
Her ad said on the phone. 
Now, Billy, be a good boy,
and later we’ll be home.” 

The sitter was a tall girl
at least six feet two! 
On her shoulder, a parrot sat,
or was that a cockatoo? 

Her shirt was puffy
Pants billowed like sails
Hobnobbed boots looked as though
They’d lost a few nails. 

Look!

Her left hand is missing!
In its place is a big metal hook! 
And her right held a cutlass!
Not a bedtime storybook!

Also, something else
Must be out of place
A bushy black beard
Was growing on her face! 

“Avast!” The stranger bellowed
Then looked Billy in the eye. 
“You listen to me, now! And we’ll be mates,
Bye and bye!”

The sitter stepped forward
with a sweep of the sword and said,
“I spied you to be a smart boy, the moment I stepped aboard.” 

“I have orders to fool your parents
I have!
But I know I can’t trick you. 
So when I say, I’m a Pirate!
I am!
You’ll know it to be true. 

Look here, my hair’s a wig
Made of old sailing rope and wax. 
I’m in disguise!
Shhhh, here’s my pirate hat, relax!” 

“Me name’s Captain Black Ballyhoo, 
And what you’ve heard about Pirates be true, 
But I’m not here to plunder you
Nor to make you cry, boo, hoo! 
No, Matey!
I’m here for a chest filled with treasure!

Yahoo!” 

“I like you, Billy.
Sure ‘in I do! 
I’ve got a map with an X
That marks the spot. 
See here?
The x is in your room!
Aye, as my shipmate!
Even split, fifty-fifty
What do you say? 

We must find the treasure
As fast as a hurricane wind! 

So Billy, Captain Black Ballyhoo
And his parrot, or cockatoo, 
Followed the map step by step
Whatever it asked them to do. 

Stick out your tongue
Twiddle your thumb
Run backward in place? 

Spin in circles!
Cluck like a chicken!
Quick! It’s a race! 

“One, Two, Three… And um… what comes after three, Matey? Oh yes, three then four!” 

Counting their paces 
Right up to Billy’s bedroom door. 
 
Ballyhoo’s parrot
or is it a cockatoo, 
Crowed out a warning!
“Look Out! Yoo-hoo!” 

Then a cannon

KAAABOOOOOMED

A terrible kaboom!

And a cannonball

KABLAAAAAAMED!

A terrific Kablam!

Straight through Billy’s door! 

The ball missed our crew by inches 
As they fell to the floor.
Then watched it bouncing away 
Down the stairs, 
one, two, three, four! 

It crashed through the kitchen, living room, and den! 
It bounced through the whole house again and again! 
It cracked plates, broke glasses, dented the piano, and more! 
Until it finally ricocheted of the sofa and blew out the front door! 

“Ahoy! Scurvy dog!”
Hollered a gravely voice. 
“Hand over the map
You haven’t a choice!

‘Tis I, Two Patch Jack
And my monkey, Banana Joe! 
We’ll have you in shackles.
Then send you below! 

So sound out, Captain Black Ballyhoo! 
That goes for Billy and your parrot!
Or is that a cockatoo? 

“You’ll not get the map
Whatever threats you may spout!” 
And Ballyhoo made his point
By waving his cutlass about. 

“Get out of my room!”
Billy yelled brave and loud! 
Then he coughed from the smoke
Billowing from the cannon like a cloud.
 
Billy stepped through his door
Ready for a brawl. 
He was ready for anything.
Anything at all! 

Two Patch Jack?
His name is a fact! 
What a surprise! 
This pirate wore two patches! 
One over each eye! 

“But don’t let that fool you!”
Warned Captain Black Ballyhoo. 
“If one eye patch is tuff,
Then Jack is rough times two! 

Aye, Two Patch Jack
Is as bad as they come! 
So look out! Beware! 
Turn around, Billy! Run!” 

But Billy didn’t turn.
He didn’t blink, run or slow. 
But walked right up to Two Patch Jack
With his cannon
And his Monkey-first-mate, Banana Joe. 

“Leave my room,” Billy ordered,
“Right now, on the double. 
If you don’t,
You’ll be setting a course for trouble!” 

Two Patch Jack laughed
“Why should I worry? 
Why cast off
In such a powerful hurry?” 

“Because I have something 
That’s louder than cannon thunder!
I’ve got my parent’s
Telephone number!
 
Just one call from me
Is all it will take. 
And if you stay here
That will be a big mistake. 

Because when they see
What your cannonball’s done. 
There’ll be no port to hide in.
No place you can run! 

They’ll ground you for a week,
Maybe two, three, or four. 
They might ground you for life! 
Look what you did to my door!” 

Two Patch Jack’s lips began to quiver
His legs started to quake, 
While Mr. Banana Joe, said “EEEEK!”
And fell over in a faint. 

“No!” Two Patch Jack begged
And fell down to his knees. 
“Don’t let them ground me!
Oh please, pretty please! 

Grounding is such a horrible
And terrible fate! 
For us Pirates, the ground
Is something we hate! 

You win! I’ll do anything!
I’ll do anything at all! 
But don’t let them ground me 
Not for a moment! 
No nay never at all!” 

“Then clean up this mess, and fix my door! 
Pick up the house, every mess on the floor! 
And replace all the dishes and glass you broke, 
Mom and Dad will be home soon. This isn’t a joke!” 

So Two Patch Jack
With Mr. Banana Joe
His Monkey-first-mate 
Made good on their promise
And replaced every plate. 

They cleaned up the house
Every dent, crack, and scratch 
And left Billy’s home
With their cannon, in a dash. 

Then Billy and good Captain Black Ballyhoo 
Along with his parrot, yes his parrot, not his cockatoo. 
Found the chest lye buried under Billy’s bed. 
It was marked with an X on its lid! 
Just as Ballyhoo’s treasure map read! 

Ballyhoo split the treasure 
With Billy soon after Fifty-fifty
Just as he’d said! 

That’s two whole pennies
Acandy bar
And a cracker
Which to the Parrot, he fed.

Mom and Dad came home
From their night on the town. 
So Captain Black Ballyhoo
Put back on his wig with a frown. 

With a tear, he hugged Billy tight
And then set him back down. 
“You’re a grand fine crew, Billy! Yo-ho! 
The bravest shipmate I ever found.” 

Billy watched him and his parrot
Drift off into the night, 
And waved him goodbye
Till he sailed out of site. 

“It’s time for bed, Billy.”
His Mom then tucked him in tight
“I hope you had fun.”
His Dad turned out the light. 

“I did.” smiled Billy
Who kissed them good night. 
And dreamed of a Pirate
Sailing away out of sight. 
While whistling a song
at the moon overhead 
Whissel, wuzzel, yodel, sneeze, 
Ah-ah-achoo! 

“Gesundheit!” 

“Thank you!” 

THE END

...and thank you for reading with me.