The Magic Banana

A Children's Adventure Story

When my three daughters were small, they loved having a bedtime story read to them. Often, it was a favorite book, but every now and then, they wanted me to make up a story for them.

This story came from one of those nights. I built it around a favorite bedtime stuffed animal friend, one from each of them. I made up several other stories for them over the next few years, but this one was their favorite.

It has all of the elements of a grown up story: Danger, Suspense, Magic, and Adventure, but for ages three to about twelve. It can be broken up into two or three nights, if you feel it’s too long for one straight read for your child.

The Magic Banana
A Children’s Adventure
by C.J. Heck

Over our stars and under our moon is a magic faraway land. It's very different from our world. It's called The Land of The Purple Moons for a very good reason. Up in the sky at night are two large and purple moons.

There are also two bright suns that shine in the daytime. They are joined together by a beautiful rainbow that you can see all day long.

The Land of The Purple Moons is surrounded by a thick forest. It’s called The Forest of Enchantment, because sometimes things happen there that just can't be explained.

This is much more than a story. This is an adventure. I’m going to tell you about three best friends who will never forget what happened one day in The Forest of Enchantment in The Land of The Purple Moons and where the adventure took them ...

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The first friend was Bartholomew Bear. His other two friends couldn't say that name, so they called him B Bear. This was just fine with Bartholomew, because he couldn't say it either.

B Bear was smart and if anyone should be the leader of the three best friends, it should be B Bear. The other two friends looked up to him for his wonderful ideas and for making important decisions.

The next friend was Monkey. The playful one of the three friends, Monkey loved to make them laugh by his goofy tricks, funny noises and silly faces.

Monkey was always hungry. Every morning, he filled his pockets full of yummy snacks before he left home. That was okay, because he always shared what he brought with his friends.

The last of the three friends was a little pink lamb named Lambie. She was kind and gentle and the very heart of the three best friends. She was the one who always told them when it was time to go home so no one would worry about them.

Lambie always knew when an idea was not a good idea and she made sure the three friends were always good.

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The three best friends decided to meet the next day at the edge of The Forest of Enchantment. It would be a nice day for a picnic and B Bear said he knew the perfect spot.

It was near a babbling brook that whispered poetry. There was also a tall gumdrop tree nearby where Monkey could climb and play. Maybe he would even toss some gumdrops down to them!

They wondered what time to meet. After much discussion, silly Monkey said they should meet at three hairs past a freckle, eastern elbow time.

The three friends laughed and, as usual, Monkey laughed louder than everyone. With Monkey holding back even more giggles and snorts, they agreed to meet at elevenish fourteen o'clock.

The next morning, Monkey was the first one there. Again, his pockets were full of snacks, just in case he got hungry before lunch. He sat on a tree stump and munched on cookies while he waited for his two best friends.

B Bear was next to arrive, carrying the biggest picnic basket Monkey had ever seen! When B Bear saw Monkey's bulging pockets and his mouth full of cookies, he shouted, "Monkey! What's wrong with you? You knew I was bringing a picnic basket full of food for us. Why did you fill your pockets with cookies today?"

Monkey didn't mean to make B Bear angry. He tried to make him laugh by making funny faces, but it only made B Bear more angry!

In his loudest voice, B Bear shouted, "Monkey! I asked what is wrong with you?"

Just then, Lambie arrived. She was already jabbering about how she remembered to bring lots of juice for when they were thirsty. She didn't notice the mad face B Bear was wearing or the sad face that Monkey now wore. She DID notice B Bear's loud voice, though. "B Bear, don't use your grumpy-growly voice with Monkey. That isn't nice!"

B Bear told Lambie about Monkey's bulging pockets and his cheeks full of cookies. Then he told her how Monkey made things worse by making silly faces. Monkey didn't seem to care that B Bear was upset and that was why B Bear was so angry!

Since Lambie was the heart of the three friends, she said, "B Bear, say what you mean, mean what you say, but don't say it mean. Shouting never solves a problem. Let's all sit down and talk about this calmly."

The two suns were high in the sky by the time the three friends worked things out and were on their way to the picnic spot. Monkey agreed to put the food from his pockets in the picnic basket, except for one banana, just in case he got hungry. B Bear agreed to put his angry voice away and use more patience.

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

After walking for nearly an hour, Monkey began to whine, "When will we be there? How much farther to the babbling brook? Will the gumdrop tree really have enough gumdrops for all of us? I'm tired! I'm hungry! Why do we have to go so far into the woods? Why can't we eat here?"

Since she was also understanding, Lambie suggested they sit and rest a while. She told Monkey now would be a good time for him to eat the banana he saved.

B Bear was tired, too, and he had worked up a bear of an appetite. His patience with Monkey’s whining was all used up. Before Lambie could stop him, he grabbed the banana from Monkey, pointed it right at him and shouted, "Monkey! Stop whining! Stop asking silly questions! Stop it, stop it, stop it! Sometimes, I just wish you would disappear!"

All at once, there was a quiet sound:

( p o o f )

B Bear was so surprised that he dropped the banana on the ground where he stood. Monkey was gone! B Bear rubbed his eyes and peeked through his fingers. It didn't change anything. Monkey was nowhere at all!

Lambie and B Bear stared at each other. "How could this happen? How can this be? Where did Monkey go? Is this one of his silly games to make us laugh?" Lambie asked.

B Bear was thinking and because he was so smart, he said, "It must be the magic of The Forest of Enchantment." He heard the stories about strange things happening here that shouldn't happen anywhere.

Maybe that was it. But the thought didn't make B Bear feel any better. He didn't feel good at all.

The two best friends who were left were very upset. They walked in circles thinking and wringing their hands. They looked for Monkey again and again, just in case it was only a silly trick. Monkey was gone. Even when they called his name over and over, he didn't answer. B Bear and Lambie were very worried.

"Oh my, B Bear. What have you done? What should we do? What if we never see Monkey again!" cried Lambie.

B Bear felt just awful. He was wishing he hadn't wished. He tried again and pleaded, "Monkey, please come back! You know I didn't mean it. You're my friend and I don't want you to disappear!" But Monkey was totally gone all the way down to his tail.

Because B Bear was the leader, he had to make a decision. He sighed deeply and said, "I think there is only one thing we can do, Lambie. We have to go see The Great Wallah of Poobah. He's the Keeper of Truth in The Land of The Purple Moons.

Every thought you could think is there. Every question you could ask is there. Every answer to every question asked is there. We have to go right now! We can't wait another minute!"

Lambie knew B Bear was right. If he said they needed to do that, then they needed to do that. The truth was, Lambie was afraid. Everyone in The Land of The Purple Moons knew The Wallah of Poobah lived in a castle on the other side of Everlie Woods. That was a strange and frightening place to stay away FROM, not go TO. No one who had ever gone to Everlie Woods had ever returned. Not ever.

The two friends talked it over. After nearly an hour, they were out of ideas. They had no choice. They put aside their fears and started to walk. They were glad they packed a picnic. They would need it on their long journey.

B Bear and Lambie were heartsick about poor Monkey. They had to make it through Everlie Woods. No matter what happened, they would make it!

When they get to the castle, they will tell The Great Wallah of Poobah about their problem. He will know what to do. He will help them bring Monkey back, and they would make it back from Everlie Woods, too! After all, B Bear said they would and B Bear was the smartest one she knew.

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The two suns and the rainbow between them had slipped down from the sky when Lambie and B Bear finally sat down to eat the food in the picnic basket.

They walked the narrow path in silence all day. Now they were deep in the frightening Everlie Woods and they were glad the two purple moons burned so brightly in the evening sky.

Lambie asked, "B Bear, how do you know we're going in the right direction?"

B Bear told her he didn't know for sure. He was following his nose because his father always told him, "Son, the nose knows."

Then Lambie asked, "Do you think we will get to the other side of Everlie Woods? Do you think the great Wallah of Poobah can help us get Monkey back? Will we be able to find our way home again? I do want to grow up, B Bear, I do!"

Poor Lambie, thought B Bear. She's so kind and gentle and she's worried, just like I am. I have to try and get her mind away from this awful situation, if only for a few minutes. "Lambie, what do you want to be when you grow up?" He dug through the picnic basket for another sandwich.

Lambie, pretty pink Lambie, the heart of the three friends sighed. “B Bear, I’ve always wanted to be a white Lamb, just like my mother. That’s what I want to be when I grow up.”

B Bear heard this and, because he was smart, he began to laugh. He laughed until his tummy hurt. He laughed until his ribs ached. He laughed until tears overflowed his eyes and made wet trails down his fuzzy brown cheeks. He was about to tell Lambie why it was so funny when, all of a sudden, there was a booming voice!

"QUIET!"

"Who said that?" Lambie and B Bear asked at the very same time.

"It is I", came the booming voice. "I am The Keeper of The Silence! QUIET!"

B Bear looked all around, but all he could see was a tall tree with orange leaves. "Who is talking?" asked B bear. "Is that you, tree? Trees don't talk!"

"QUIET! I am The Keeper of The Silence!" shouted the very tall orange tree again.

Lambie said, "Keeper of The Silence, please don't use that grouchy voice with us. We're on our way to see The Great Wallah of Poobah to get our friend back. Could you please tell us if we are going in the right direction? Then we will leave you to your silence."

"I will tell you, IF you'll be QUIET!" he answered, pointing with one of his long branches. "You must turn left by that large blue rock. Then you will be going in the right direction. Now, GO!"

Lambie and B Bear finished their picnic and said thank you to the tall orange tree who was The Keeper of The Silence. Then, waving goodbye, they turned left at the large blue rock and continued on their journey.

A short while later, they came to a sign:

‘Wallah of Poobah, This Way’ ------>

B Bear and Lambie were happy to see the sign! They turned right and again followed the narrow path.

They missed Monkey. They hung onto the hope that The Great Wallah of Poobah would help them get their friend back.

After a while, Lambie and B bear needed to rest again. They walked for hours and they were tired. They sat down on a log by the side of the path. In the purple moonlight B Bear noticed a very large blue rock. He told Lambie that it looked familiar. Lambie laughed and told him that all big blue rocks looked the same! B Bear began to laugh, too.

Suddenly, a voice boomed, "Quiet. QUIET! I said! I am The Keeper of The Silence and I said QUIET!"

"What? How could this be?" asked Lambie.

"I don't know," answered B Bear in a whisper. "This is very strange."

Somehow, the two friends had walked in a circle. They were back where they had their picnic hours ago, back at the large blue rock, and back where The Keeper of The Silence told them which way to go!

Lambie was confused. She asked The Keeper of The Silence, "Didn't you tell us to turn left at that large blue rock over there?"

"Yes, yes of course!" shouted The Keeper of The Silence.

"Then how can we be here again?" asked Lambie.

"How am I supposed to know?" sulked The Keeper of The Silence. "I told you which way to go, and I never lie."

Lambie remembered the sign they saw on the path. When she asked the orange tree about the sign, The Keeper of The Silence muttered and shook his bushy orange leaves so hard that little pieces of orange fluttered all around them.

B Bear was quiet, listening to Lambie and The Keeper of The Silence talking. He was thinking, and when B Bear was thinking, all sorts of important things were dancing around in his mind.

All at once, B Bear jumped to his feet. He put his finger to his lips and said, "Shhhhh," to Lambie. B Bear asked the tall orange tree, "Mr. Keeper, what would happen if we turn RIGHT at the large blue rock?"

The Keeper of The Silence coughed and cleared his woody throat. Then he said, "If you do THAT, you will NEVER see The Great Wallah of Poobah!"

B Bear whispered to Lambie to follow him and they went exactly where the tall orange tree told them NOT to go. They turned RIGHT.

"What are we doing, B Bear? Why are we going this way?" asked Lambie.

"Shhhhh … follow me, and hurry!"

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

They walked past where The Keeper of The Silence was, past the large blue rock, and past the log where they sat down to rest. B Bear told Lambie what he figured out.

"Lambie! I know why we went in circles! We have been calling these woods 'Ever-LEE'. We were wrong! We should call it 'Ever-LIE'! Everything in Everlie Woods lies!

When we came back to where we were hours ago and The Keeper of The Silence said he doesn't lie, I KNEW he lied. That means the sign lied, too! Everything in Everlie Woods lies. If we want to get to The Wallah of Poobah, we will have to do the opposite of what everyone here says. It's sad, but when someone lies, you can't believe them ever again."

Poor B Bear and Lambie. They had so many problems. They walked all night. They watched the two purple moons settle down into the trees to make room for the two bright suns and the rainbow between them.

All through the night, they walked in the opposite direction every sign pointed. They turned in the opposite direction anyone they met told them to go.

When at last they reached the edge of Everlie Woods, they saw a huge castle in the distance. It was the castle of The Great Wallah of Poobah! Lambie and B Bear were hopeful again.

They ran as fast as their tired legs would carry them, straight to the castle where the wise and great man with all the questions and answers lived.

After a long wait in the castle hallway, it was finally their turn to see The Wallah of Poobah. It felt like a long time ago when Monkey disappeared. So much had happened since then! It was hard to believe it was only yesterday morning.

The two best friends introduced themselves and explained their problem to The Great Wallah of Poobah. They told him about the first argument and making up, then the long walk and Monkey's whining. Then the last and worst thing --how B Bear pointed the banana at Monkey and wished his awful wish. Finally, they told him about the sad sound that took Monkey away.

"Oh Great Wallah of Poobah, please tell us how to get our friend back." cried Lambie. "Can you help us? Please?"

The Wallah thought and thought. Then he stroked his long white beard and he thought some more. Suddenly, he raised a finger in the air and with a mighty voice, he proclaimed, "Aha! I know what the problem is and I know how to fix it! My two young friends, somehow, you found a magic banana. They’re very rare, you know. I’ve only seen one in my entire lifetime!

Now, there's something very important about a magic banana. With this kind of banana, every action has an opposite reaction. Your banana is very powerful here, because it pulls magic from The Forest of Enchantment!

Now listen carefully. Go back to where you last saw your friend. Pick up your magic banana and turn it around! Then point it at the exact place where your friend used to be and wish him back!

Ah yes, every action has an opposite reaction!" Then he turned to them again and exclaimed, "Now go, and hurry! Go back to where you last saw your friend and unwish your wish!"

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

Lambie and B Bear thanked The Great Wallah of Poobah and said goodbye. Even though they were both very tired, they ran all the way back through Everlie Woods and back to the The Forest of Enchantment.

It was amazing! The banana was still lying on the ground right where B Bear dropped it yesterday. B Bear picked it up, trying to feel its magic, but it felt just like every other banana.

Taking a deep breath, B Bear closed his eyes and took another deep breath. Then he pointed the magic banana at the same spot where Monkey disappeared and shouted, "Monkey, come back! I don't want you to disappear!"

Nothing happened. Then B Bear remembered the most important thing The Wallah of Poobah told them. This was a magic banana and every action has an opposite reaction. This time, B Bear turned the banana around and pointed the other end at the spot where Monkey disappeared.

B Bear took another deep breath, closed his eyes tightly, and this time he slowly repeated, "Monkey, I wish you would come back! I don't want you to be gone."

((( p o o f )))

In an instant, Monkey was standing there just like yesterday morning! Monkey was even brought back in the middle of saying the same sentence. He was still whining about how hungry he was and asking why they couldn't stop now and eat here.

Monkey was so surprised when Lambie and B Bear ran over to hug him. He stopped whining and stared at them with eyes as big as dinner plates.

"Come on, Monkey, let's go home." Said B Bear with a smile. “We have a wonderful adventure to tell you about." Then he handed the very special banana to his hungry friend.

I know this is true, because someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The last time this storyteller saw B Bear, Lambie, and Monkey, they were on their way home, hand in hand in hand. The three best friends were together again and already planning their next picnic ... or maybe another adventure.

**

[“The Magic Banana” was first posted on my Blog, then on my website, Barking Spiders Poetry which is gone. It hasn’t been published in print yet]

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