Dear Adults, please pre-read all content for suitability before reading to a child. Thank you.
One day Wombat was playing in his room by himself. Wombat liked his alone time. He felt free to LARP without anyone judging him. Wombat loved to dress up as elves, knights, and superheroes and was worried his friends would make fun of him if they knew. However, one-day Platypus came into his room unannounced and saw him playing in his costume.
“Wombat, what are you doing, and what do you have on?” Platypus asked in a friendly tone.
Embarrassed and sure that Platypus was asking the questions, judging him replied, “Nothing, it is nothing,” as he said defensively as he hastily took off his costume. “Did you want something?” Wombat asked his friend trying to change the subject.
“Oh,...yes,... I wanted to invite you to a movie night at Wallaby’s house. We are going to watch a superhero movie.”
“I love superhero movies!” Cried Wombat. “I would love to go.” Inside Wombat wished he could be brave enough to wear his costume to watch the movie at his friend's house. Wombat wished that he could be brave enough to ask his friends to join him in dressing up.
As if reading his mind, Platypus said to Wombat, “Too bad you took your costume off so quickly, it would have been really special if we all dressed as our favorite hero to watch the movie. How come you have never shared your cool costume before, it is really cool and looks so lifelike.” Platypus continued cautiously.
“I was afraid that you guys might make fun of me if you saw me in my costume,” Wombat admitted. “I was worried you might not accept me if you knew about my liking to dress up and play,” Wombat stated shyly. “Do you really think our other friends will like it too?”
“You bet. I think they would love it.” Platypus went on in a low serious voice, “Wombat, you should not be afraid to tell your friends what you enjoy doing. If they do not like you for you, then they really are not your friends.”
“Platypus? Do you think they would still be ok if they knew I make the costumes myself?” Wombat questioned.
“I think they will think your costumes are that much cooler,” answered Platypus. “So you want to put your costume back on?” Platypus asked Wombat.
“Yes, I think I do. Platypus, would you like to wear one too?” Wombat asked his friend.
“I sure would! Do you have any extra to bring for our other friends too?”
With a mixture of surprise and relief, Wombat answered his friend, “Boy do I.”
Later that evening at Wallaby’s house all the friends sat and watched their favorite superhero movie wearing the costume of their favorite hero. “Wombat,” said Wallaby, “this is the best movie night ever! Thank you for sharing your costumes, these are the coolest ever”
Wombat could not help but smile.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Never be afraid to be yourself and share what you love
Wombat and Platypus went to an amusement park one hot summer day. While at the park standing in line for the Crazy Octopus ride, Wombat saw someone wearing a ball cap from a team he did not like, so very loudly Wombat said, “What an ugly hat for a horrible team.” Wombat’s words hurt their feelings very much.
“Why did you say that?” Platypus questioned his friend.
“That team beat my team in the finals and that made me mad, so I do not like anyone who likes that team.” Replied Wombat.
“You really hurt their feelings you know. We are supposed to be having a fun day at the park and now his fun has been interrupted with your unkind words” said Platypus.
“I don’t care, I hate that team and anyone who likes it. Besides, I have the right to say what I want.” Justified Wombat.
“Alright” replied Platypus unsure.
Later in the day Wombat and Platypus had lunch at Crazy Jacks Hot Dog and Hamburger stand. Both Wombat and Platypus ordered a hamburger, salad, and water. When the patron next to them ordered a hotdog, fries, and a soda Wombat said very loudly, “I’m sure glad we got salad and water not fries and pop with our meal, it is so much healthier.” As Wombat said this the patron turned and frowned very deeply, he was not happy.
“Why did you say that”, asked Platypus.
“Because he is being very unhealthy, and he should know it”, responded Wombat.
“He may have been treating himself and does not eat like that all the time.” Replied Platypus. “Just like when you have popcorn, candy, and a pop at the movies sometimes.”
“That is a special occasion,” cried Wombat. “Besides, I have the right to say what I think.”
“Ok”, responded Platypus, unsure.
After lunch, the friends went into the souvenir shop while waiting for the parade to start. Wombat bought a giant red foam cowboy hat, and Platypus got himself a t-shirt with a picture of his favorite ride. As the friends proudly waited along the parade route wearing their souvenirs in a crowd formed around them. As they waited they heard a comment coming from someone also waiting for the parade. “What an ugly hat,” they snickered.
Wombat looked around to see this ugly hat and did not see anyone wearing a hat. “That giant red thing is just ridiculous,” commented another. Again Wombat looked to see what was so ridiculous, and he did not see a thing. Just then though, he caught a glimpse of the hat on his head and realized they were talking about him. This made Wombat sad. Wombat said to his friend “I am ready to go home now.”
“But we haven’t seen the parade yet.” Platypus replied confused.
“Yes, but, those people are saying unkind things about my new beautiful hat and it is making me sad and now I will not be able to enjoy the parade or my hat,” pouted Wombat.
“It is their opinion and they have the right to say it,” Platypus gently said.
“But they could think it and not tell me, it hurt my feelings and took away from my fun today, away…, Oh, that is what I did to those others today isn’t it?” Wombat said sheepishly.
“Yes my friend, it probably felt the same to them too, even if it was your right to say it. Replied Platypus, glad that his friend now understood.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Just because you have the right to say something does not mean you should
________________________________________________________________________________
On a Lazy Saturday afternoon, Platypus and his friend Wombat were talking about their dream jobs they wanted to have one day. Wombat wanted to be a baker. Platypus loved movies and wanted to someday make them. Platypus checked out books from his local library on how movies are made. The more Platypus learned about making movies the more he wanted to be a director. Platypus even saved his money to buy a video camera. So Platypus knew the answer to this question. Platypus’s dream job was to be a director.
Sometime later Platypus went into the local bakery and saw his friend Wombat sweeping floors. “Wombat, what are you doing? I thought you wanted to be a baker!”
Wombat replied, “I do want to be a baker, that is why I am working here, so I can learn.”
“How can you learn to be a baker when you are sweeping floors?” asked Platypus.
“I am not learning how to bake yet, but the longer I work here the more I will learn, and eventually I will get to work back in the kitchen and learn how to be a master baker,” answered Wombat.
“That seems like a long time to work to become a baker,” stated Platypus.
“That’s ok. I do not mind the work if it will lead me to my dream,” replied Wombat in a whimsical sigh.
A few days later the two friends were hanging out and their friend Rhino stopped by to ask Platypus a question.
“Platypus, I have been looking for you, I have great news,” said Rhino.
“What is it?”asked Platypus.
“Is it true that you want to be a director?” asked Rhino.
“Yes,” replied Platypus, “why?”
“I have an opportunity for you then!” Rhino said excitedly, happy to get to help his friend.
“What is it?” asked Platypus, “Do you know of a directing job?”
“It is not a directing job, but it is in the movie business. There is a movie being made in town and they are looking for extras. I thought you might want to see how movies are made and you would get to see a director in action” said Rhino.
“I don’t want to be an extra, I want to be a director!” exclaimed Platypus. “I think I will wait for a directing job.”
“Are you sure?” asked Rhino. “Tiger wants to be a director too and he said it would be a great exposure. Tiger was actually the one who said I should tell you about it,” continued Rhino.
“I am sure,” replied Platypus feeling indignant. “I intend to wait until I can direct. I will take nothing less.”
“Suit yourself!” replied Rhino as he went on his way.
Wombat who had been listening to the conversation asked his friend, “Are you sure you want to pass up on an opportunity like this? You would get to see a director in action, and as an extra, it will give you time to see the other jobs too, including those that work helping the director.”
“I want to be a director, no more, no less. I will wait until I am offered a job directing,” Platypus told his friend.
As time passed Platypus was still working his same job and making home films, however, he was yet to be asked to direct anything. In the meantime, his friend Wombat was now helping in the kitchen in the bakery. Rhino was a regular extra on a TV show and Tiger was the second assistant director on a couple of films and was about to direct his first commercial.
Platypus and Wombat were talking and Wombat noticed that Platypus was sad. “What is wrong my friend?” asked Wombat.
“Everyone but me seems to be working the job they want,” cried Platypus.
“What do you mean?” asked Wombat.
“You are a baker, Rhino is acting, and Tiger has my job directing.”
“Well,” Wombat started cautiously, not wanting to hurt his friend more. “We are not all doing exactly what we want to do, but we are working at it.”
“What do you mean?” asked Platypus.
“I am not a master baker, but the bakers at the bakery are teaching me to master one creation at a time. Rhino is not a big movie star yet, but he is doing a job where his talents can be seen, and Tiger is not making the big action films he wants to make yet, but he is getting to know the ropes and understand the whole process. None of us started right where we wanted to be, but we are all taking steps to learn so we can get there,” Wombat explained to his friend.
“I still do not know why Tiger gets to direct and no one has called me to direct,” Platypus said.
“Remember that job of being an extra you passed on because you only wanted to direct? Tiger went knowing it wasn’t what he wanted but it was a positive step in the direction he wanted to go. Tiger met the director and talked with him about directing. He was able to get odd little jobs here and there and each one, though not a directing job, took him a step closer. Tiger told me he is glad he has done so many odd jobs because he now has a better understanding of the whole process that he never knew before,” Wombat shared.
“I guess it is important to understand all the jobs,” said Platypus. “I guess even at my current job I had to learn new things to grow in the company. Do you think if I asked Tiger if I could be an extra in one of the movies he would let me?”
“Tiger was hoping you would say that,” stated Wombat. “He was hoping that the two of you could make a movie together one day!”
“Wombat,” said Platypus. “Thank you for showing me that the road can be long and hard to a dream, but is worth it when you finally get there.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
The road to your dreams is often paved with rocks and boulders, but is worth traveling if you really want it.