In the evening, when the sun sets, they will start to wake up (stretching sound). When it gets dark, all kinds of noises can be heard. They will be greeting each other “good night”. There will be water splashing (splash sound) when the animals are having their bath. There are sounds of leaves rubbing (rubbing sound) when the animals wipe their face and dry their bodies. After that, there will be sound of footsteps running (running sound), falling down (thud sound), breaking of branches (crack sound) and laughter (different animal sounds). This is when they are happily playing with each other.
But things were not always this happy for everyone.
In the bushes, lived a family of skunks. Father skunk, PaSkunk, and Mother skunk, MaSkunk and boy skunk, Shaun. When Shaun was a baby, he had to stay inside. PaSkunk and MaSkunk did not allow Shaun to play with other children because they did not want him to get hurt. Sometimes children can play carelessly or too rough and injure themselves or hurt others.
Then Shaun grew stronger and bigger, stopped taking milk from his mother and was able to eat his own food. PaSkunk and MaSkunk decided that it was time to let Shaun go outside to play with other animals. Before they took Shaun outside, PaSkunk and MaSkunk told Shaun a very important rule for playing with other children. MaSkunk said, “Shaun, you must count to ten whenever you get hurt, angry or upset. Count with me (MaSkunk and Shaun count together) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.”“OK, Ma” Shaun promised.
PaSkunk then took Shaun outside to meet the other children. PaSkunk introduced Shaun to Ricky and Rocky Raccoon, Shirley and Sherlock Squirrel, Harry and Sally Hedgehog, and Tom and Jerry Iguana. PaSkunk then told everyone to remind Shaun to count to ten when he gets hurt, angry or upset. PaSkunk asked everyone “Count me me, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10”.
PaSkunk then went off to sit under a tree nearby to watch the children play.
“What shall we play first” asked Ricky Raccoon.
“Let us play race round the pond, see who can run the fastest!” answered Rocky Raccoon. “The first one to finish gets to decide what to play next.”
“OK!” everyone agreed.
“Get ready to race!” Rocky Raccoon shouted. Everyone got ready to run, then Rocky Raccoon shouted “Go!” Everyone took off quickly.
Shaun Skunk, Ricky and Rocky Raccoon, Shirley and Sherlock Squirrel, Harry and Sally Hedgehog, Tom and Jerry Iguana were all running close together in a group. Everyone ran as fast as they could.
But half way round the pond, Shaun got tired (panting). Everyone began to get farther away from him. Finally, he came to the finish line, and was last in the group. Shaun was upset. He did not like to finish last.
Shirley Squirrel came towards Shaun, and said “Don't be upset, it is fun just to run and play together” But when Shirley squirrel got nearer, Shaun sprayed at Shirley Squirrel.
“Aargh! Smelly!” screamed Shirley Squirrel. She cried (sobbing) and ran away.
PaSkunk heard the scream and came. Sherlock Squirrel told PaSkunk what Shaun had done. PaSkund asked Shaun “Did you count to ten?”
“No” Shaun answered. PaSkunk went to look for Shirley Squirrel and took her to the pond to clean her up.
PaSkunk then took Shirley Squirrel to Shaun and said “Shaun, you need to apologize to to Shirley for spraying at her when you were upset. We are all friend here and we must not spray smelly stuff at each other.”
Shaun looked at Shirley Squirrel and said “I am sorry. I forgot to count to ten. I wont' spray you again.”
Shirley Squirrel said “I am OK now. It was very smelly. Hope you don't do it again. I will help you try to count to ten the next time.”
PaSkunk told everyone “Remember to help Shaun, OK? Help him to count to ten when he is upset, angry or hurt.”
“OK” everyone replied.
“Let's play catch next” said Tom Iguana. Tom ran the fastest and had finished first.
“OK” everyone shouted.
“Let Shaun catch us” Tom Iguana said. When Tom Iguana said that everyone ran away from Shaun.
Shaun saw Harry Hedgehog was the nearest, and ran towards him. Shaun ran so fast and caught up with Harry Hedgehog. But he could not stop in time. (break and crash sound). Shaun ran into Harry Hedgehog.
“Ouch!” screamed Shaun when he was poked by Harry Hedgehog's quill.The other children saw what had happened and shouted at the top of their voices “Shaun, count to ten.” Everyone counted at the top of their voices “1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10”
All the children ran and gathered around Shaun to see how he was. PaSkunk also came running.
When everyone gathered around Shaun and Harry, they found the two of them laughing.
Shaun laughed “Ha,ha, ha,ha. That was funny, crash (sound), You are caught!”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha” laughed Harry. And everyone around them laughed.
They got up and continued to play.
The moral of the story is : When we are hurt, we don't have to spray those around us with smelly or hurtful word. We can count to ten and then think carefully what to say. Sometime, we can just laugh about it. Good friends will also remind us.
