The Boy with the Octopus Badge

In a small Scottish village, young Jake McMullen proudly wore his octopus badge. Jake loved Octopuses because they could camouflage themselves and were brave. Jakes badge was special. It made him feel brave and camouflaged. One morning, the air was filled with whispers from the nearby Whispering Woods. "What's happening?" Jake wondered. The woods seemed to call for help. They seemed to be saying something about a shadow stealing joy. Jake decided he needed to help, as the woods were always full of happy animal friends.

Jake went into the forest and rubbed his octopus badge, which made him feel like he was camouflaged and invisible. it made him feel much braver. "Wow! I'm gone!" he giggled, excited about his new power. Now he felt brave enough to venture into the woods unseen. As he stepped quietly through the trees, he felt the weight of the task ahead. "I have to help the forest and the animals" he whispered to himself, feeling determined.

But soon, Jake stumbled upon a rocky path that seemed too steep to climb. "Oh no, I don't know how will I get over this!" he sighed, feeling a bit worried. He tried to find another way around, but the forest seemed to close in on him. "I can't give up," Jake told himself as he tried to muster up all his courage. He decided to take a deep breath and climb. He scrambled up the rocky path and all the time he thought of the octopus, how it was brave and never gave up.

Jake's climb was tough, and he slipped a few times, scraping his knee. "Oh, I can't do it," he murmured, feeling the sting of the scrapes. But then, he remembered the worried whispers from the forest and he though of the animals that might need his help and he thought of the brave octopus. so he rubbed his badge and said to himself, "I must try again." So wiping away his tears he slowly got back up, focusing carefully on each step, and he kept climbing up the rocky path until he got to the top.

Reaching the top, Jake found a clearing where he heard the sound of worried animals. "Who's there?" Jake called out, feeling a bit nervous. Out stepped a wise old owl, a skittish squirrel, and a worried rabbit. "We need your help," Wise Owl hooted. "A dark shadow is stealing all our joy," Worried Rabbit explained. "That shadow is s... s... s... scary!" said Skittish Squirrel. Jake felt their fear and he knew he had to try to be brave and help the poor animals.

"We'll guide you to the shadow," Wise Owl said, flapping his wings "Though we might get lost!" said Worried Rabbit. "S...S...Scary shadows!" said Skittish Squirrel. Jake followed the animals deeper into the forest, feeling his heart pound. Suddenly, a thick fog rolled in, making it hard to see. "Oh no, how will we find our way?" Jake asked, feeling lost. " "Trust your heart," the Wise Owl said, and it hopped onto his arm.

Just as Jake was about to give up, a warm light broke through the fog. "Look!" Skittish Squirrel squeaked, pointing with his tail. Jake felt a rush of hope as the light revealed a path. "We can do this," he said, feeling renewed courage. They hurried towards the light, determined to find the shadow. Then up ahead they started to see a darker part of the forest. As they got closer it got darker and darker until they reached a part where the light stopped, and the dark shadow began. They could all feel their joy being sucked out of them.

Now that they had reached the dark part of the forest, Jake felt overwhelmed by the shadow's presence. "It's too strong," he whispered, feeling small and scared. "Don't give up," the Wise Owl encouraged him.. "I'm not brave enough for this" said Worried Rabbit. "I'm s..s..scared!" said Skittish Squirrel. Jake sat down, feeling defeated. "I don't know what to do," he admitted, feeling tears start to prick his eyes. Then Jake thought of the octopus. He could disguise his fear. He could be brave.

Suddenly, Jake remembered that jokes always made him laugh. They brought joy and happiness. "What if laughter is the key?" he thought, feeling a spark of hope. He stood up, gathering the animals around him. "Let's tell jokes!" he declared, a smile spreading across his face. "Yes! Let's try that!" the worried rabbit agreed, eager to help. So Jake began to tell jokes. "How do the oceans say hello to each other?" "No idea" said the animals. "They wave!" said Jake and all the animals laughed.

"What do you call a cow on a trampoline?" Jake asked. "Don't know" chuckled the animals. "A milk shake!" said Jake. Jake told more jokes and each time the animals laughed louder. And each time the laughter grew the shadow began to fade and light and joy began to return. Finally as the last bit of the shadow went away light and joy filled the forest, the animals cheered. "We did it!" Jake exclaimed, feeling proud and brave. So that was the day that Jake helped the forest animals and realised that he was just as brave as the octopus.