Cappy's Corner

This story was inspired by two very special rats and two very special children who had them as pets. The rats passed away of old age, Mama, but she had a life of adventure. Taylor was loved and will be missed also. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

 

Miss Jane and the children made sure that Sloan and Jack were always cared for and that visitors understood they were part of the family. Even though they were different, they were always loved.

THE END

This story was inspired by my friend Jane who had a shocking experience of her own.

Illustrations by Cappy

Once upon a time there was a little Beetle Bug, she was just a regular beetle bug, nothing special about her. She would play in the yard everyday having fun with her friends.

One day it began to rain and Beetle Bug found a branch in a tree where she could hide from the rain, as she waited she fell asleep.

Beetle Bug heard a loud bang which woke her up and threw her out of the tree. She landed on the ground just under the tree. She was so stunned she didn't know what had happened to her.

Suddenly her friends rushed over to see what had happened. Beetle Bug looked up to see all her friends staring at her in a strange way. Beetle Bug asked her friends, "What are all of you looking at?". Her friends took her by the hand and they all walked to a little puddle where Beetle Bug could see her reflection. Grasshopper said, "We are going to call you Glitter". Beetle Bug looked down into the puddle to see a very strange glow.

Beetle Bug was given light by the lighting that had hit her tree. Now her friends called her Glitter the lighting bug. From that day on Glitter had a light, all her friends could find her in the dark.

You too can see her playing in the yard on summer nights. Little flicker of light from Glitter the lighting bug, and her family of lighting bugs.

THE END

This story is inspired by two of my grandchildren, who are wonderful and yet very curious.

On a sunny day in the jungle, Mama lion went out to the jungle to get food for her cubs. The little lions cubs were told to stay by the tree and not move until she returned. They were very curious cubs and sometimes did not listen to Mama. Sometimes they would chase butterflies and sometimes they would just roll in the grass. The cubs were named Jasmine and Jaytee. Jasmine would often disobey Mama, and Jaytee would follow everything Jasmine did. They never went far from their tree, except this day.

Jasmine was watching some butterflies and began chasing them, Jaytee followed right behind her, the butterflies flew and flew. Before the cubs knew it, they had traveled far away from their tree. They found a wonderful pond, full of new things. Jasmine found a frog and she put her nose down to sniff it, the frog jumped at Jasmine and surprised her so much she jumped too. Jaytee thought it was so funny he rolled on his back holding his tummy. The cubs continued to explore the pond to see what else they could discover.

Jaytee heard something in the water and he lifted his head up to listen. "Psst, Jasmine, did you hear that?", he asked. Jasmine looked up to listen, and she heard a splash in the water. All they could see was something wiggling in the water, was it a pair of ears? These curios cubs just had to find out what those wiggling ears belonged to.

Jasmine slowly stepped into the water to get closer, she took one step at a time until she was in water up to her neck. Jaytee stayed back on the shore, he wasn't going to follow Jasmine this time. Splash!!! right in front of Jasmine a giant gray creature popped out of the water. It was a Hippo, and they will eat little lion cubs, but this hippo was just as young as Jasmine and Jaytee.

The hippo smiled and told Jasmine "Don't be afraid, I am just cooling off". But Jasmine was so surprised she had fallen all the way in the water and was just soaked. Again, Jaytee fell over and laughed so hard he couldn't get up. Jasmine was a little embarrassed by the whole thing.

Jasmine shook and shook to get dry. Jaytee was still laughing, even the hippo thought it was funny. Jasmine began to walk away with her head down, for she didn't really like to be laughed at. The two lion cubs continued exploring and found a trail leading deep into the jungle. Jasmine was so curious that she began walking down the trail, deeper and deeper into the jungle. Jaytee said to Jasmine, "Stop, we are getting lost", and Jasmine's reply was "Jaytee I know where I am going, just follow me, we are not lost". Jaytee trusted Jasmine and continued to follow her. They saw lots of different kinds of birds, monkeys in the trees, and some creatures that they had never seen before. It was exciting to explore for the lion cubs, but now it was beginning to get dark, how would they find they way back home?

In the meantime Mama Lion went back to the tree, where she left her cubs. She did not see them anywhere. Mama Lion began to look for her cubs, she sniffed the ground and looked for their footprints. She began to follow the footprints that the cubs had made, she found the pond with the Hippo and asked him if he saw the cubs. The Hippo replied, "They were here but they disappeared into the jungle". Mama Lion saw the path that lead deep into the jungle and began to look for her cubs.

Jasmine and Jaytee were still walking when Jaytee sat down and began to cry. Jasmine turned around and saw her brother, she asked, "Jaytee what is wrong?". Jaytee said, "I want to go home, we are lost, and I am so hungry". Jasmine was thinking and she had to say that Jaytee was right, they were lost. Jaytee I am sorry, don't cry, we will lay down here for now and rest. Jasmine was thinking that she should have listened to Mama Lion and did what she was told. "What if Mama Lion can't find us?", thought Jasmine. She didn't say anything because she didn't want to scare her brother. The sun had gone down and it was very dark in the jungle, there were many sounds, even Jasmine was getting scared.

Mama Lion was very good at finding her cubs, but it was very dark, so she began to call out to them. "Roar, roar", said Mama Lion. Jasmine and Jaytee lifted their heads, they heard something in the distance that sounded familiar. What if its another Lion and not Mama, we must stay quiet until we are sure. The cubs hid in the bushes and curled up close to each other. Mama Lion called out again, roar, roar! Jaytee called out roarrrrr! Mama perked up her ears to hear better and she knew the sound was her cubs. Jaytee called out again and Mama knew it was them for sure. Mama Lion ran to the sound as fast as she could, but she still didn't see her cubs. Mama stopped on the trail and listened, she heard a sound in the bushes, out jumped Jasmine and Jaytee. The cubs were so happy to see their Mama, but Mama was very angry with her cubs and turned around. Mama whispered to the Cubs, "you must be very quiet, it is dangerous for little cubs alone in the jungle, follow me home right now". Jasmine and Jaytee followed Mama back to their home under the big tree. When they arrived home, the dinner that Mama had brought back for them was gone.

They had to go to bed that night without dinner after being lost in the jungle. Jasmine and Jaytee looked at each other and Jaytee told Jasmine, "I will listen to Mama for now on". "We were very bad lion cubs and will never do it again", Jasmine cried. Always listen to your Mama she knows what is best for you!

There was a very small island close to the Bahamas, and there was a magical world. Near this small island was a Mermaid named Shelah who had magical powers. Shelah was a beautiful mermaid with many sea creature friends. Her very best friend was a crab called "Cappy", they had a lot of fun and adventures together.

Shelah and Cappy loved to tease the fishermen that came to their island to fish. Sometimes, they would tug on the fishing line and swim away quickly. They did it over and over again, until the fishermen went away. Shelah worried that the fishermen would catch one of their friends, so she had to protect them and have fun at the same time.

One day Shelah was turning starfish into seahorses and didn't notice a fishing boat had arrived. She swam over quickly, but it was too late, they had caught Jeffrey the grouper. Jeffrey was being pulled up by the fisherman, oh no! Shelah was too far away to help, what was she going to do? Shelah closed her eyes tight and wished that Jeffrey was bigger and stronger. When Shelah opened her eyes Jeffrey had changed into a giant shark with sharp teeth, he wiggled and the fishing line broke. Jeffrey swam to Shelah with a very big smile and said, "Thank you Shelah, can I be a shark for awhile?", she said, "Yes, but you must promise not to eat any of our friends", Jeffrey agreed and swam away to show the others.

Cappy was watching the whole thing and told Shelah, "You have amazing powers, wouldn't you like to use them in a special way?". "What do you mean Cappy?", Shelah answered with a puzzled look on her face. "We must do something to let the humans know how wonderful it is in the sea so that they don't continue to destroy it", Cappy exclaimed. Shelah said, "How are we going to do that Cappy?" and Cappy's answer was "One human at a time.

Cappy's plan was to use Shelah's magical powers to show the humans how important and beautiful the sea is. But first Shelah had to find a way to get the humans in the water, because her magical powers only worked inside the water. Shelah thought and thought, and she knew that all humans like dolphins, so she called her dolphin friends, Austin, Kaley and Rainy. Shelah told the dolphins her plan and they were happy to help.

Austin, Kaley and Rainy swam right up to the next boat that arrived near the island, the people were so pleased to see the dolphins that they jumped in the water to swim with them. Cappy yelled to Shelah, "They are in the water, put your magic to work". Shelah closed her eyes tight and wished that the people would turn into mermaids like her". When Shelah opened her eyes the family was now just like her, she swam over to greet them. Shelah told them to come with her and meet some new friends. The family was very surprised when they found their legs had now become tails, at the same time they were full of joy that they could swim under the sea.

Shelah introduced the family to Cappy the crab, Jesse the jellyfish, Monica the moray eel, Jason the sea turtle and of course they already met the dolphins, Austin, Kaley and Rainy. Shelah and the family swam for hours and met all the sea creatures around the island. Shelah explained to the family how important it is that people protect the creatures and the ocean. The family agreed to tell their friends and they will never forget their day in the sea. Shelah said, "Please tell your friends about our magical island and I will let them swim in the sea with me and my friends".

Shelah swam the family back to their boat and to the surface, closed her eyes and turned them back into humans. "We will be back to visit you and the magical world underwater", the family told Shelah. They waved goodbye to each other, the dolphins swam with the family for awhile and they disappeared into the distance.

From time to time other families would come to the island and Shelah would turn them into mermaids and mermen. Each time Shelah and Cappy knew that there would be more and more people to help them protect the ocean and all the sea creatures in it.

THE END

This is the second of my series of Children's Books, I am dedicated to the sea as you will see.

There was a young man, his name is Samuel, but all his friends call him Sammy. Sammy loved to go out after school and go surfing. He would run with his surf board into the sea and jump on his board paddling as hard as he could to catch a wave. When he found the perfect wave he would turn toward the shore line and climb up on the board and ride it all the way in.

Sometimes the wave was too big and strong and Sammy would fall off, the wave washing right over his head. Sammy would shake his head and try again until he was back at the beach.

One day the waves were really big, but Sammy was not afraid, he paddled his way out and jumped on his surf board. A giant wave came from behind Sammy and swept him off his board. The surf board flew into the air and Sammy came down with a big splash. As Sammy was looking around for his surf board he noticed a fin coming closer to him. Sammy wasn't afraid because he knew that there were many sea creatures in the ocean with him.

The fin came closer and closer and suddenly a head popped up, it was a shark! The shark was young just like Sammy, he said "Hello, don't be afraid, I won't hurt you"

Sammy smiled and told him "my friends call me Sammy, would you like to be my friend?" The shark said, "my name is Samaki, I would like to be your friend". Sammy was still looking around because he could not see his surf board. Samaki asked "what are you looking for Sammy?". "I am looking for my surf board", replied Sammy. "I will look under and you can look on the top" Samaki told Sammy.

The two began swimming among the waves looking for the missing surf board then Sammy spotted it far away. When Samaki returned, Sammy pointed where he had seen his surf board. Samaki swam quickly to the surf board and brought it back to Sammy.

Sammy hopped on the board and began paddling back to the beach, Samaki swam right by his side.

The people on the beach were watching and when they saw Samaki swimming next to Sammy they began to yell, "Shark, Shark, swim, swim". Sammy was too busy talking with his new friend, and he did not notice the people on the beach. Sammy got closer to shore and the water became shallow, so he jumped off his board to thank Samaki for getting his board. Sammy put out his hand and Samaki turned and gave him a hand shake with his fin. Samaki told Sammy, "you must always be careful, because not all the creatures in the sea are your friends". Sammy smiled and told Samaki that he would be careful.

The water was now too shallow for Samaki and he turned to go back to the deeper water. Sammy picked up his surf board under his arm and walked to the beach. Many people came over to him and asked if he was safe. Sammy looked up at the people who had gathered around him and said, " There are many creatures in the sea, we must respect them large and small, we are in their home, we are only visitors in the sea".

THE END

(Samaki is Swahili for Fish)

I got inspired the other day, as an artist I get inspired by the strangest of things. My inspiration for this story was the day of the Killer Turtle , I know this sounds like it would scare kids, but inspiration is a strange thing and it is not easily explained. Please read the story and enjoy, I would sincerely appreciate your input on the story, this may confirm if I should continue on the path toward Children's Stories.

© COPYRIGHT 2008

One sunny day in South Florida, along the sea shore, a boy named Max was playing at the beach. He loved the beach and he would come here often to play.

Sometimes, Max would search for sea shells and other times he would build sand castles.

This day was like most days in South Florida, sunny and warm until something surprised Max!

He looked up and saw something coming out of the edge of the waves toward him. First a head popped out and then some fins, "Hello, my name is Milo". Max smiled and said "My name is Max, are you a sea turtle?" Milo's reply was, "Yes, I am, what are you doing there Max?"

Max said, "I am building a sand castle would you like to play with me Milo?"

Milo was so excited he came out of the water to play with Max. Milo was really good at digging, so he made a nice pool near the sand castle. Max and Milo played together and made a great sand castle city.

Max turned to Milo and said, "Thank you Milo, we have made a really beautiful castle, and now we have finished".

Milo was starting to get a little sun burn, since sea turtles spend most of their life in the ocean it was time for him to return to the cool water. Milo turned and asked Max, "would you like to swim in the sea with me?" Max said, "I would love to swim with you, I have my mask, fins and snorkel right here". Max put all his gear on and slipped into the sea with Milo.

Milo told Max he could hold onto his shell and Milo would give him a ride. Not far away was a beautiful reef, Max and Milo put their heads down to see and watch the fish swimming among the corals and sponges, they also saw crabs and seahorses and lots of other sea creatures.

Milo told Max, "these are my friends and now you are my friend too".

It was time for Max to go home and Milo was happy to give him a ride back to the beach.

Both Max and Milo smiled at each other and waved good-bye. Milo turned and swam back out to the sea. Max picked up all his toys and headed toward his home along the shore.

Later that evening when Max went to bed he dreamed of Milo the sea turtle and how much fun they had together.

Each day Max would go back to the beach, just like he always did, sometimes Milo was there to play with him and other times Milo and Max would just wave to each other.

Max and Milo stayed good friends and would never let a day go by without saying hello to each other.

THE END

Illustrations by Cappy