Silly Billy and the Purple Leaf

This is a short children's story that I wrote.

Once upon a time there was a monkey named Billy. Billy lived in the forest with his mama, papa, and three brothers. His brothers' names were Jep, Jesse, and Jeff. Their mama always fed them a healthy diet of fresh, ripe, bananas. While his brothers seemed  to enjoy the bananas, Billy didn't really care for them. Instead, he preferred to snack on nice, green leaves that he picked off trees. His mom worried about him because she knew that leaves couldn't make him strong like bananas could. She hoped he would realize how much he needed to stay away from leaves before he got himself into trouble.

 

One day, Billy's mama sent him and his brothers to fetch some bananas for supper. Billy didn't really want to go, but he knew he would be in trouble if he didn't. He seeemed to have trouble keeping up with his brothers' fast pace. "C'mon, leafboy, keep up!" Jep said to him. "Yea, hurry up slow poke!" Jesse said. Finally, Billy got tired of his brothers' rude remarks and decided to go exploring on his own. "Don't get into too much trouble, little runt". Jeff said.

 

  While Billy was was walking alone in the forest, he started noticing all the tempting leaves on tree branches and on the ground. Soon, he started tasting some of these leaves. Suddenly, he spotted something he had never seen before. It was a purple leaf! Billy knew his mama really wanted him to stay away from leaves, but how could he? This was a purple leaf!

 

  Billy took a nibble of the purple leaf and it tasted really yummy! All of a sudden, he noticed that his toes had turned purple! He thought this was really odd, but decided to eat the whole leaf. A few minutes later, his whole body turned purple! "oh no! Look at me! I'm all purple! How will I ever explain this to my family?! " just then his brothers walked up to him. "What happened to you, bro?! " Jesse asked him. "Weeeelll," Billy said, "It all started when I was munching on leaves. I saw this really neat purple leaf and just had to try it. When I finished eating it all, I turned purple somehow! The worst part is I don't know how to change back!". Billy's brothers all pointed at him and said "You're in trouble!". Billy just hung his head because he knew it was true. His mama and papa WERE NOT going to be happy!

 

  When Billy and his brothers got home, he was terrified about what his parents would say about him being purple. As soon as his mama saw him, she said "What on earth happened to you, Billy?". Billy repeated the story he told his brothers while they were out collecting bananas. His papa looked very very disappointed! "Boy, what did we tell you about those leaves?" he asked Billy in a very angry voice. Billy looked down at the floor and said "You told me not to eat them!". Billy's papa's face turned red because he was super upset with his son. His mama shook her head. "Billy, why would you do something that we told you not to do?" She asked him in a calm, loving, but curious tone of voice. Then Billy said "Well, I knew you guys said not to eat leaves, but they just looked so tasty! Then when I saw the purple leaf, I just had to try it! I didn't know that eating it would turn me all purple!". When Billy finished talking, he burst into tears! His mama hugged him, lifted his face and said "Son, we didn't tell you not to eat leaves because we wanted to be mean and keep you from something you enjoy, we told you not to eat leaves because we didn't think they were very good for you! And apparently, we were right! When we tell you not to do something, we're just looking out for your best interest because we love you!". Billy dried his little monkey eyes and looked at his mama. "I realize that now, I'm really sorry for not listening to you!" he said, "My days of eating leaves are over!". Then, for the first time since he got home, Billy saw his parents smile! "Now we have to figure out how to get you back to your normal color!" his mama said. "I know who could help with that!" his papa exclaimed. "Who?" they all asked curiously. "The Wise Eagle!" he shouted. So Billy, his mama, papa, and brother set off on a long quest to see the Wise Eagle.

 

   The Wise Eagle lived on the other side of the forest, so Billy and his family had a long way to travel. He didn't seem to mind the walk because he desperately wanted to be his normal color again. His brothers, on the other hand, were NOT excited about the journey at all! "Billy, if you hadn't ate that dumb leaf, we wouldn't be on this long walk!" Jep complained. Very soon, his other brothers joined in the grumbling. Jeff said "yeah! If it weren't for you, I would be at home relaxing right now!". This made Billy feel terrible! He almost started crying again! Then his mama spoke to his brothers. "Now guys, Billy said he was sorry for what he did. Your papa and I forgave him, so you should do! " she said. They all looked down at the ground because they knew she was right. Then they turned to Billy and said "We're sorry for being mean to you! Will you forgive us?." Billy just smiled and said "Of course I forgive you! You're my brothers!". Then they all hugged, and by that time they were at the Wise Eagle's house!

 

   When they got to the Wise Eagle's house, Billy told him his story. "I'm really sorry that I ate the leaf, and I really want to be my normal color again!" he said. The Wise Eagle rubbed his head and thought for a moment. "Well, you're in one big pickle!", he said, "Don't worry, I know something that could help you out!". He then told them about an enchanted pond that could cure even the strangest illnesses. The pond was called the Pond of Life. This made Billy very happy. "Do you think the Pond of Life can change me to my normal color?" he asked the Eagle. The Eagle smiled and said "It just might! There's only one way to find out!". So the Wise Eagle took Billy and his family to the Pond of Life. When they got there, Billy immediately jumped in! "Come back out so we can see what color you are!" his papa said. When Billy came out of the water, he wasn't purple anymore! "YIPPEEEY" he said as he danced around! The Wise Eagle and his family joined Billy in his celebration. "How do you feel, son?" his mama asked him. "Excited, happy, and hungry!" he replied. "What do you want to eat?" his papa asked him. "Not leaves, that's for sure!" he said. They all had a big laugh, then his papa said "Let's go home and enjoy some nice, juicy bananas!". So that's exactly what they did!

                             THE END