I know this is true ... someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The Magic Banana

Tucked in somewhere, over our stars and under our moon, there is a far away land. This land is lovely and incredibly different from our world. It's called The Land of The Purple Moons because up in the sky at night, it has two large and purple moons.

There are also two bright suns that shine in the daytime that are always hooked together by a beautiful rainbow.

In The Land of The Purple Moons, there is a thick and magical forest called The Forest of Enchantment.  It's called that because sometimes things happen there that just can't be explained.

This is a story about three best friends who lived near The Forest of Enchantment in The Land of The Purple Moons and an adventure that none of them will ever forget.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The first of the friends was Bartholomew Bear. His friends couldn't say that name, so they called him B Bear, which was just fine with Bartholomew, because he couldn't say it either.  B Bear was very smart. He was also the leader of the three best friends and they looked up to him to make wonderful statements and important decisions.

The next was Monkey, the playful one of the three friends. He loved making them laugh by doing silly things and making funny noises and faces. Monkey was always hungry. He filled his pockets with good things to eat before he left home every morning. That was okay, because he always shared what he brought with his friends.

The last of the friends was a little pink lamb whose name was Lambie. Lambie was kind and gentle and the very heart of the three best friends.  Lambie was the one who always knew when it was time to go home so no one would worry about them. She was the one who always knew when an idea was not a good idea, because Lambie was the one who made sure the three best friends were always good.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

One day, the three best friends decided to meet at the edge of The Forest of Enchantment the very next day. It would be a nice day for a picnic and B Bear announced that he knew the perfect spot. He told them it was near a babbling brook that whispered poetry and there was a tall gumdrop tree nearby where Monkey could climb and play. Maybe he would even toss some gumdrops down to them!

Now, what time should they meet?  After much discussion, Monkey, being the silly one, said they should meet at three hairs past a freckle, eastern elbow time.  The three friends laughed and, of course, Monkey laughed louder than anyone else.  With Monkey holding back even MORE giggles and snorts, they finally agreed to meet at eleven fourteen o'clock.

The next morning, Monkey arrived first. As usual, his pockets were full of food -- just in case he got hungry. He sat down on a tree stump and munched on cookies while he waited for his two best friends.

B Bear was next to arrive, carrying the biggest picnic basket Monkey had ever seen! When B Bear saw Monkey's bulging pockets and saw Monkey was already eating, he shouted in a very loud voice, "Monkey! What's wrong with you? You knew I was bringing a picnic basket. You knew it would have plenty to eat inside. Why did you have to fill your pockets with food today?"

Monkey didn't mean to make B Bear angry.  He tried to make B Bear laugh by making funny faces, but all that did was make B Bear even more angry!

In his loudest voice, B Bear shouted, "Monkey! I asked what's wrong with you?"

The last to arrive was Lambie. She was already talking about how she hadn't forgotten to bring lots of juice in case they all got thirsty. Lambie didn't notice the mad face B Bear was wearing or the sad face that Monkey now had on. She DID notice B Bear's loud voice, though, and said, "B Bear, don't use your grouchy voice with Monkey. That isn't nice!"

B Bear told Lambie about Monkey's bulging pockets and his cheeks full of cookies.   Then he told her how Monkey made things even worse by making his silly faces -- just like he didn't care that B Bear was upset -- and that was why he was so angry!

Because Lambie was the heart of the three friends, she said, "B Bear, say what you mean, mean what you say, but don't say it mean! Angry shouting never solves a problem. Let's all sit down and talk about this."

The two suns were very high in the sky by the time the three friends finally worked out the problem and were on their way to the picnic spot. Monkey agreed to put the food from his pockets into the picnic basket, except for one banana (just in case he got hungry along the way), and B Bear agreed to put away his angry voice.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

After walking for an hour, Monkey began to whine, "When will we be there? How much farther to the babbling brook? I'm tired! I'm hungry! Why do we have to go there? Why can't we just eat here?"

Because she was also very understanding, Lambie suggested they sit and rest awhile. She told Monkey to eat the banana he had saved.

B Bear was tired, too, and he had worked up a bear of an appetite himself! His patience with Monkey and his whining was all used up. Before Lambie could stop him, he grabbed the banana from Monkey, pointed it right at him and shouted, "Monkey! Stop your whining! Sometimes I wish you would just disappear!"

All at once, there was a quiet sound:

((( p o o f!)))

B Bear was so surprised by what happened, he dropped the banana on the ground where he stood. Monkey was gone! B Bear rubbed his eyes and peeked through his fingers.  Monkey was exactly nowhere at all!

Lambie and B Bear stared at each other. How could this happen? How can this be? Where did Monkey go? Is this one of his silly games to make us laugh?

Because he was so smart, B Bear said, "It must have been the magic of The Forest of Enchantment!"

He had heard stories about strange things happening here that shouldn't happen. Maybe that's what happened now. But the thought didn't make B Bear feel very good. He didn't feel good at all!

The two best friends that were left were very upset. They walked around in circles thinking and wringing their hands. Then they looked for Monkey again. He was still gone. They called his name. When he still didn't answer, they really began to worry.

"Oh my, B Bear. What ARE we going to do?" cried Lambie.

B Bear felt just awful. He was wishing he hadn't wished. He tried again and pleaded, "Monkey, please come back! I didn't mean it. I don't want you to disappear!"

But Monkey stayed gone, completely gone.

Because B Bear was their leader, he knew he would have to make a decision. He sighed deeply and then said, "I think there is only one thing we can do, Lambie. We have to go and see the great Wallah of Poobah. He's the Keeper of Truth here in The Land of The Purple Moons.  Every thought you could ever think is there. Every question ever asked is there. Every answer ever given is there. We have to go right now! We can't wait another minute!"

Lambie knew B Bear was right. He was smart and if he said they needed to do that, then they needed to do that.

The truth was, Lambie was afraid. Everyone in The Land of The Purple Moons knew the Wallah of Poobah lived on the other side of Everlie Woods -- a strange and frightening place ... and no one who had gone there had ever returned.  Not ever.

The two friends knew they had no choice. They put aside their fears and began to walk. They were glad they had packed a picnic because they would need it on their long journey.

B Bear and Lambie felt sad about poor Monkey and they were determined to make it through Everlie Woods. No matter what happened, they would go and talk to the great Wallah of Poobah. He would help them bring Monkey back, and they would all make it home from Everlie Woods! After all, B Bear said they would and B Bear was the smartest one she knew.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

The two suns and their rainbow had slipped down from the sky when Lambie and B Bear finally sat down to eat the food in the picnic basket. They had walked along the path in silence for a long time today. Now they were deep in Everlie Woods and very glad the two purple moons burned so brightly in the evening sky.

Lambie asked B Bear, "How do you know we are going in the right direction, B Bear?"

B Bear told her that he didn't really know for sure. He was just following his nose because his father had always told him, "Son, the nose knows!"

Then Lambie asked, "Do you suppose we WILL get to the other side of Everlie Woods? Do you suppose the great Wallah of Poobah can help us get Monkey back? Will we be able to find our way home again? I DO want to grow up, B Bear!"

Poor Lambie, thought B Bear. She's so kind and gentle ... and she's VERY worried, just like I am. I must get her mind off of this awful situation, if only for a few minutes.

"Lambie, what do you want to be when you grow up?" he asked as he dug through the picnic basket for another sandwich.

"I want to be just like my Mother, B Bear. She's a nurse and she's very pretty. I want to be a pretty and fisticated nurse just like my Mother."

B Bear scratched his head for a minute, thinking. Then with a puzzled look on his furry face, he asked, "Pretty and a nurse, okay. But Lambie, WHAT is fisticated?"

Lambie found his question very odd. B Bear was smart and yet he didn't know something! Lambie answered, "B Bear, my Father always tells Mother she is a good nurse, very pretty, and so fisticated."

B Bear heard this and, because he WAS smart, he began to laugh. He laughed until his tummy hurt. He laughed until his ribs ached. He laughed until tears overflowed his eyes and made wet trails down his fuzzy brown cheeks! He was about to tell Lambie why he was laughing when all of a sudden, there was a loud booming voice!

"Quiet!"

"Who said that?" asked Lambie and B Bear at the very same time.

"It is I", came the booming voice again. "I am the Keeper of The Silence!"

B Bear looked around but all he could see was a very tall, orange tree. "Who is talking?" asked B bear. "Is that you, tree?  Trees don't talk!"

"Quiet!  I am the Keeper of The Silence!" shouted the very tall orange tree again.

Lambie said, "Keeper of The Silence, please don't use that grouchy voice with us. We're on our way to see the great Wallah of Poobah to get our friend back. Could you please tell us if we are going in the right direction?"

"Yes, I'll tell you, IF you'll be QUIET!"  he answered, pointing with one of his long branches. "You must turn left by that large blue rock over there. Then you will be going in the right direction."

Lambie and B Bear finished their picnic and said thank you to the tall and strange orange tree who was the Keeper of The Silence. Then waving goodbye, they turned left at the large blue rock and continued on their journey.

A little while later, they came upon a sign that said:  ‘Wallah of Poobah, This Way à ’

B Bear and Lambie turned right and once again followed the path. They really missed Monkey. They hung onto the hope that the great Wallah of Poobah could help them get him back.

After a while, Lambie and B bear decided to rest. They sat down on a log by the side of the path.  In the purple moonlight B Bear noticed a very large blue rock and told Lambie that it looked familiar. Lambie laughed and told him that all big blue rocks looked the same to her! B Bear began to laugh, too.

Suddenly, a voice boomed, "Quiet.  QUIET!  I said!  I am the Keeper of The Silence and I said BE QUIET!"

"How could this be?" asked Lambie.

"I don't know" answered B Bear.

Somehow, the two friends had come in a full circle. They were right back where they had eaten their picnic hours ago!

Lambie asked the Keeper, "Didn't you tell us to turn left at that large blue rock over there?"

"Yes, of course!" shouted the Keeper of The Silence.

"Then why are we back here again?" asked Lambie.

"How am I supposed to know that?" sulked the Keeper of The Silence. "I told you which way to go --  and    I    never    lie."

Then Lambie remembered the sign they had seen. When she asked him about it, the Keeper of The Silence only muttered and shook his bushy orange leaves.

B Bear had been sitting quietly, listening to the conversation between Lambie and the Keeper of The Silence. He was thinking -- and when B Bear was thinking, all sorts of important things went through his mind.

All at once, he jumped to his feet, put his finger to his lips and said, "Shhhhh" to Lambie.

B Bear then asked the very tall orange tree, "Mr. Keeper, what would happen if I turned RIGHT at the large blue rock over there?"

The Keeper told him, "Well, if you do that, you will NEVER see the Wallah of Poobah!"

B Bear whispered to Lambie to follow him and they went exactly where the tree told them NOT to go -- they turned RIGHT.

"What are we doing, B Bear? Why are we going THIS way?" asked Lambie.

"Shhhhh ..." said B Bear. "Follow me, and hurry!"

When they were past the place where the Keeper of The Silence was, past where the large blue rock was, past where they had rested, B Bear told Lambie what he had figured out.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

"Lambie! I know exactly why we went in circles!" cried B Bear excitedly. "This is Everlie Woods. We have always pronounced it 'Ever-LEE'.  Lambie, it isn't that at all!  We should have pronounced it 'Ever-LIE'!  I believe everything in Everlie Woods lies!

When we came back to the same place we were hours ago and the Keeper of The Silence said he doesn't ever lie, I KNEW he had lied. That means the sign was a lie, too!  EVERYTHING in Everlie Woods lies.   If we want to get to the Wallah of Poobah, we must do the opposite of what anyone here tells us to do. It's sad, but when someone lies, you can't believe them, ever."

Poor B Bear and Lambie. They had so many problems. They walked all night. They watched as the two purple moons settled down into the trees to make room for the two bright suns and their rainbow.

All through the night, they went in the opposite direction from where every sign pointed.  They also turned in the opposite direction when anyone they met along the path told them which way they should go.

When at last they reached the edge of Everlie Woods, they could see a huge castle off in the distance.  It had to be the castle of the great Wallah of Poobah!  Lambie and B Bear at last began to feel hopeful.  They ran as fast as their tired legs could carry them, straight to the castle with the wise and great man who had all the answers.

After a long wait in the hallway of the castle, it was finally their turn to see the Wallah of Poobah. It seemed like such a long time ago when Monkey disappeared because so much had happened since. It was hard for them to believe that it had only been yesterday morning.

The two best friends introduced themselves and then explained everything to the great Wallah. They told him about the argument and making up. They talked about the long walk and Monkey's whining. Then they told him the last and worst thing ... how B Bear had pointed the banana at Monkey and how he had wished his wish.  Finally, they told him about the quiet sound that took Monkey away.

"Great Wallah, won't you please tell us how to get our friend, Monkey, back?" cried Lambie. "Can you help us?"

The Wallah thought and thought. Then he put his hand on his chin, stroked his long white beard, and thought some more. Suddenly, he raised a finger in the air and with a mighty voice, he proclaimed, "Aha!  I see the problem and I know how to fix it!

My two young friends, somehow, you got hold of a magic banana. They’re VERY rare you know.  I’ve only seen one in my lifetime!  Now you must remember, with a magic banana, every action has an opposite reaction. Your banana is extra powerful because it also pulls magic from The Forest of Enchantment!

What you have to do is go back to where you last saw your friend.  Pick up your special banana and turn it around!  Then you must point it at the place where Monkey used to be and wish him back again! Ah yes,“ he muttered quite to himself, “every action has an opposite reaction!"  Then he turned to them again and exclaimed, "Now go -- and hurry! You must go back to where you last saw your friend and unwish your wish!"

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

Lambie and B Bear thanked the great Wallah of Poobah and said goodbye. Then they ran all the way back through Everlie Woods.

When they got to the edge of The Forest of Enchantment, they found the banana still lying on the ground just where B Bear had dropped it yesterday. B Bear picked it up, pointed it at the same spot where Monkey had disappeared and shouted, "Monkey, come back! I don't WANT you to disappear!"

Nothing happened. Nothing at all.

Then B Bear remembered the most important thing the Wallah of Poobah had told them. This was a magic banana. This time, he turned the banana around and pointed the other end at the spot where Monkey had been standing.   B Bear took a deep breath, closed his eyes tightly, and slowly repeated, "Monkey, I wish you to come back! I don't WANT you to be gone!"

((( p o o f! )))

Instantly, Monkey was standing there just like he was yesterday morning! Brought back in mid-sentence, he was STILL whining about how hungry he was and asking why they couldn't stop NOW and just eat here.

Monkey was so surprised when Lambie and B Bear hugged him that he stopped whining and stared at them with eyes as big as dinner plates!

"Come on, Monkey, let's go home." Said B Bear with a smile. “We have such a wonderful adventure to tell you about." Then he handed the magic banana to his hungry friend.

I know this is true . Someone who's been there told me to tell you.

... and the very last time the someone saw them, they were headed toward home, hand in hand in hand.   The THREE best friends all together once again and looking forward to their next big adventure.

The End