An Adventure in the Woods

Transcription

1 An Adventure in the Woods Story and cover design by Share your adventures and pictures using #BlytonSummer on Facebook ( and Twitter Join the fun at for the latest on special events, adventurous ideas, competitions and much more.

2 Lists An Adventure in the Woods Pick an answer from these lists to fill the corresponding gap in your story. List 1 chewing a bone napping on the sofa playing fetch List 2 hide and seek I Spy truth or dare List 3 an elephant s trunk the rocks at the beach an old ten pence piece List 4 grapes marbles peas List 5 a bass drum a lion s growl an earthquake List 6 sticky squelchy syrupy List 7 glue chewing gum wet cement List 8 a stampeding lion a horse running across a field an army of mice racing towards them List 9 fish fingers cheeseburgers cake for dessert

3 As soon as the school summer holidays came around, the woods were YOUR NAME s favourite place to spend long sunny afternoons having adventures. They were right beside the house, so NAME s mum and dad could just shout when it was time to come inside for dinner. There were all sorts of games to play in the woods, especially when YOUR FRIEND came along too. They would build treehouses, run around and sometimes roll up their trousers and paddle in the river. They weren t supposed to go as far as the river, but if it was a hot day, sometimes they couldn t resist. This was one of those days. It had been hot all week and people kept talking about how a storm was surely coming. But right now the sun was shining and NAME was bored, so FRIEND came over and the pair set off for the woods. As usual, they took their trusty third musketeer, NAME s dog, YOUR PET. PET was SIZE and COLOUR and loved nothing more than LIST 1. PET would run alongside them as they played, sniffing the grass and trying to chase squirrels up trees. For about an hour the three of them trekked around the woods, playing their favourite game, LIST 2. When their stomachs started rumbling, they sat down on a mossy patch and unpacked the snacks they had brought in NAME s backpack. They had YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD, YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK and YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE FOOD, which they fed to PET. Just as they were putting the wrappers back in their bag, it began to rain. Really rain. The sky grew dark grey, like LIST 3, the rain droplets came down the size of LIST 4 and they heard a roll of thunder that sounded like LIST 5. NAME started to pull out the raincoats they had remembered to put in the backpack. We should go home, said FRIEND. 1

4 Your parents will want us back if it s raining. They pulled on the coats and turned around to find PET but PET was nowhere to be seen. PET! shouted NAME and FRIEND. But PET didn t come. The rain kept falling hard. They had only turned their backs for a moment to put on raincoats, so PET couldn t be far. They decided to start looking. They walked deeper into the woods away from NAME s house. The rain soaked the outside of their coats and their sopping hair clung to their foreheads, dripping into their eyes. They kept calling PET s name as loudly as they could, but nothing happened. Suddenly, FRIEND stopped walking. What s wrong? asked NAME. I m stuck! said FRIEND. Stuck how? asked NAME. Stuck in the mud! FRIEND had stepped in a particularly boggy patch of mud, and was now trapped up to the ankle on the left side. FRIEND tried and tried to pull the foot free but it just wouldn t budge. The bog felt as LIST 6 as LIST 7. NAME reached over, careful not to step in the bog too, and grabbed hold of FRIEND under the arms. Together they pulled as hard as they could and finally FRIEND s foot came free and the pair of them toppled to the ground. But FRIEND s shoe was still stuck in the mud it had come clean off! They watched as it slowly sunk into the mud and disappeared. My shoe! FRIEND wailed. I ll be in so much trouble! 2

5 We don t have time for that, said NAME. We need to find PET and get home or we ll both be in even more trouble. So they carried on, calling PET s name, getting wetter and colder and more worried by the minute. After a little while, they came to a river bed. NAME knew this was further than they were allowed to go and it certainly didn t look good for paddling in now! The rain had already started to flood it, so the water was rushing through and it was deeper than usual. NAME spun around to tell FRIEND that they had to turn back when suddenly the ground gave way and NAME slid down the muddy bank, landing in the river. For a moment, NAME s head went under the water. NAME scrabbled around until they felt a large smooth rock on the bottom of the river. Perching on it while the river raged, NAME could come up for air and just see FRIEND standing on the river bank, mouth open in shock. FRIEND tried to reach over, careful not to also slip down the river bank, which was wet and slippery from the rain, and could just grab the collar of NAME s raincoat. But the grip wasn t strong enough if NAME stepped off the rock, the current would try to carry them down stream and FRIEND would not be strong enough to hold on. They were both shouting for help, but knew no one would be able to hear this far from home, especially over the sound of the rain and river, which was now flowing faster than ever. Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Lots of footsteps, running fast. It sounded like LIST 8. 3

6 It was PET! Wet, muddy and panting, PET emerged from the trees and ran over to them. PET must have finally heard them yelling and found them! FRIEND was relieved but still worried about NAME. Just then, PET scrambled down the muddy river bank to help. FRIEND tried to reach out and grab the collar, worried that PET would also get stuck in the river. But PET s four legs were strong and sturdy, and could dig into the muddy walls of the river where NAME and FRIEND would just slip. Stretching out, PET grabbed NAME s hood between their teeth and started pulling backwards, helping NAME to get across the river safely. NAME scrambled up onto solid ground and the three of them collapsed, breathing heavily and dripping wet. Once they caught their breath, they remembered how far they were from home and started to trudge back through the soggy woods. FRIEND still had only one shoe, NAME was soaked to the skin from the river, but PET was just happy to be back with the gang. By the time they finally arrived back at NAME s house, the rain was easing off and the sun was peeking through the clouds. NAME s Mum answered the door. What have you been doing? she asked, seeing the three of them, caked in mud and dripping wet, missing a shoe. Before they could answer, she said Never mind! I don t want to know, just get out of those wet clothes. Dinner is almost ready and we re having LIST 9! Great! Can the dog have some too? I think PET deserves some! said NAME, grinning at FRIEND. The End 4