Shubu and the Big-Heart Apple Start

Starring Shubu

Shubu tipped his plum-purple cap and sniffed the sweet apple smell. “I’ll just peek from halfway,” he said, patting the bandaid badge on his shoe. Bark rough under his fingers, he climbed—and slipped a step, which made his heart pound and his bandaids flutter like tiny flags.

A loose branch creaked, and a buzzing bee circled his ear; Shubu froze and gasped. “Uh-oh… this is higher than my cozy tummy likes,” he whispered. Because the sound felt scary, he stopped going up, which made him lose time and doubt his plan.

He made a new plan: “Down, not up.” Shubu took four slow breaths, checked the dry, sunny side of the trunk, and retied his sneaker knot. He wiped bark dust off his bandages and kept three points holding, which began to steady his brave, bouncing heart.

“Slow and steady,” he said, gripping the trunk and climbing down to the grass. The bee drifted to a flower, leaves clapped, and birds chirped like cheers. Safe at the bottom, Shubu grinned with pride and took a happy bite of his pocket plum, while the tall apple tree shone behind him.