WELCOME TO MERRYVILLE
Once upon a heart in Merryville, a new family arrived in this small town between the mountains and the sea. Tommy Tripper and his family had just moved to their new home. Curious, Tommy asked for permission to begin exploring and then hopped on his bike to meet his new friends and see new places.
The first thing Tommy saw was a big hill. He rode his bike up and up and up! And finally he came to the other side. He tried to slow down, but it was too late! His bike slid into a big red mailbox and he tumbled off into the soft grass.
Tommy found himself lying on the ground beneath a gigantic tree. Its leaves were many beautiful colors of green, and bright-red, heart-shaped fruit hung from its branches. Looking down at him from the branches was a great big owl. His eyes were blue like the sea and he had a bright yellow beak.
“Whooooo goes there??” asked the owl.
“Tommy,” the boy answered. “That was my first ride down the hill. I’m so sorry I ran into your mailbox.”
The owl chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Tommy. I’m Wilbur, Wise Ol’ Wilbur, and this is my home, The Happle Tree.” Wilbur rubbed the shiny red box with his wing. “It looks like my mailbox is okay. Would you like me to show you around town?”
“Yes! Thank you, that would be great!” replied Tommy.
As Wilbur and Tommy entered Merryville, two dogs trotted up. Tommy heard one of the dogs growling as they passed by. Wilbur moved closer and whispered in Tommy’s ear, “That’s Bully the Bulldog. He does mean things because he has trouble in his heart.”
Tommy could see Bully looked very sad. He looked at the second dog and saw a white spot on his chest shaped like a heart. “What about him?” Tommy whispered, “Is he a bully, too?”
“Oh, no,” answered Wilbur, “that’s Buddy, his brother. Buddy always tries to help Bully, but most of the time Bully can’t hear, because his heart is locked up so tight.”
That night at supper, Tommy told his family all about Wilbur, the Happle Tree and Bully and Buddy. Before he went to sleep that night, he told his mom that he would like to play with Bully and try to make his heart glad.
“I think that’s a good idea,” his mom replied, “You’re a great friend, Tommy! You’re going to make lots of friends in Merryville.”
Just the beginning…
Once upon a heart in Merryville, a new family arrived in this small town between the mountains and the sea. Tommy Tripper and his family had just moved to their new home. Curious, Tommy asked for permission to begin exploring and then hopped on his bike to meet his new friends and see new places.
The first thing Tommy saw was a big hill. He rode his bike up and up and up! And finally he came to the other side. He tried to slow down, but it was too late! His bike slid into a big red mailbox and he tumbled off into the soft grass.
Tommy found himself lying on the ground beneath a gigantic tree. Its leaves were many beautiful colors of green, and bright-red, heart-shaped fruit hung from its branches. Looking down at him from the branches was a great big owl. His eyes were blue like the sea and he had a bright yellow beak.
“Whooooo goes there??” asked the owl.
“Tommy,” the boy answered. “That was my first ride down the hill. I’m so sorry I ran into your mailbox.”
The owl chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Tommy. I’m Wilbur, Wise Ol’ Wilbur, and this is my home, The Happle Tree.” Wilbur rubbed the shiny red box with his wing. “It looks like my mailbox is okay. Would you like me to show you around town?”
“Yes! Thank you, that would be great!” replied Tommy.
As Wilbur and Tommy entered Merryville, two dogs trotted up. Tommy heard one of the dogs growling as they passed by. Wilbur moved closer and whispered in Tommy’s ear, “That’s Bully the Bulldog. He does mean things because he has trouble in his heart.”
Tommy could see Bully looked very sad. He looked at the second dog and saw a white spot on his chest shaped like a heart. “What about him?” Tommy whispered, “Is he a bully, too?”
“Oh, no,” answered Wilbur, “that’s Buddy, his brother. Buddy always tries to help Bully, but most of the time Bully can’t hear, because his heart is locked up so tight.”
That night at supper, Tommy told his family all about Wilbur, the Happle Tree and Bully and Buddy. Before he went to sleep that night, he told his mom that he would like to play with Bully and try to make his heart glad.
“I think that’s a good idea,” his mom replied, “You’re a great friend, Tommy! You’re going to make lots of friends in Merryville.”
Just the beginning…