“Gather round, my Sunbeams. Today’s story is Mister Chipper’s favourite!”
Mister Sunshine beams a smile as he sits in a large story chair. The Sunshine Club on the floor at his feet. Mister Chipper looks on, cold and emotionless.
Sunshine opens the book.
“Once upon a time, the Wind and the Sun were arguing about who was more powerful.”
“They spotted a traveler wrapped tightly in his cloak and made a bet: whoever could strip the cloak off the traveler was the strongest. The Wind huffed and puffed, sending fierce gusts swirling around, but the harder he blew, the more the traveler clutched his cloak!”
Sunshine looks up from the book.
“The wind seemed strong, but when push came to shove… he couldn’t get the job done. He just couldn’t blow that cloak away.”
A smile, the page is turned.
“Then the Sun unleashed its dazzling power, blasting bright, warming rays across the sky. Feeling the heat of the sun’s glorious warmth, the traveler quickly unwrapped his cloak and let it fall to the ground. In the end, the Sun outshone the Wind’s force. As it always does… the Sunshine is more powerful than a storm’s wind.”
Mister Sunshine closes the book. The Sunshine Club lean in to hear his message.
“Poor little Captain Arcadia. He’s just like that wind, my precious Sunbeams. He finds a direction he wants to blow, and he blows with all his might.”
“He’s been huffing and puffing and blowing at the Zookeeper for as long as he’s been wearing that suit, but it’s like the harder he tries to get his name off that list… the harder the cloak gets clutched around Arcadia’s shoulders.”
“In the end, just like the Wind in our story, he’s nothing but a puff of hot air. And here’s just the things, Sunbeams… now he’s blowing in our faces.”
“This is not the first time that he’s decided to blow his wind in my direction, Sunbeams. Just like the Wind, each time he blows and fails, he has to regroup and try to blow harder. It’s his only option. To our friend Captain Arcadia, I am the key to understanding what happened to his friends, and now he’s more desperate than ever to blow away my cloak. I’ve weathered Arcadia’s little storm before, but this time it’s different.”
“This time, he interrupted your playtime. He’s going to try his might at each of you.”
“Because he’s convinced that he’s strong, and that we need to feel his power. That somehow, that’s going to give him the answers he seeks.”
“But it won’t.”
“All it’s going to prove to our little friend is what we already know. That Sunshine is more powerful than the strongest breeze the flag waving hero can summon.”
“He can huff, puff and blow his heart out. But all we need to do is smile… and spread a little sunshine to chase the storm away.”
“We just need to go and give him a great big hug, and show him just how brightly the sun can shine.”
“It’s playtime, friends. Are you ready?”