Jimmy Squirrel lived with his mom and dad and twin sisters Flora and Felicity in a big oak tree in the Whispering Woodlands. Their tree was over 200 years old, and had a few rooms that the Squirrel family lived in. The children went to school in the local clearing. Other squirrels, and also mice, frogs, birds, and a couple of noisy rabbits went there too. Their teacher was Mrs Partridge, who had been around for as long as anyone could remember and was probably 100 years old. Jimmy did not like school very much. There were far too many adventures to be had in the woodland, and sitting down for hours listening to Mrs Partridge talk was so very boring. Jimmy’s best friend was Fred Frog, and when they got together, then you had better watch out, because there was usually trouble coming.
One sunny morning in June, Fred met Jimmy on the path through the trees on the way to school.
‘Hey’ Croaked Fred, ‘I really do not feel like going to school today. Let’s go on an adventure!’
Jimmy knew that it was a very naughty thing to do, but at the same time, quite a good idea. So they snuck off through the trees to the Silver Stream.
‘Ah, this is the life.’ Sighed Fred as they lay down on the riverbank in the sunshine.
‘What do you want to do then?’ Asked Jimmy, who didn’t like to stay still for too long.
There was a pause as Fred thought hard. Just then, a small twig floated past downstream, carrying a lazy fly who had hitched a ride.
‘I know, let’s make a raft, just like real pirates, and see how far we can float downstream!’ Shouted Fred with joy, jumping up and doing a frog-ish dance.
And so the two mischievous friends set to work constructing a raft, like real pirates did. First they collected as many fallen twigs and small branches that they could find. Then they saw some ivy climbing round a big rock, and ripped some of it down, removing all of the leaves. And then they wound the ivy’s tendrils round and round and down and through the twigs. They had made a raft! Now for the important bit, to check that it was seaworthy.
They boys carefully pulled the raft into a shallow bit of the stream where there were lots of small rocks. The currant was weak here, so it didn’t sail off without them.
‘All aboard!’ Called Jimmy excitedly as he climbed onto the raft.
‘Whooo!’
The raft moved under his feet and he struggled to stand up. He held onto the mast, which they’d simply made by sticking a tall branch in the middle of the raft.
‘Wheee!’ Cried Fred as he jumped on board from the riverbank. He was much more confident around water.
And so Pirate Jimmy Parrot and Captain Fred Peg-Leg set off on their latest adventure down the Raging River to see if they could find the treasure.
At first the friends had a gentle ride and the raft flowed down a slowly flowing part of the stream. They sat watching the world pass by, and the clouds changing overhead- pointing out shapes that they recognised.
‘I can see a dinosaur!’ croaked Fred, pointing to a strangely-shaped cloud.
Jimmy looked up, and yes, it looked like a T-Rex. Cool.
‘Oh! There’s an umbrella!’ Said Jimmy a few moments later.
The sun shone down and the boys soon wished they had same ice-creams to eat.
The plants and trees along the bank started to change, and the brave pirates soon realised that they didn’t recognise where they were. Trees started to creep over the stream, growing larger and darker as they travelled. The water grew deeper and a large grey cloud passed over the sun. Jimmy shivered.
‘How far do you think we’ve gone?’ He asked Fred.
‘I don’t know,’ replied the young frog, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever been this far.’
‘Do you think we should go home now?’ Asked Jimmy.
‘Um, yes, but how do we do that, the river only flows this way?’ Asked Fred.
Jimmy felt that maybe this pirate adventure had not been such a good idea.
Suddenly it started to rain. The boys looked at each other worriedly. It was cold, it was getting dark, and they had no idea where they were.
‘Do you think we should stop the raft and get off and walk home? Wondered Jimmy.
