Week 11 Story: Why Jensen and Dandi Shake Their Toys

    One day, Jensen was playing with his sister, Dandi. After a while they both grew tired and took a nap. Jensen woke up first and wanted to play again, but Dandi was snoring away over in the blue blanket. Jensen started playing with his stuffed toys by pawing at them and licking them. Jensen and Dandi were startled by the jangling of keys, but they knew that meant their owners were home. 

    The owners let Jensen and Dandi outside shortly after they arrived home. Dandi started sprinting across the yard as usual while Jensen just walked about the yard. He came across a bird that happened to look just like his stuffed toy bird which he thought was in the house. 

        Jensen barked at Dandi, “How did my toy bird get out here?” 

    Dandi did not reply though because she was too busy chasing a squirrel. Jensen then proceeded to pick up the bird with his mouth and walk over to Dandi, but then something strange happened. The bird started making noises and moving which completely freaked Jensen out. Jensen dropped the bird and the bird bounced around before flying away. Jensen was breathing really hard because he was so startled by the event. 

Dandi walked over to Jensen and barked, “Why are you breathing like that?”

Jensen barked back in between breaths, “I… found a… a bird…”

“Spit it out” Dandi barked.

    After catching his breath Jensen finally barked “I thought my toy bird was out here, so I picked it up and then it started making noises and moving. I dropped it and then it flew away.”

    Dandi barked back, “Ew gross you touched a real-life bird!”

    Jensen and Dandi both returned inside. All Jensen could think about was the traumatic event that occurred outside. He ended up laying down because he was too scared and worn out to play with his toys. 

    After a few hours, Dandi begged Jensen to play with her. She even brought over his toy bird. Jensen immediately took the toy and began shaking it rapidly to make sure it was not alive. Dandi thought that looked fun so she began to shake her toys as well. That is why Jensen and Dandi both shake their toys before and while they are playing with them.

Jensen Top, Dandi Bottom

Author's Note: The original story Why the Possum Plays Dead is from the Myths and Legends of the Great Plains by Katharine Berry Judson. This was a tale about a rabbit and a possum who wanted wives. They both went on a journey to get a wife, but rabbit got there before possum. When possum eventually arrived, he was too late and everyone had a wife, so they journeyed elsewhere. Rabbit arrived first again but the animals there were at war. When possum arrived, all of the animals were fighting. Possum was hit and he eventually rolled over and pretended to be dead. I made this story my own by explaining why Jensen and Dandi shake their toys. In my story, Jensen would be the possum and Dandi would be the rabbit.