The Brave Banana
Written by Maxine Willoughby
At a cheerful little fruit stand, some of the fruits loved to brag.
“I’m always the first to be picked!” said Apple, puffing up with pride.
“People love my crown!” added Pineapple, twirling his green leaves like a king.
Banana stayed quiet. "I’m just a banana... plain and bendy,” he thought, curled in his basket.
The market opened.
Shoppers strolled by, baskets in hand.
The fruits stood tall and shiny, smiling their biggest fruit smiles.
Banana tried to curl deeper in his basket.
“I wish I were shinier… or rounder… or special,” he said.
Suddenly — a monkey appeared!
He tiptoed between the stalls with a sly grin and twitchy tail. He licked his lips. He looked left, then right. He crept closer and closer.
“He’s going to banana!” cried the grapes.
Apple rolled away. Pineapple rattled his leaves. Grapes trembled and squeaked.
Banana froze. His heart thumped.
Then he took a deep breath.
“I've got to defend myself,” he said.
And before he could change his mind, Banana jumped!
He spun through the air like a yellow boomerang…
Boink!
He bounced right off the monkey’s nose!
The monkey shrieked in surprise, slipped on a loose grape, and dashed away.
The fruit stand burst into cheers.
“You're brave!” said Apple.
“You’re special and powerful!” said the grapes.
Banana smiled for the first time all day.
“I guess I forgot to be scared,” he said.
From that day on, Banana stood tall.
Even the quietest fruit can be a hero.
Be bold. Be you.
Even if you’re a banana.
