Lesson Four Simplified: “The Portal”

Today’s adventure begins on a sunny ranch.

Red dust swirled across the ground.
Tall green cacti stood like quiet guards.
Birds zipped through the sky singing,
“Good morning!”

Their happy singing woke up Sho and Luca,
the Brothers Bull.

Sho stretched and smiled.
“A new day! Let’s play!”

But Luca sighed.

“I don’t feel like playing,” he said.
“I just want cheesecake.”

Sho nodded kindly. It was those ferrets, bullying his brother again.
“When Luca feels sad, he always wants cheesecake. It’s a shame we have to travel so far to get it.”

(Have you ever wanted a special treat when you felt down?)

Sho thought for a moment.

“I won’t let his bullies make me angry, that won’t help,” he said.
“But maybe a trip for cheesecake will!”

Then he smiled.

“Okay! Cheesecake it is!
But first - one quick game.”

Luca perked up.
“Ok, which game should we play?”

“It’s called Race, Force, Brake.” said Sho
We look for hidden treasure!”

Sho explained the rules simply.

“We’ll use clues to find the treasure - letters and numbers.”

He showed Luca a clue.

“D8.”

“That tells us where to look. Can you find where D street and 8th street meet?”

Luca scanned the ranch.

“There!” he shouted.
“I found it!”

He lifted the treasure.

It was a little wooden object.

“Huh,” Luca said.
“That’s funny. It kind of looks like you!”

Sho laughed.
“Ready for the next one?”

But suddenly—

WHOOSH!

The wind began to blow.
The sky turned dusty and loud.

“Oh no!” said Sho.
“A big sandstorm!”

“Goggles on!” he shouted.
“Force fields—now!”

The brothers touched horns.

ZAP!
Blue light shimmered around them.

They ran toward the portal—

But the wind pushed back!

CRASH!

They tumbled onto the ranch floor.

“Oof!” said Luca.

A friendly voice called out,
“Need some help?”

It was Henry and Helena,
their cousins!

“Perfect timing!” said Sho. “We’re on our way to the red hens for cheesecake!”

“It’s a good thing we came, you’re heading the wrong direction!” Helena guided them through the storm.

“Here we are!” she said.

There, before them, was a purple handle in the ground.

“Portal’s this way,” said Helena as she pulled on the handle and opened the hidden door.

Through the Portal

The cousins jumped in.

WHOOSH!

Stars twirled.
Lights zoomed.

Then—THUMP!

They landed in a soft, green valley.

“It smells nice here,” whispered Luca.

Music floated in the air.

“The hens live that way,” said Sho.

They started walking—

“STOP!” cried Helena.

A fog rolled in.

When it lifted, they saw something strange

Down the hill stood…
a boy, his dog, and a giant alien!

With mouths hanging open in shock, they watched as the alien fell apart—

POP! POP! POP!

“Is it the ferrets?”

Luca panicked and bolted.

Sho, Helena, and Henry took off after him.
But soon, their legs slipped in the moist grass and became tangled.
One by one they tumbled into one another.

Then Helena gasped as she felt something bounce against her and Sho.

“Wait… that can’t be!”

“It is!” said Sho
“That’s King Mateo…
but from the past!”

The Bulls helped Mateo up.

Then—BEEP BEEP!

King Mateo’s danger alert went off.

Quick thinking!

Mateo used a secret invention.

POOF!

Everyone turned invisible.

Safe again!

Together, they hurried back to the castle.

Back at the Castle

Warm lights glowed.
Dinner smelled delicious.

King Mateo listened closely as the Bull Rooks told him of their journey. And of the portal.

“That portal brought you just when we needed your help,” he said.

Speaking of help…

BANG! BANG!

Someone knocked! But you remember who tit was, don’t you!

Yes, it was Korben and Ralph!

Everyone laughed.
Some cried.
Everyone ate.

After dinner, the puppies ran to play.

Harry tapped Sho.

“Want to play our game?” he asked.
“It’s called Catch the King!”

Luca froze.

“They want us to play?”

Sho smiled softly.

“Yes. No one will bully you here. They’re all friends. ”

Luca looked around.

Different animals.
Different sizes.
Different sounds.

All together.

Luca smiled.

“Forget cheesecake,” he said.
“Let’s make friends.”

And so the Bulls joined the game,
learning that being different is okay—
and that everyone has a place
in King Mateo’s Kingdom.

What about you?
Are you ready to meet the Bulls,
make friends, and play the puppies’ game?

Let’s go!