The Curious Case of The Velveteen Cabbage
Today’s story takes place in the Carbon Patch where there lived a curious Carbon Patch Kid named The Velveteen Cabbage.
The Velveteen Cabbage was a very curious Carbon Patch Kid, always looking for something new and exciting to do.
One day, The Velveteen Cabbage was out for a stroll and roll in the Carbon Patch and spotted a beautiful butterfly. He watched it flutter around for a few moments before he decided to follow it.
The Velveteen Cabbage followed the butterfly for what felt like hours, until it finally stopped in a small clearing outside of The Carbon Patch and in The Industrial Forest.
The Velveteen Cabbage peered into the clearing and saw a giant tree. He had never seen a tree so big before!
The Velveteen Cabbage was so excited he almost forgot to be cautious and decided to climb the tree to get a better view.
Once The Velveteen Cabbage reached the top of the tree, he was amazed. He could see his entire Carbon Patch from up there.
“Look there’s Mean Joe Green Bean and Homer J Sunflower playing catch,” The Velveteen Cabbage said in his mind. “And there’s Tina Turnip recording a podcast on Jack and the Bean Talk.”
The Velveteen Cabbage even saw two Forest & Bush Insectors (FBI) working a case.
“It’s special agents Fox Mutter and Scully the Gull checking out the recent reports of a SaSquash sighting,” The Velveteen Cabbage thought to himself.
Suddenly The Velveteen Cabbage heard a loud noise coming from the other side of the tree.
He looked over and saw a Gang of Slugs chopping down a tree close by.
The Velveteen Cabbage was afraid, but his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to sneak closer and take a look.
“What in the water according to carp are the Gang of Slugs doing to The Industrial Forest?” The Velveteen Cabbage wondered.
The Velveteen Cabbage quietly climbed down and peaked around the trunk of the tree out of sight.
As The Velveteen Cabbage got closer, he heard the Gang of Slugs talking about how they were going to steal the tree for the carbon magnate Harrald Piggie Ham and his evil empire of greedy intentions.
“Ha ha ha hee hee hee, those honest and naive Carbon Patch Kids are no match for Harrald Piggie Ham and his Gang of Slugs!” one of the slugs said. “Let’s drag this tree out of here before anyone sees us. Hee hee hee ha ha ha.”
The Velveteen Cabbage was so nervous his main vein was pulsing rapidly and he was all confused with emotions. This rush of uncontrollable energy created a moment where he almost didn't hear the Gang of Slugs coming his way.
The fear of the situation and rush of emotions became a distraction to The Velveteen Cabbage and he had to focus on the moment. Fast.
The Velveteen Cabbage knew he had to stay hidden or the Gang of Slugs would see him.
So he quickly scooted to some nearby bushes and hid in leaves and branches.
The Gang of Slugs finished chopping down the tree and left the new clearing. The Velveteen Cabbage felt a wave of emotions as the Gang of Slugs drug the tree out of The Industrial Forest.
“By removing this tree the Carbon Patch Kids become weaker and Harrald Piggie Ham grows more evil and powerful,” the Gang of Slugs laughed together as they slithered out of The Industrial Forest with a chopped down tree. “Ha ha ha hee hee hee.”
The Velveteen Cabbage sure was relieved he wasn’t seen, but also felt a little disappointed he wasn’t able to stop the Gang of Slugs from cutting down the tree.
The Velveteen Cabbage knew if he said anything in the moment, he would be putting himself in danger and possibly others too.
Faced with a split second decision, The Velveteen Cabbage had to decide whether to stop the Gang of Slugs or stay hidden. His intuition and inner voice told him that the evil doers are not here to help the Carbon Patch Kids, but rather harm their homes, playground equipment, food and water supply.
The Velveteen Cabbage continued to listen to his inner voice who told him to be patient and get help after it is safe.
From this experience, The Velveteen Cabbage learned that being curious is good, but he also needed to remember to be patient at times or his curiosity would get him into trouble.
Sometimes not acting is the correct action, and being patience is demonstrating new levels of courage.
The Velveteen Cabbage couldn't just jump into every situation without thinking about the consequences. The Velveteen Cabbage had to demonstrate self-control in a real life situation or the Gang of Slugs would have caused more trouble.
From then on, The Velveteen Cabbage made sure to be more patient and cautious. He didn't want to get himself into any more trouble than needed!
A couple days later, The Velveteen Cabbage was out exploring once again and spotted a group of butterflies in the same clearing where he had seen the Gang of Slugs cutting down a tree.
He followed the butterflies for what felt like hours, until they finally stopped in a beautiful meadow. The Velveteen Cabbage was amazed. He had never seen such vast beauty before!
The Velveteen Cabbage took his time to enjoy the meadow full of color and activity.
“There’s BeeYonce and Destiny’s Chard,” The Velveteen Cabbage said to himself. “Looks like they’re playing bug-a-boo.”
Then The Velveteen Cabbage watched his favorite, hundreds of butterflies fluttered around.
The Velveteen Cabbage even saw the sun setting in the sky.
“What a gorgeous view of the sky!” The Velveteen Cabbage said. “I would have never been a part of this beautiful experience if I hadn’t been patient and demonstrated self control.”
The Velveteen Cabbage was so happy and content that he almost forgot to be curious.
Until he noticed a small, somewhat hidden hole in the ground next to Stump Plaza.
The Velveteen Cabbage couldn't resist his curiosity and he decided to investigate. As he looked closer, he saw that the hole was actually a secret tunnel that led him back to The Carbon Patch where his home row was located.
The Velveteen Cabbage was so excited he quickly, but cautiously, crawled into the tunnel and followed it until it let him out in front of his Carbon Patch.
The Velveteen Cabbage had been on many adventures since then, but he always remembered the day when he learned to be patient and cautious.
The Velveteen Cabbage knew that his curiosity was a gift, but it was also important to balance it with a bit of patience too.
The CarbonPatchKids are a Content Story Series targeted for Children of All Ages! In the world of the CarbonPatch, all life matters and has a purpose. Even the bugs, slugs, weeds and voles.
The CarbonPatchKids love adventures and playing together. This interaction often finds them encountering emotional experiences that can leave them confused, scared or even too excited to think clearly!
Often times, with the help of their companions, the CarbonPatchKids can reach a solution to their struggle. Sometimes the CarbonPatchKids have to reach down deep inside and believe in their own special gift in order to grow.
The caretakers of CarbonPatch do their best to plant seeds in each of the CarbonPatchKids so they can approach life’s problems with a non-aggressive, peaceful and neighborly solution.
CarbonPatchKids live, work and play in The Industrial Forest.