A Delightful Adventure in the Woods
“But I really don’t want to go to the party!”
Sophia stomped her foot in frustration as her mother gently pushed her red curls away from her face.
“My dear, you must go. Your cousin Samantha has invited you to her tea party, and it would be impolite to decline.”
“But I can’t stand Samantha. She’s so snooty and stuck-up. A snooty snob!” Sophia huffed.
Her mother sighed and placed a large sun hat with a yellow bow on Sophia’s head. Sophia despised that hat almost as much as she despised the fact that it perfectly matched her yellow sundress.
“I promise you’ll have a good time once you’re there. Now, you know the way to your cousin’s house. Take the path through the woods. They’ve decorated it with blue ribbons to guide the guests. Don’t stray from the path and don’t lose your invitation,” her mother instructed firmly, placing a golden envelope in her hand.
Sophia kissed her mother goodbye and fetched her cherished cherry-red bicycle with a white wicker basket in the front. As she headed towards the forest, her orange tabby cat Peaches emerged from behind the shed and followed her.
“No, Peaches. You can’t come with me,” she said, trying to shoo her away.
Peaches meowed in protest.
“Well, maybe with you there, the party won’t be so bad,” Sophia conceded, scooping up the cat and placing her in the basket before pedaling into the woods.
Sophia had always loved the forest. It was vast, open, and full of freedom. The towering trees made her feel like she could climb into the clouds.
Before long, she spotted the blue ribbons tied in bows, leading her towards the tea party. She followed them deep into the woods, groaning at the thought of the party she wanted to avoid.
Suddenly, something caught her eye. She turned her head and saw a fork in the road. A narrower path veered off into the denser part of the forest, and it was adorned with red ribbons.
“How peculiar! Peaches, look! There’s a new path in the woods. I’ve been here countless times before, but I’ve never seen this second path. I must follow it, just to see where it leads. After all, one must embrace surprises,” Sophia mused.
Peaches meowed in agreement, and they embarked on the new path, following the red ribbons. As they journeyed, the trees transformed from familiar pines to tall and twisted specimens Sophia had never seen before. The sky shifted from pale blue to violet, and an inexplicable chill filled the air. Fluffy snowflakes descended from the purple sky, a strange sight for a June day.
“I’m underdressed for this sudden weather change. How peculiar to have snow in June!” remarked Sophia.
The path lined with red ribbons abruptly ended at a colossal tree, larger than any house. Sophia rubbed her eyes in disbelief—it appeared that the enormous tree was actually a house, complete with a bright red door adorned with a golden knob, perfectly proportioned for Sophia. To her astonishment, the door opened seemingly on its own accord. Peaches, unable to contain her curiosity, dashed inside.
“Peaches, come back!” Sophia cried, dropping her bicycle to the ground. But it was too late; the cat had vanished through the door.
Sophia peered inside and discovered that the tree was not a house, but an underground tunnel that stretched beyond her line of sight. A makeshift ladder leaned against one side of the tunnel, and a delightful melody and a mouthwatering aroma wafted from deep within.
“I can’t leave without Peaches. I must follow her,” resolved Sophia, summoning all the courage she could muster.
She descended the ladder and followed the captivating music. It felt like hours had passed before her feet touched solid ground—a dirt floor surrounded by forest creatures dancing and playing instruments around a roaring bonfire. Tables and chairs were laden with delectable food, and the animals, elegantly dressed and walking upright, reveled in their secret underground party. Bears, badgers, foxes, wolves, rabbits, and birds came alive in a whimsical celebration.
Sophia gasped in amazement, and all the creatures turned to gaze at her.
“What is this human girl doing here?” demanded a rabbit dressed in trousers, holding a fiddle.
“I-I’m Sophia, and I was just looking for my cat,” she stammered.
“Oh, you mean Mrs. Peaches. She’s over there chatting with Badger,” explained a bear donning a shimmering evening gown. Sophia couldn’t believe her eyes—her cat was conversing with a badger, standing on her hind legs.
“Oh, I must be dreaming,” Sophia muttered, rubbing her eyes.
“My dear, this is a private party. Do you and your guest have an invitation?” inquired a grey fox wearing a top hat and a tweed jacket, his round glasses resting low on his snout.
Sophia fumbled in her pocket, desperate to find a way to stay with Peaches. She produced her cousin’s tea party invitation and offered it to the fox.
“Can anyone here read human?” the old fox wondered aloud.
The animals murmured amongst themselves, shaking their heads. Then, Sophia had a clever idea.
“Ah, yes! You see, the invitation cordially invites me to the party and allows me to bring one guest. My guest is none other than Peaches, the cat over there,” she declared proudly, pleased with her quick thinking.
The old fox scrutinized the invitation and Sophia skeptically.
“Very well then! Let the festivities continue. But please, find some suitable attire for Mrs. Peaches. It is unseemly for a feline of refined pedigree to roam around without proper garments,” the old fox proclaimed.
Sophia placed her hat on Peaches’ head and tied a ribbon from her hair around the cat’s neck. Together, they sat at a table and indulged in an abundance of scrumptious food—cakes, scones, fish, berries, and tea served in delicate cups with milk and honey.
Music filled the air once more, and Sophia danced joyfully with the woodland creatures. She waltzed with the fox, tangoed with the bear, and even learned a new dance from the rabbit in trousers. As the night neared its end, Sophia suddenly remembered the time.
“Oh no, I’ve forgotten the time. I really must be going. Thank you all for your kindness. This has been the most incredible party I’ve ever attended!” Sophia expressed her gratitude.
Each animal embraced her tightly.
“There’s still something I don’t quite understand,” Sophia confided in the grey fox. “There was never another path in the woods before. Why was there one today?”
“Perhaps, Sophia, you simply hadn’t been searching for it in the past,” the grey fox replied with a wink.
“We were delighted to have met you, Sophia. We hope you’ll join us at our next party. And perhaps, someday, you can teach us how to read human,” one of the rabbits suggested.
“Oh, yes! I promise I will,” Sophia eagerly agreed.
Sophia and Peaches ascended the ladder, emerging from the tunnel and stepping back through the door into the forest. Peaches returned to her natural state, walking on all fours and playfully licking her paw. Sophia gathered the discarded hat, ribbon, and her feline friend and placed them in the wicker basket attached to her bicycle. They embarked on the journey back home, and as they left the forest, everything returned to normal—the sun shining high in the sky, as if no time had passed at all.
“What an enchanting day,” Sophia pondered.
© Storyberries 2021
Let’s Chat About The Story
Igniting Imagination
- Imagine the most extraordinary thing you could stumble upon during a walk in the forest.
Honesty and White Lies
Would you have done what Sophia did—pretending to have an invitation to the party? Why or why not?
Do you believe there’s a difference between lying and telling a “white lie”? Why or why not?
Written by Olivia Shewmake
Illustrated by Sabrina, an illustrator from Storyberries
Music and sound effects from zapsplat.com