The jungle was buzzing with excitement as Bibi and his friends, Xuka and Chip, prepared for their first camping trip. Dad had packed everything: a cozy tent, sleeping bags, snacks, and even a lantern to ward off the dark.
“Camping will be so much fun!” Dad said as they set up camp near a sparkling river.
Bibi wasn’t so sure. He loved the idea of roasting marshmallows and telling stories, but the thought of sleeping outside made him nervous. What if there were strange noises? Or worse—bugs?
As night fell, the group gathered around the campfire. Xuka chirped happily, roasting a marshmallow, while Chip excitedly munched on nuts. Dad told a thrilling story about a brave monkey who explored the deepest parts of the jungle.
But Bibi’s ears twitched at every rustle of the leaves. “What was that?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“It’s just the wind, Bibi,” Dad reassured him. “Nothing to worry about.”
Bibi tried to relax, but when it was time to sleep, he couldn’t shake his unease. Inside the tent, he curled up in his sleeping bag, listening to the chorus of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl.
Suddenly, a twig snapped nearby. “What if it’s a jungle monster?” Bibi thought, his imagination running wild.
That’s it, he decided. Camping wasn’t for him! Quietly, Bibi slipped out of the tent, determined to escape back home where his comfy bed awaited.
He tiptoed past the campfire, clutching his small backpack. The moonlight guided him as he followed the trail back toward the village. However, the jungle seemed much larger and scarier in the dark. Shadows danced between the trees, and unfamiliar sounds echoed all around.
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Bibi whispered, his heart pounding.
Just then, he heard a familiar voice calling, “Bibi! Where are you?”
It was Dad, holding the lantern high as he searched the path. When Dad spotted Bibi, he rushed over and scooped him up in a hug. “Bibi! You scared me! Why did you leave the campsite?”
Bibi’s eyes filled with tears. “I was scared, Dad. The noises, the dark… I wanted to go home.”
Dad hugged him tightly. “Oh, Bibi. It’s okay to feel scared sometimes. But you don’t have to face it alone. We’re all here to keep each other safe.”
Feeling comforted, Bibi nodded. “Can we go back to camp?”
“Of course,” Dad said, carrying Bibi back to the cozy tent.
That night, with Dad by his side and the soft glow of the lantern nearby, Bibi finally drifted off to sleep. He realized that camping wasn’t so scary when you had loved ones to share it with.
The next morning, Bibi woke up to the smell of pancakes sizzling over the campfire and the sound of his friends laughing. He smiled, ready to give camping another chance.