Chapter 1: A Picnic for Percy

Percy the penguin shivered. Not because it was cold – penguins love the cold! – but because he was hungry. His tummy rumbled like a tiny earthquake. “Lunchtime already?” he squawked, peering up at the sun dipping towards the horizon.

Percy lived on a bustling beach in Antarctica. Every day, he waddled down to the shore with his friends, Pablo the playful seal and Lily the graceful albatross, to catch fish for lunch. But today, the ocean was strangely empty. Not a krill in sight! Lily dipped her beak in the water, then shook her head with a sigh. “Nothing out there, Percy. This is most unusual.”

Pablo let out a frustrated bark. “Maybe we should try the other side of the island?” he suggested. But Percy felt his paws growing heavy. “No,” he said, “I’m too tired. Let’s just rest under the rocks and…” He sniffed the air. “What’s that delicious smell?”

Following his nose, they waddled to a flat, sunny rock near the edge of the beach. And there, sitting precariously on a boulder, was a basket. A steaming picnic basket, woven from colourful reeds and tied with a bright blue ribbon. Percy’s tummy let out a joyful rumble. “Lunch!” he cried.

Chapter 2: Clues in the Crumbs

Carefully, Percy nudged the basket open with his beak. Inside, nestled on a bed of soft moss, lay a magnificent picnic. There were juicy berries, crunchy carrots, and even a small, round cake topped with glistening berries. But most tempting of all, there was a large, golden-brown pie, its crust puffed up like a proud chest.

“Who could have left this delicious treasure?” Lily wondered, circling the basket with wide eyes. Pablo sniffed the pie cautiously. “I don’t know,” he said, “but it smells absolutely fantastic!”

Just then, a tiny voice squeaked, “Excuse me, that’s my picnic!”

They all jumped back in surprise. Perched on top of the cake was a little brown mouse, no bigger than Percy’s flipper. He wore a miniature chef’s hat and tiny glasses perched on his nose.

“My name is Remy,” he declared, puffing out his chest. “And I was on my way to a picnic with my friends when a gust of wind stole my basket!”

Lily bowed politely. “We found it, Remy. We were just about to…” Percy gulped.

Remy frowned. “Were just about to what?”

Pablo stammered, “We, uh, wanted to admire your lovely food…”

Remy crossed his tiny arms. “Admire it? But it’s lunchtime! My friends will be starving!”

Percy felt ashamed. He may have been hungry, but Remy had made this amazing spread. “Of course!” he said quickly. “We’ll help you find your friends. Come on, everyone, let’s follow the crumbs!”

Chapter 3: A Trail of Tasty Treats

Remy guided them along the beach, pointing out tiny trails of crumbs on the rocks. The clues led them past playful penguins splashing in the waves, grumpy walruses basking in the sun, and even a curious leopard seal peeking out of the water.

“That way!” Remy squeaked, his nose twitching. They followed the trail through a field of fluffy mosses, then up a rocky path towards a hidden cove. And there, huddled together under a towering iceberg, were a group of adorable baby penguins.

“Pip! Squeak! Munchkin!” Remy cried, rushing towards them. The baby penguins squealed with delight, burying their faces in his fur.

“Remy! You’re back!” a chubby penguin with a bright blue hat cheered. “And you brought friends!”

“And lunch!” another chimed in, clapping his flippers.

Remy smiled proudly. “Meet Percy, Lily, and Pablo,” he said. “They found my picnic basket and helped me track you down.”

The baby penguins surrounded them, chattering excitedly. Soon, the cove echoed with happy squeaks and laughter as they all settled down to enjoy Remy’s delicious feast. Percy forgot his earlier hunger as he shared berries with the little ones, while Lily told stories of faraway lands.

Chapter 4: A New Picnic Tradition

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in fiery oranges and pinks, Remy’s friends started to grow sleepy. One by one, they snuggled close to Remy and drifted off to sleep.

“Thank you,” Remy said to Percy, Lily, and Pablo, his voice small and grateful. “You saved my picnic and cheered up my friends. You’re the best friends a mouse could ask for!”

Percy puffed out his chest, feeling a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the setting sun. “It was our pleasure, Remy,” Lily said, dipping her beak in the last of the juicy berries. “You’re a remarkable chef for your size!”

Pablo let out a playful bark. “And to think,” he joked, “we almost ate your masterpiece!”

Remy giggled, his tiny glasses sliding down his nose. “Well,” he declared, “in that case, I have an idea! Why don’t we make this a regular thing? Every week, we can take turns bringing a picnic to this cove and share stories and laughter with each other.”

The others loved the idea! From then on, the beach became a haven of friendship and good food. Each week, a different animal brought a picnic: Percy shared his fish stew, Lily brought exotic fruits from her travels, Pablo surprised them with freshly caught mussels, and Remy always brought his delectable cakes and pies.

As the weeks turned into months, the cove became a bustling hub of activity. New friends joined in, from timid crabs to playful seals. There were games on the beach, singalongs under the stars, and countless stories shared around the picnic basket.

And even though the ocean still had its days of being empty, Percy never felt truly hungry again. Because the true feast, he realized, wasn’t just the food, but the love and laughter shared with his newfound friends. The Mystery of the Missing Pie had led him to something far more delicious: a recipe for lifelong friendship.

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Vocabulary Notes

Chapter 1:

Rumbled: Percy’s tummy made a loud noise like thunder.
Bustling: The beach was full of activity and movement.
Krill: Tiny shrimp-like creatures that penguins eat.
Unusually: Not happening in the normal way.
Moss: Soft, green plants that grow in shady places.
Precariously: In a position that could easily fall or break.
Reeds: Slender plants that grow near water.
Juicy: Full of liquid, delicious, and tempting to eat.
Crunchy: Making a satisfying cracking sound when eaten.
Golden-brown: The colour of bread or pie crust after it has been cooked.
Puffed up: Swollen and larger than usual.

Chapter 2:

Cautiously: Carefully and with a little bit of fear.
Glistening: Shining brightly, like jewels.
Squeaked: Made a high-pitched, thin sound.
Flicker: Moved quickly and unsteadily.
Frown: Made a sad or angry expression on your face.
Admire: Look at something with pleasure and appreciation.
Crumbs: Tiny pieces of food that have fallen off.
Clues: Pieces of information that help you solve a mystery.

Chapter 3:

Fluffy: Soft and light, like clouds.
Hidden cove: A small, sheltered bay tucked away from view.
Huddle: Group together closely for warmth or comfort.
Chubby: A little bit fat and round in a cute way.

Chapter 4:

Haven: A safe and peaceful place.
Delicacy: A small, expensive, and delicious food.
Masterpiece: Something that is extremely well-made or beautiful.
Hub: A central place where people or activities come together.
Singalongs: Songs that everyone sings together.

Story written by Google Bard AI

Image created by… I don’t remember which AI it was?

Hello this is Steve. If you enjoyed the story, please would you click on the like icon and take the time to leave a comment. If you want to know when the next story has been uploaded, please click on the notify bell icon to be notified. If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my channel and tell your English learning friends, so they can benefit too. Thank you.

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