CRYSTAL WHITE BANANA: PART ONE
- mikeshiplack
- Feb 3, 2025
- 20 min read
CHAPTER ONE
It was the day before the Fall Festival and all the animals were holed-up in their homes preparing their signature dishes for the first potluck. Monreau and Juniper, two local monkeys, were strolling along the paths of the great garden in the centre of town. Monreau was looking for a rare yellow jalapeno, the key ingredient for Banana Spice Chili. Unfortunately the whole garden was already picked over.
“Oh my goodness, Monreau this was the greatest harvest in years,” said Juniper Monkey with glee. “This year’s fall festival is shaping up to be the best ever! I hope I have enough Banana Chip Cookies for everyone.”
Just then old Toddy Tortoise slowly lumbered past them. “And then Monreau found the last hot banana chili pepper in the entire jungle,” he slowly mumbled to himself. "He burned his fingers."
“Thanks, Toddy. But I haven’t found anything yet.” Monreau and Juniper quickly walked past the wise old tortoise, continuing their conversation. “The professor and I were certain to win it again, until our Banana Spice suddenly grew legs and disappeared. I smell a weasel.”
“You blame those weasels for everything. You’ll find it,” said Juniper trying to change the subject. “I have it on good authority that Tom Rabbit has been hoarding all the plumpest carrots for weeks. His famous 24-Carrot Soup might just give your Banana Spice Chili a run for its money. I bet Ma Weasel and her two boys will surprise you this year.”
“You mean like when they spiked the punch with Ma’s Passionless Peach Schnapps at the dance?” Laughed Monreau. “From what I remember nobody went home happy that night. I even heard it took Tom Rabbit a full week to get his cottontail dancing again.”
“A whole week!” Snorted Juniper. “I am not surprised, considering how many times he visited that punch bowl. He’s lucky Martha Rabbit didn’t burrow a tunnel next door. Good thing you made Conga and Banana Cream Pie to save the day. My hips were shaking until dawn. Besides, if it wasn’t for creatures like Ma Weasel things would get dull around here.”
“In Grass Garden Grove! Now I think you’ve been spending too much time with the Weasels,” laughed Monreau.
And then Monreau found the last hot banana chili pepper in the entire jungle... Wait. How did Toddy Tortoise know that? That was supposed to be my line!
Excited, Monreau reached for it before wrapping it in the only thing that can contain the intense heat: a jalapeno leaf. He then remembered what Toddy said inches before burning his fingers. The old tortoise might be slow but he always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone -- even the narrator!
“Thanks, Toddy!” Monreau behind him. “Stupid, weasels! They are always causing me work and pain. Ma Weasel is right. We really can’t have one without the other.”
“Oh Mr. Panzee, don’t be such a grumpy-gus,” said Juniper. "I have it on good authority they’ve been working day-and-night preparing something wonderful to make-up for last year. But let’s just forget about all that. It’s the eve of the Fall Festival! There’s little left to do and lots of fun to be had.”
“Juniper, how long have we been friends?”
“Since forever. Why?”
“Because it still amazes me how you always think the best of everyone — even those Weasels. I really don’t understand why they work all day. As they say in Grass Garden Grove...
"In the sun is where we play! Good thing it’s sunny every day!"
They sang, skipping and dancing home from the garden.
CHAPTER 2
Unbeknownst to her, Juniper Panzee was one of the most insightful but most impressionable animals in the jungle. She always knows more than she thinks, and she thinks the best of everyone.
For Ma Weasel and her two boys were busy preparing something extra special for the Fall Festival, but it was far from pleasant. Not only were the Weasels going to win that year, but if all went according to Ma’s plan it would be Grass Garden Grove’s last. Ma’s plan was simple: work hard, steal, manipulate, and ruin all things fun. And in that order.
The many peculiarities of Ma Weasel can be summed up by the way she kept her home. The Weasel house, just outside Grass Garden Grove, looked like any other. From the outside, it was a quaint little cottage hemmed with a beautiful rose garden. But deep underground was a different story. Along the cool slick dirt walls was a subterranean greenhouse that required no natural light and still managed to grow all sorts of dark and gloomy fruits and vegetables.
The young jungle animals used to dare each other to see who would be brave enough to venture past the prickly rose bushes for a glimpse inside. The game never lasted long. The weasel brothers, Willy and Wilbur, were very rude to trespassers. Even the slightest foot print on their property resulted in chores like trimming the prickly rose bushes to perfection.
So why did Ma Weasel want to ruin such a glorious thing as The Fall Festival?
Well, she hated the way the animals would waste their time doing so little all day. Originally from the forest, her life was all work and no play. She was determined to raise poor Willy and Wilbur the same way.
So why not just go back to the Old Forest?
Ma Weasel believed that everyone on her island had to work just as hard as everyone else. It wasn't hard to convince the Council of Grass Garden Grove they say yes to EVERYTHING! That and she was the first and only Forest Creature to request a plot of land as close to the Old Forest as possible. Many residents saw it as a chance for jungle and forest creatures to finally play together! The Owls and Monkeys were the only ones to object to such a thing.
Now, dear reader, what do you say that we carefully creep past the overgrown hedges marking the gate? Careful! Don’t snag yourself on the razor wire. Let’s take a peak in the window and get a better look at what these weasels are up to.
Hmm...looks like no good.
“Scree, scree, scree, scree,” giggled Wilbur
“Careful, Wilbur! Just hand it over! YEAHOWCH!!” Shouted Willy.
SMASH! SIZZLE! KA-BOOM!
Ma’s front door swung wide open with an unnatural force that could only be caused by dropping a freshly brewed batch of hot banana spice. The blast threw both Willy and Wilbur into Ma’s painstakingly manicured rose bushes.
A watermelon sized hole burst its way through the door sending a shower of toothpicks upon the heads of the frightened weasel brothers. Pulling themselves from their prickly patch of refuge the boys carefully peered through the smoking hole that was once their front door.
“Scree, scree, scree, scree,” was all Wilbur said.
“Come on Ma. It was an accident. Wilbur didn’t mean it!” Pleaded Willy. Although Willy was the smarter of the two, he wasn’t quick enough to remove a rose nestled neatly behind Wilbur’s ear. Reminder: Ma was a wee-bit over protective of her flowers.
“You boys dare trample my beautiful roses. You morons!” Hollered Ma.
“Scree, scree, scree, scree,” said Wilbur.
“Oh no...” muttered Willy, as he noticed Ma had grabbed her 12Egg Shotgun. “But the rounds are hard boiled,” pleaded Willy. He grabbed his brother at the last possible moment and dove back into the pretty thorns a second time.
BAAAA-COCK! Roared the blast from her 12Egg Shotgun.
“That’s for messing up my bushes!” Hollered Ma. “Now wipe that egg off your face and clean up this mess. We’ve got ourselves some more monkey business to attend to. And cover that door! We don’t know who will be coming around after all that commotion.”
That doesn’t include us, dear reader. We bolted for the jungle after the explosion.
CHAPTER 3
What monkey business was Ma Weasel up to? Grand theft of the most delicious variety. She had Willy and Wilbur steal a vial of Hot Banana Spice from Professor Klingery, resident scientist of the highest degree. However, without a leaf from the jalapeno bush, Wilbur burned his paws trying to handle the extraordinary heat it expelled, which resulted in the smash, sizzle and explosions episode in the previous chapter.
Why always pick on the monkeys? The Professor’s family recipe is as old as Grass Garden Grove itself. It’s won hundreds of Blue Ribbons over the centuries. Ma’s plan was to copy the recipe exactly, but serve it in a bread bowl made of Wheat Zombie. Plus, everyone in the community always tried really hard to make her family feel welcome. She would use their good graces against them. That and without the hot banana spice, the Professor wouldn’t dare to enter a half-finished product. He was too proud for that.
Now, thanks to her two boys, she had to come up with another plan. Ma no longer had the Hot Banana Spice, but neither did the monkeys. What she did have was a greenhouse full of dastardly alternatives.
Leaving her sons to clean up the mess, Ma reached for the book “Good Gardeners” which when pulled revealed a secret entrance to her gruesome underground greenhouse. She had a foolproof plan that even Wilbur couldn’t mess up. Being probably the second most skilled horticulturist in the jungle -- Professor Klingery being the first -- she had a knack for growing the most vile of vegetables that caused nothing but sorrow and misery. Using her blackened green thumb Ma spent her time growing Cruel Carrots that made reverent animals sadistic, Zealous Zucchinis that turned the proudest of animals into fanatic lunatics and her pale peaches that sucked the passion out of the most procreative animal — which poor Tom Rabbit experienced first hand.
Yes, this year’s Fall Festival would be Grass Garden Grove’s last. For Ma’s Vile Veggie Chili recipe was finally complete. Any animal who tasted this Vile Chili served in the Zombie Wheat bread bowl would want to work all day and never want to play... ever again!
The key, interestingly enough, was the mystical mushroom. After a series of tests, most of them conducted on poor Willy and Wilbur, Ma was able to hide the diabolical flavours of her vile vegetables with the hot banana spice. The only problem was anyone who ate the vegetables would turn into an evil genius — like Willy. It was the combination of the mystical mushroom and the zombie wheat that kept everyone from turning into mindless drones — like Wilbur. No she needed a better mix. Too many evil geniuses would cause her trouble. Mindless drones couldn’t do complex work. It was only after she combined the Zombie Wheat bread bowl with the vile chili that Willy and Wilbur turned out perfectly. Well, almost perfect. Willy is always up to something evil and Wilbur is limited to one word answers. But the road to scientific success is fraught with lessons learned. After saving a bowl of the professor’s chili from last year she extracted a few pieces of mushroom and it brought back just enough sense to her boys that they would do whatever Ma asked. Their need to work day and night picking the prickliest of prickers was remarkable.
Now that Ma’s original plan had deteriorated with her floor boards, she decided to hatch an even more evil and vengeful plan against Grass Garden Grove. One that will finally rid her of all her monkey troubles, past, present and future. Walking up to a tall black and twisted banana tree, Ma plucked a plump Crystal White Banana from its gnarled vines.
CHAPTER 4
The first day of The Fall Festival had finally arrived! Food, music and cheer burst from every corner of Grass Garden Grove. More jungle animals than ever seemed to have stepped up to the challenge to win the Blue Ribbon.
As always Tom Rabbit and his family were busy adding the finishing touches to a sterling pot of 24-Carrot Soup. Professor Klingery and Monreau would have outdone themselves with their latest batch of chili, The Fiery Banana Extraordinaire but it was missing the Hot Banana Spice. It would still take another day before the Hot Banana Spice to ferment, so the professor had one of his ingenious ideas. He simply called this batch of chili Fiery Banana Extraordinaire: Part One. He hoped to build anticipation for the final batch of Fiery Banana Extraordinaire: The Hot Finale.
As always Juniper was most popular with her batch of banana chip cookies, each one shaped in the form of a different jungle animal. But it was Ma Weasel’s booth that garnered the most attention. Her duplication of Professor Klingery’s chili recipe served in a cornmeal bread bowl was a hit. All it needed was the Professor's signature vial of Hot Banana Spice, which she planned to steal again once it was ready. And why use cornmeal instead of zombie wheat flour? Because, just like Professor Klingery, Ma had a dubious sequel in the works. Cornmeal in bread is delicious and it will be easy to swap out for the zombie wheat flour after she’s won. And then it will be too late for all the jungle animals of Grass Garden Grove. Just thinking of how much that will get done put Ma Weasel in a very happy mood, which the jungle animals were glad to see — If only they knew why.
“I did not see that coming,” stuttered Toddy Tortoise.
Mayor Terrance T. Bear took to the main stage to mark the official start of The Fall Festival. Every year he would spend days preparing an epic monologue that would stretch on for hours. It was really the only formality that the mayor got to perform every year. Out of respect, every animal had their ears perked up to listen to what the mayor had to say. Walking up to the podium, the Mayor reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a long thick scroll. He grabbed the two handles and unravelled the whole thing with a flick of his paw. It flew off the stage and soared into the crowd. Every animal was quick enough to move out of the way except for poor Toddy Tortoise who was draped from head to toe in a thick paper sheet. A unanimous moan gurgled through the crowd. None of it was lost on Mayor Terrance T. Bear.
“Ahhemm...” the Mayor began. “Toads and rabbits, birds and lizards, primates and felines of all genus and classes. As the elected Mayor of Grass Garden Grove I would like to declare this year’s festival officially opened! In the spirit of the festivities I would like to share with you all an excerpt from my memoirs that greatly detail my childhood experience with this wonderful time of year...”
“SUNNY EVERY DAY!” Randomly shouted Toddy Tortoise. Everyone erupted with laughter.
“ROOOARRRH!” Growled the mayor in his meanest bear voice. The crowd came to an abrupt silence. “Now then, where was I? Oh yes. When I was a wee bear cub, only about two paws high if I were a foot, I learned one of the most important life lesson of all. A lesson that would stick with me throughout my time as a cub and would later inspire me to take on the responsibilities of public office. It’s really a simple thing,” the mayor said with a wink.
“In the sun is where I play, good thing it’s...” and the mayor paused for everyone to clue in on his little joke.
“...SUNNY EVERY DAY!” Shouted the crowd in one big voice.
“Happy Festival, everyone!” Shouted the Mayor as he threw his scroll in the air.
“Happy Festival!” Replied the crowd dispersing among the various booths filled with the best food that Grass Garden Grove could grow.
“At least he kept it brief,” said Monreau to Juniper. “I just can’t believe I have to miss the first day of the festival. How can a vial of Hot Banana Spice just disappear like that?”
“It really won’t be the same without you,” said Juniper. “But I’ll tell you what, as soon as everyone packs up for the day I’ll come by to help. I promise to have you back here just in time for the first dance of the night.” The thought made Monreau a bit anxious.
“Nah, don’t worry about it,” said Monreau playing it cool. “You enjoy yourself.”
“Eh, Monreau!” yelled Professor Klingery making his way through the dispersing crowd. “Let’s make like a banana and split. We’ve got a lot of work to do. That name won’t fool the judges for long. We’ve got to finish that batch of Hot Banana Spice so we’re ready for the finals.”
Monreau knew that the Professor liked to have fun, but sometimes his odd eccentricities resulted in a bit of work now and again.
“Oh, come on Professor! It’s the first day of the festival. We’re not supposed to be working.”
“Fine. I'll do it all myself, as always. But if you're going to stay, then keep on eye on things. The Great Banana Gods told me bad things are going to happen today and that missing vial is a sign. I'm going to swing home and get those Bunsons burning in case things go sideways.”
The Professor swung off to the Treehouse Lab to finish another concoction of Hot Banana Spice, leaving their pot of Fiery Banana Extraordinaire: Part One with Monreau. As Ma Weasel watched the professor leave she decided it was a perfect time to spring her plan into action.
CHAPTER 5
This time it was the Weasels who had to get to work. Ma’s two point plan would set in motion events that would be told in Grass Garden Grove for years to come. Ma kept the first part fairly simple, considering the plan only involved both Willy and Wilbur. The second part, well, the second part could only be pulled off by Ma’s evil mind and poisonous produce. All she had to do was distract Juniper for long enough so the weasel boys could perform a wee bit of sabotage.
Forcing a big fake smile Ma walked up to Juniper’s Banana Chip Cookie stand, which was already abuzz with youngsters. Juniper and Monreau were busy handing them all out.
“Happy festival, dear,” said Ma Weasel. “How goes the cookie business?”
“Why hello, Ma Weasel. Happy festival to you, too. Everything is going wonderfully. Where are your two boys? I have some special cookies for them,” said Juniper holding up two big cookies that looked exactly like Willy and Wilbur. Monreau couldn't help but rolled his eyes at how generous she was towards to the weasels.
“My goodness, those look wonderful. You’ve got quite the talent, and that is why I am here. I have something very special for you.”
“Oh really, and what is that?”
"Yes, Ma Weasel," said Monreau, jumping into the conversation. "What could you possibly offer to these incredible cookies even better?"
“Well, Monreau, since I first arrived here in the jungle I planted a special type of banana tree in my garden, the likes of which have yet to been seen in Grass Garden Grove. And this is the first year it grew fruit. Because it is so special I would be honoured if you would use it with those fine cookies you’ve made. Who knows, it might even get you that blue ribbon.”
Ma handed Juniper the Crystal White Banana. Monreau and Juniper were immediately awe struck with its fine ivory skin and ripe plumb appearance. Once Ma had their full attention the weasel boys went to work.
“Hey Wilbur the coast is clear,” whispered Willy. “Wilbur... Hey Wilbur! Where did you go?” Turning around Willy saw his brother knee deep in jungle leaves trimming the thick brush just the way Ma Weasel likes her rose bushes to look back home.
“Scree, scree, scree, scree,” replied Wilbur.
“Cut that out. We have a job to do,” said Willy. Those words worked every time.
“Scree, scree, scree, scree,” said Wilbur with excitement.
“Okay, remember Ma’s plan. You pass me those pieces of sour celery. Then we will go deep into the jungle and look for more weeds to pick and bushes to trim.”
At the mention of those two tasks Wilbur got so excited he dropped the bag and dashed head first into the jungle.
“Close enough,” sighed Willy as he quickly placed handfuls of sour celery in the Fiery Banana Extraordinaire: Part One before Juniper or anyone else noticed. With another sigh he dashed into the jungle after his brother.
It was time for phase two.
“Why Ma Weasel, this is the most beautiful banana I have ever seen. Of course I will use it. I have little doubt it will make my banana chip cookies look and taste better than before. What can I ever do to thank you?”
“Oh don’t you worry about that. I just hope this kind gesture will put me in better graces with you jungle folk,” said Ma trying to hold back a snicker.
“Oh, that’s just silly. Everyone at Grass Garden Grove are happy to have your family living here with us.”
“I am sure they are, deary. I am sure they are. But I should be off. Happy festival.”
“And a happy festival to you too,” said Juniper, thinking that Ma Weasel wasn’t so bad after all. Monreau still wasn't convinced.
CHAPTER 6
A strange tingling sensation crept up Juniper’s fingers as soon as she began to carefully peel away the pale white skin away from Ma’s Crystal White Banana. So much so that it caused a slight giggle in her throat. She was surprised to see the fruit inside was as clear as glass and sparkled like crystal, yet it still felt like an ordinary banana. As she sniffed the sparkling fruit she giggled even more nervously. Weird, thought Juniper. Ma was so sincere in her offering that Juniper never questioned any wrong doing. Little did she know that the Crystal White Banana was nothing but wrong.
There were many children around Juniper’s cookie stand who were becoming very anxious to get their very own personalized Banana Chip Cookie.
“Can I have mine yet?” asked a small bunny rabbit. “No! That one’s mine!” Shouted another bunny rabbit. “No it’s not! It’s mine!” Screamed another bunny. There were a lot of baby rabbits this year.
“Just one more minute, we need to make it extra special,” said Monreau as Juniper began to slice the banana equally so every cookie sparkled just as brightly as the next.
But something strange began to happen the more Juniper handled the crystal fruit. Her little monkey fingers were literally buzzing and began to slowly turn white. Juniper began to giggle even more, but still didn’t know why. Ma was right, though, these pieces of banana made her cookies look extraordinary. Juniper wasn’t sure if it was the banana or the tingle in her hands that shot up to her funny bone that made her burst out laughing.
A large crowd had developed around Juniper’s and Monreau’s food stand. At first Monreau thought the crystal white banana would make Juniper's cookie sparkle, but then he remembered where the banana came from: Ma Weasel. He took a large chunk of the sparkling banana and ate it. At first it was the most amazing banana he had ever had. It gave him an incredible amount of energy. And then he started to laugh. And laugh and laugh and laugh. Juniper took one quick look at the effect the Ma's banana had on Monreau and threw every last of her cookies on the ground. Monreau then began stomping them into the ground and slapping them out of childrens' hands when they tried to pick them up. He did all of this while laughing maniacally.
“Monreau! For monkey-sakes, please calm down,” ordered Mayor T. Bear.
“Don’t... Hahah hahah!” Gasped Monreau between laughs. “Ahahaha Stop!”
Juniper held him tightly as he collapsed to the ground.
“Juniper!...Cookies... the children! Please!”
Just then Juniper saw a small bunny rabbit quickly shove the remnants of a sparkling rabbit shaped banana chip cookie in its mouth. It was too late. All the baby rabbits and several of the other jungle animals had eaten the banana chip cookies laced with Ma’s Crystal White Banana. The whole tent erupted with the most bizarre and insane laughter he had ever heard.
Monreau seemed to finally catch his breath. “Juni-PERRRR! HA hahahahah!” Was all Monreau could say before falling unconscious, his body shaking violently with laughter.
She had to act quickly.
"Mayor T. Bear, please help. These cookies have been poisoned by the Ma Weasel. You've got to believe me. Don't let the kids eat a single one."
Before the Mayor had a chance to response, Juniper picked Monreau up onto her shoulder, tucked the Crystal White Banana peel into her pouch, scampered up the nearest tree, grabbed a thick vine and swung as quickly as she could to Professor Klingery’s lab.
Meanwhile, Mayor T. Bear cordoned off the area, ensuring no more jungle children ate a sparkling crumb of the Crystal White Banana laced cookies.
Ma Weasel’s plan was working better than she could ever imagine.
CHAPTER 7
CRASH! Went Professor Klingery’s laboratory door as Juniper barreled through it with Monreau in his arms still laughing like a hyena. The force smashed them right into one of the Professor’s enormous bookshelves. Old textbooks and jars filled with mysterious pieces of flora and fauna came crashing to the laboratory floor. Getting to her feet, Juniper didn’t even notice the purply starfish attached to her forehead.
“What in the great banana Gods is going on here?” Demanded the Professor looking up from his experiments. The wise monkey’s face was all distorted from the vials and test tubes that lined the table as he was preparing another batch of Hot Banana Spice. The goggles magnified his eyes so much he looked like a hairy guppy in a lab coat.
“Professor, I need your help,” gasped Juniper, catching her breath. “It’s Monreau and the children... there is something wrong with them.”
“Them! What’s wrong with you, monkey? Look at all this work you gave me,” shouted Professor Klinglery. Crystal White Banana or not, the scene of Juniper with a purple starfish stuck to her head, covered in mysterious slime and the Professor’s eyes blinking furiously through his large spectacles made Monreau laugh even more hysterically. “And you, Monreau!” Shouted the professor. “Work is no laughing matter.”
However, the Professor’s shouting stopped just as quickly as it started when Juniper pulled the sparkling peel of the Crystal White Banana out of her satchel. “Oh my poor girl, who would ever do such a thing?”
“It was Ma Weasel, Professor,” answered Juniper. “But I still don’t get it. How could a simple banana do this?”
“This is no simple banana,” said Professor Klingery as he sifted through the books on the floor. He wiped goo from a large dark green book and flipped through its pages.
“Yes that’s it,” said Juniper comparing the ivory peel to the picture of the Crystal White Banana. As her eyes glossed over the text her heart sank. “I don’t know what this means... Professor, it says here that the Crystal White Banana causes hysterical fits of laughter that last for up to 8-hours or until the subject expires. What’s does expire mean?”
“It means death, monkey,” replied the Professor. “You know, to cash in one’s banana chips, to finally swing with the Great Banana God, to bite the big banana, to rot, to lose life, to stop playing!”
“Forever?”
“Yes, Juniper. Forever.”
“But, but...that can’t happen! Not to Monreau. He’s my friend! And what about the rest of the jungle children? This is all my fault! There has to be something we can do... something I can do.”
“Aye, there is something you can do. But it won’t be easy and you don’t have much time. Come nightfall Monreau and anyone else who ate the crystal white banana will die.”
CHAPTER 8
Juniper lifted Monreau into the professor’s hammock. She couldn’t believe what the professor told her. Walking back into the laboratory the sound of Monreau’s constant laughter sent shivers all the way from her neck through her long monkey-tail. The Professor was already fast at work, but at what Juniper couldn’t guess.
Putting a small piece of cheese into a bamboo shoot, the Professor sealed one end of it. He then walked over to a small cage that Juniper thought was empty, except for a mouse wheel that was constantly spinning. As soon as the Professor set the bamboo shoot down in the cage Juniper saw a white streak dash from the wheel inside the shoot. The Professor quickly capped the other end.
“Here, take this,” said the Professor handing over the stick of bamboo — it vibrated in Juniper’s hand as she placed it in her satchel. “And you will also need this.”
Walking over to a second bookshelf, the Professor pulled out a few books and lifted off a loose panel. Reaching into a hidden space the Professor withdrew a colourfully decorated bag. The Professor then pulled out half-a-dozen dried banana leafs that shimmered with a bright green hue.
“What is this?” asked Juniper.
“Oh, my dear, innocent Juniper,” said the Professor with a smile. “Today you will learn many secrets about our little jungle sanctuary. In that bamboo shoot is a tiny white mouse named Snowball. He’s a fast little bugger, so whatever you do don’t let him out of that shoot. And this,” grinned the Professor holding up the shimmering green banana leaf. “Is a little secret that should get you back here in time. Tell me Juniper, what do you really know about the Fall Festival?”
“Well... every year after the great harvest all the animals gather for the festival. We all compete to cook the greatest meal in Grass Garden Grove and then the winner is awarded the great blue ribbon and the privilege to cook for the entire community with the magical mushroom as the prize ingredient.”
“Ah yes, but where does the magical mushroom come from?”
“That’s easy, from high upon the great peaks that surround The Old Forest. All you have to do is look for the rainbows.”
“Right again, monkey. But how do the mushrooms make their way down here?”
“Well... I don’t know,” said Juniper. “I’ve never really thought about it before. They’re always just here.”
With Monreau still laughing hysterically in the next room, the Professor didn’t waste any time revealing the many secrets that few jungle animals knew. He told Juniper all about the trips he and Monreau would make every year to bring back the mushrooms for the Fall Festival. For the soaring on the backs of owls to gather the mystical mushroom was a tradition that was passed down to the males of the Klingery line. The dangers of entering The Old Forest and ascending the windswept peaks without help were real. However, the sad truth behind all of this is how the jungle leaders used fear to keep the rest of the jungle animals from entering The Old Forest in search of the mystical mushroom and to keep them safe from the creatures that would treat them like prey.
And now it was Juniper’s turn to enter The Old Forest, climb the highest cliffs on the island and then travel all the way back before sunset.