My Wonder Studio

Crew and Co.'s Charity Course was a relay race that took place every year to raise funds for a charity project that the company had undertaken. All the construction vehicles participated.

Most of the town folk would show up, and Mr. Oversite always took extra time and care to make sure that the event was as full of excitement and as enjoyable for all as it could be. There were shows to watch and plenty to eat and drink. But the highlight was always the relay race.

The construction vehicles would spend the week before the race tuning their engines and fixing anything that wasn't working well. On the day before the race, they would all have a good wash and fill up their gas tanks.

There were four teams, with three construction vehicles on each team.

“Good afternoon, everyone. May I have your attention?” Mr. Oversite said.

The crowd quieted down.

“The Charity Course race will be starting in half an hour,” Mr. Oversite continued. “Before it does, I want to present the four teams that will be competing in today's race.”

The crowd cheered.

“Team A,” continued Mr. Oversite, “is Con Crete Pump, Con Crete Mixer, and Dee.”

The crowd cheered again.

“Team B—Roadmarker, Roadroller, and Crank Crane.”

The crowd clapped.

“Team C—Breaker, Crusher, and Lorry Loader.”

There was another round of applause.

“And lastly, Team D—Demolition Ball, Little Digger, and Dugs.”

Once more the crowd cheered.

“The crowd cheered louder for Team A than they did for us,” whined Lorry. “We're going to lose.”

“Don't say that,” Breaker said, a little annoyed. “You just have to try harder and pull your weight on the team.”

“Well, maybe I'm just not as fast as you are,” Lorry said.

“Stop whining, Lorry, and go warm up your engine,” Crusher said harshly.

Lorry rumbled off, muttering to herself.

Meanwhile Con Crete Pump, Mixer, and Dee stood off to the side whispering about their plan to win.

“If anyone gets in your way, just give them a shove,” Mixer said. “We're tough. We can win!”

“Yeah!” Dee and Pump chorused. And then they started to chant, “We're gonna win!” again and again.

“How do I look?” Roadmarker asked, as she pranced around Crank and Roadroller.

“Does it really matter?” replied Crank. “We're in a race. It doesn't matter what you look like, you just have to go as fast as you can and try to win.”

“Well, it matters to me!” exclaimed Roadmarker crossly, and off she roared in an angry huff.

Demolition Ball, Little Digger, and Dugs were also preparing for the race.

“Just give it your best shot,” Demolition told Dugs and Digger. “It doesn't matter who wins, so long as we have fun, right?”

“Right,” answered Dugs and Digger.

“I might not be able to go so fast,” said Digger.

“Don't worry about it,” Dugs said. “I've seen how you can speed up sometimes. You've got quick, young wheels. Just remember to have fun. That's really what matters.”

Team D was ready and eager to start the race, but the other teams were having trouble. Lorry was crying, Mixer and Breaker were arguing about who was going to win, and Roadroller was angry at Crank for upsetting Roadmarker.

“What's happening here?” cried Mr. Oversite. “The race is going to begin in ten minutes and you're all fighting. Demolition Ball, can you help sort out the problems?”

“Absolutely, sir.”

“Thank you. I knew I could count on you.” And off Mr. Oversite hurried to make sure everything was ready for the race.

“I'm not sure I want to race today,” Crank said, “and especially not on the same team as Roadmarker!”

Soon they were all in an uproar, arguing about different issues and problems.

“Quiet down, everyone!” Demolition Ball called out. “The race begins in five minutes, and people have been looking forward to it all afternoon. You should remember that we're all working towards the same goal. The money we're raising this year will help us build a new playground for the school. We shouldn't be fighting and squabbling. We're a team. We need to work together. It doesn't matter who wins—just have a good time.”

“You're right,” Crusher said. “I want to participate in this race, and I'm happy with the team I'm on. Even if we don't win, we can still have fun.”

The rest of the vehicles agreed and apologized to each other.

“Crew and Co., take your places,” announced Mr. Oversite on the loudspeaker. “The race is about to begin.”

The different teams lined up, ready for the starting signal from Mr. Oversite.

“On your marks … get set … GO!”

Off they went.

The crowd cheered. The construction vehicles cheered for their teams. Mr. Oversite cheered.

On the final lap, the last representative from each team—Digger, Roadroller, Crank, and Con Crete Pump—all made their way as fast as they could go around the course.

“Hooray! Hooray!” the crowd cheered.

The finish line was in sight. The crowd shouted louder.

“You can do it!” Demolition Ball called out to Little Digger.

Little Digger picked up speed and crossed the finish line first with the other three close behind.

“Well done, Crew and Co.!” Mr. Oversite exclaimed.

Everyone in the crowd applauded.

“I had so much fun,” Crank said. “I'm glad I didn't miss out on that race. Even though our team didn't win, I still had a good time.”

The others agreed.

“This calls for a celebration,” announced Mr. Oversite. “That was the best race ever. Thank you for your help and participation.”

That evening around the dinner table, Tristan happily explained all about the day's adventures to his parents and Grandpa Jake.

“There were three teams—the Trout Trekkers, the Mountain Mullets, and the Sticklebacks. Funny Ranger Rob named our teams after fish. My team was the Sticklebacks.”

“It sounds like you had a lot of fun,” said Grandpa Jake.

“I did. I told my friends the story you told me this morning,” Tristan said. “They liked it a lot. Our team was able to work together, and we learned so much about fish and rivers. We played some games, too. Our team didn't win every game, but we won some, and I had fun.”

Moral: Learn to work together as a team, and you'll find that you can have a lot of fun!

The weather had been grim and stormy for almost a week, and Crew and Co. were finding it increasingly difficult to get their work done. The ground was a mess of deep mud. The construction vehicles had to work extra hard to keep their wheels and tracks from sinking in the mud.

Friday, the fifth day of bad weather, was the most miserable day they'd seen yet.

Crank's crane arm had been blown from side to side, until some of the construction vehicles had to help secure it so the wind wouldn't blow it right off!

Hardly any work had been accomplished as they were all working to make sure nothing got damaged by the storm.

Mr. Oversite didn't want to risk any accidents, so he told the construction vehicles to take the day off.

“We should wait this storm out!” Mr. Oversite shouted above the noise of the storm. “Pack up and make your way home. We'll see what the weather's like tomorrow.”

Everyone worked furiously to put things away so they could leave before the storm worsened.

“Help me! Help me!”

The cry could hardly be heard over the noisy storm.

“Come on,” said Digger to the others. “Let's go see what happened. It sounds like Lorry.”

At the edge of the work site sat Lorry Loader, calling for help. She had been leaving the site when she'd skidded off the dirt road and down the embankment, and she now found herself stuck in a ditch of deep mud. No matter how hard she tried to get herself out, she couldn't move. Instead, her wheels would skid, sending mud flying everywhere.

A number of the construction vehicles had now gathered around the embankment to see what had happened.

“Please, someone give me a hand!” cried Lorry. “I just want to go home and get all cleaned up.”

“Try getting yourself out again,” Crusher suggested.

“It's not going to work.”

“Just try. Maybe it will this time.”

Lorry spun her wheels as fast as she could, but instead of getting her out of the ditch, the effort sent mud flying everywhere.

“Ick!” cried Roadmarker. “Now I'm covered in mud. As if I wasn't dirty enough already!”

“I'm sorry,” Lorry said sadly.

“I don't think we can help you, Lorry,” Crusher said. “You might have to wait till the storm passes and the mud hardens a bit.”

“Are you ready to go home, Miss Roadmarker?” asked Mr. Roadroller, as he trundled over.

“Just about. I'm dreadfully dirty,” she whined. “Lorry splashed me with mud.”

“How inconsiderate,” Roadroller said with a frown.

“But Lorry's stuck,” Little Digger said. “She didn't do it on purpose.”

“Well, I don't like mud and dirt, and if Miss Roadmarker is ready, I'm out of here,” huffed Roadroller.

However, as he turned to leave, one of his rollers slipped on the edge of the embankment, and he slid right into the ditch, landing next to Lorry.

“Oh dear!” shrieked Roadmarker, as she tried to help Roadroller, but instead she also skidded into the ditch. There sat Lorry, Roadroller, and Roadmarker in very deep mud, unable to get themselves out.

Roadroller was not happy with this turn of events.

“Miss Lorry Loader!” he shouted. “If you hadn't been so careless as to get yourself into this fix, none of this would've happened.”

“It wasn't her fault,” Crusher said.

“I think I'm going to leave before I end up in this ditch with the rest of them,” Con Crete Mixer said.

“You can't leave us!” Roadroller shouted.

“Well, what am I supposed to do?” Mixer asked.

“Give us a hand, of course!”

“And skid into the ditch with the three of you? I think not!”

“Maybe Mr. Oversite will know what to do,” Lorry said.

“He probably would, but he left the site fifteen minutes ago,” said Digger.

“What are we going to do?” cried Roadmarker.

“We should all work together to help the three of you,” answered Crank Crane, who'd been silently watching.

“I don't think it's worth it,” said Mixer.

“These are our friends,” Crank said. “Friends are supposed to help each other. If you were in a difficult spot, wouldn't you want someone to help you?”

“Crank has a point,” Crusher said. “I'll give a hand if there's something I can do.”

“Me too,” added Digger.

“Count me in,” Mixer agreed. “What do we do?”

“I have a plan,” Crank told them. “First, Digger, will you go get Dozer? We could use his help.”

In spite of the pouring rain, the team of construction vehicles came up with a plan to free their three unfortunate friends from the mud.

Little Digger cleared away some of the mud with his long arm. Crusher found boards to put in front of Lorry's wheels. With a rope attached to Lorry, Con Crete Mixer pulled while Dozer gave a shove to get her moving as his treads prevented him from sinking in the mud. Crank coordinated the rescue.

After a few pulls, a few shoves, and a whole lot of determination, Lorry was free from the mud. The rest of the team then helped Roadmarker and Roadroller.

“Thank you so much,” Lorry said. “I'm so glad that I have friends like you.”

“It was our pleasure,” replied Crank.

“I'm sorry I was not nice to you, Lorry,” Roadmarker said apologetically. “I should've been thinking about how to help you, rather than just thinking about myself and trying to stay clean. That was so silly of me.”

“That's okay,” Lorry said. “I forgive you.”

“Will you forgive me, too?” Roadroller asked. “I feel bad that I got upset at you. Next time I'll think about what I would do if I were in someone's place when they're having a difficult time, and then maybe I can be a help.”

“I forgive you,” said Lorry. “It's been a rough week for us all.”

“Now that everyone's free, let's head home,” Dozer suggested. And off they headed to the garage, away from the wind, rain, and storm.

“It was a good thing that Crank, Crusher, Digger, Dozer, and Mixer helped their friends,” Tristan said.

“Yes, it was,” replied Grandpa Jake. “One day, you might be stuck in a difficult situation and in need of help, and if you've been thoughtful and helpful to your friends when they needed a hand, they'll be there to help you when you need it.”

“Look, Grandpa, the rain stopped, and there's a rainbow in the sky!” Tristan exclaimed. “Can I go outside and play now?”

“Sure. But make sure to wear your rubber boots. There are many puddles.”

“Thank you, Grandpa, for that story.”

Moral: It's important to treat and help others in the way that you would want them to treat and help you. The kindness and friendship you show others will come back to you.

To show My love and care to others isn’t hard, but it does take effort. It includes remembering to pick up after yourself when you’re done playing because you know this helps your parents; it’s making an extra effort to be neat and tidy at the table and eat all the food on your plate because good manners show others respect. It’s following through when you are asked to do something because you want to listen and help.

There are many ways to be an example of My love to others, and by doing them, you are growing up to be a caring and helpful person. The main first step, though, is to think about others first. When you play with a friend, play nicely, and think about what your friend might like. When you speak to someone, think about what you say first so that your words are kind and helpful.

Your kindness will brighten others’ days by bringing joy and happiness to them. Try it! Give a cheery smile to someone and watch that person smile back at you. Speak words of kindness and others will answer with kindness too.

Through your actions and words, you are being a messenger of My love to those around you. So, keep shining bright all throughout your day!