First Day, Missing Mascot

Narrator: Near Dread Town stood a school full of things to discover.

Narrator: Jahari, Zion, Pax, and Lux had come from four different children's homes. Today, each was starting somewhere new.

Picture: Jahari and Pax reach for the same bag.

Jahari: Oh. Sorry. Is that yours?

Pax: I think so. Unless yours has my snack in it.

Jahari: Then I wish it was mine.

Picture: The bag mix-up ends with a smile.

Lux: Is this everyone's first day?

Zion: Mine is.

Pax: Mine too. I'm Pax.

Jahari: Jahari.

Lux: Lux.

Zion: Zion.

Jahman: Morning, everyone. I'm Jahman. Come in. We can be new together. · Sound: CREEAK

Pax: You're new too?

Jahman: To knowing you, I am.

Picture: The children follow Jahman into the school.

Jahman: Bags here. Books there. And you can sit anywhere.

Jahari: Even beside somebody?

Jahman: That's usually a good place to begin.

Pax: Who's that?

Picture: The mascot brings a basket of welcome ribbons.

Jahman: Our school mascot. Official ribbon helper. Very enthusiastic dancer.

Lux: Hello, official ribbon helper.

Picture: Pax and the mascot greet each other with a bow. · Sound: BOOP

Jahman: When this bell rings, we'll all do a welcome song.

Lux: I don't know it.

Zion: Me neither.

Jahman: Good. We'll learn it together.

Picture: The mascot tries a little two-step dance. · Sound: TUP TUP

Picture: A feather and a faint peep catch the mascot’s attention. · Sound: PEEP?

Jahman: Ready to begin? · Sound: DING!

Pax: Ready for the dancing bit.

Picture: The mascot’s place in the welcome circle is empty.

Jahman: Our helper was right here.

Lux: The ribbons are here.

Pax: Maybe it's a hiding dance.

Zion: How would we watch that?

Jahari: There's ribbon up there too. · Sound: TAP... TAP

Jahman: What else can we see or hear?

Zion: Something tapping.

Lux: Can we look?

Jahman: Yes. Stay in these rooms, and call when you find our helper. I'll check here.

Jahari: Come on. It can't have gone far.

Jahari: I bet it's in here.

Pax: Is it?

Jahari: Only if it's turned into cushions. · Sound: FUMP

Pax: That's a very comfy disguise.

Zion: There it is again. · Sound: TAP... PEEP

Lux: Is it the drum?

Zion: No. It's farther away. Listen after the tap.

Lux: A little squeak!

Pax: Look. Little muddy feet.

Jahari: Yours?

Pax: Mine are bigger. And only mostly muddy.

Jahari: They go toward the plants.

Lux: This ribbon goes the same way!

Jahari: I've got the basket!

Pax: And I've got... most of the stars.

Zion: One's on your head. · Sound: RUSTLE!

Jahari: Sorry. I thought my cupboard idea was right.

Lux: I wasn't watching where I was going.

Pax: We found the stars, anyway.

Picture: The children gather the scattered decorations together.

Zion: The tapping's in there. · Sound: TAP... TAP

Pax: So are the muddy feet.

Lux: And the ribbon.

Jahari: We were finding the same thing.

Jahari: Shall we look together?

Lux: Together.

Jahari: Jahman! We're checking the greenhouse.

Jahman: I'm right here.

Zion: It's quieter now. · Sound: PEEP

Pax: Hello? Official ribbon helper?

Lux: Oh. Look...

Pax: There you are! · Sound: PEEP

Lux: Oh, little one. You're all tangled.

Jahari: You were trying to help it.

Picture: The mascot’s buckle taps against a flowerpot. · Sound: TAP

Zion: That's the tapping. Your buckle.

Pax: You weren't playing hide-and-seek at all.

Pax: We can help!

Lux: I think we look very big from down there.

Pax: Oh. How about now?

Lux: That's better.

Picture: Jahman joins the children as they work out how to help.

Jahari: Jahman, they're stuck together.

Jahman: I see. What might help?

Zion: Make the ribbon loose first.

Pax: And give the little one somewhere to sit.

Jahari: Can I try the knot?

Zion: I'll hold this end loose.

Pax: I'll keep the basket still.

Lux: And I'll stay right here with you, little one.

Picture: Zion raises a hand, and Jahari stops pulling the loop.

Zion: Wait. That bit's getting tighter.

Jahari: Okay. Stopping.

Zion: Try the loop beside your thumb. I'll feed it through.

Jahari: This one?

Zion: That's it.

Pax: Still as a stone.

Lux: A very helpful stone.

Jahari: The bow's coming loose.

Picture: The ribbon loosens as the children work together.

Zion: A little more... there.

Lux: Your turn, little one. Take your time. · Sound: SHUFFLE

Pax: Basket's steady.

Lux: And the last loop is off.

Jahari: You're free!

Zion: Both of you.

Pax: We did it!

Picture: The little creature is free. · Sound: FLUFF!

Pax: Now we get the dancing bit.

Lux: I think that means thank you. · Sound: TUP TUP... FLOP

Pax: It's harder than it looks!

Zion: You're doing the hiding dance. · Sound: HEE HEE!

Jahari: I didn't know who I'd sit with today.

Lux: Neither did I.

Pax: There's four seats at our table.

Zion: Good. We need four.

Jahman: That was careful helping, all four of you.

Lux: Can we still do the welcome song?

Jahman: Of course. Everyone's here now.

Jahman: Shall we try a line each? I'll help with the beat. · Sound: TUM... TAK

Pax: Can the mascot do the dancing?

Lux: Only if we can join in.

Zion: I think that's the idea.

Jahari: Different hands

All Four: One helping heart!

Lux: Different paths

All Four: One brand-new start! · Sound: CLAP CLAP

Pax: Different hands

All Four: One helping heart!

Zion: Different paths

All Four: One brand-new start! · Sound: CLAP CLAP

Picture: A little peep follows the final note. · Sound: PEEP!

Pax: It knows the song too.

Zion: Just the last note.

Jahari: That's a good place to start.

Picture: The friends gather to make their first-day marks.

Jahman: Would you like to leave a mark for your first day?

Pax: What if mine's wobbly?

Jahman: Then we'll know you made it.

Picture: Four friends make four different marks in paint. · Sound: SWISH

Lux: You've got a little on your face.

Pax: That's my second mark.

Zion: Very wobbly.

Jahari: So... are we a crew now?

Jahman: Looks like a good beginning, Little Nauts.

Lux: Little Nauts. I like that.

Pax: Same table tomorrow?

Zion: Same table.

Pax: Snack time?

Jahari: Now I know which bag is yours.

Narrator: That morning, four children had arrived with four bags. By the end of the day, they each had three new friends.