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The Adventures of Charlie Tucker – Amazon Rain Forest

by Crystal September 23rd, 2011 - No Comments »

Charlie sat in his rather large plane seat as he and his family got closer to the Tucker’s next destination, Iquitos City in the Peruvian Rain Forest.  He had heard his teachers back home in Canada speak of the Amazon Rain Forest as an enormous forest full of unusual and, at times, dangerous creatures.  He was very excited to be the explorer of this rain forest!

“Mom, I heard my teacher, Mrs. Baker, mention that the Amazon has spiders and big bugs. Is that true?” Charlie asked, as he slid forward on his seat a bit to look up at his mom.

“Yes, spiders, frogs, snakes, and thousands of insects we have never seen before, or even heard of.  Not to mention, the largest snake in the world, ‘the Anaconda’, and the Jaguar, too, live in this huge rain forest among other fierce hunters,” Mrs. Tucker said with emphasis.

“Wow, the Jaguar, cool!  And how big can this forest really be?” Charlie asked.

Before Mrs. Tucker could respond, Mr. Tucker replied, “If you think about all of the forests we have seen in our travels so far, and how big our world really is, this Amazon Rain Forest has over half of the remaining rain forests in our world.  That is a huge forest, Charlie, and it is said that the forest is ancient, over 55 million years old,”* or, so the scientists estimate,” Mr. Tucker finished.

“That’s a huge rain forest,” Charlie said thinking of how big it must be compared to the Canadian forests he and his dad had experienced while camping in British Columbia.

After landing in Iquitos, the Tuckers felt the humidity and thickness of the warm air as they were getting into a taxi. This particular taxi was a three-wheeler car, called a moto-kar.  The driver raced for open spaces and reminded Mr. Tucker of his go-cart days when he was young. After an exciting car ride to their beautiful hotel, they decided to settle in for the night so they would all be up for the jungle adventure in the morning.

The next day came quickly, and as Charlie stretched his young body in the large bed he lay on within the unfamiliar hotel surroundings, something very familiar was going on.  A comfort came over him as he looked out the window to his right at the large raindrops that hit the pane and ran down. In fact, rain was coming down in buckets outside his somewhat fogged-up window.

Charlie’s job was to be the alarm clock for the family, and so today, he would excitedly wake everyone up and inform them of what was occurring outside!

“Mom, dad, wake up, wake up, wake up!” Charlie said, jumping on their bed.

“No, Charlie, not yet–we still have an hour to sleep,” Mr. Tucker said, peering up at his son with one eye, hoping he would calm down and go back to bed.

“But, dad, it is raining to beat the band outside, and we could go puddle jumping right now,” Charlie said mischievously.

Mrs. Tucker, who had been curled up and hiding under the warm covers, popped her head out, commenting, “Rain, no, the big rains aren’t supposed to be here for another couple of weeks. It can’t be.  Don’t the rains come around November?”

“Yep, it can be, mom. Just listen to it coming down. Wow!  I never knew it could rain so much all at once,” Charlie exclaimed.

“Well, we always knew there would be a chance of it raining, and we have had the perfect weather for all the other places we’ve been to,” Mr. Tucker replied, not feeling his son’s excitement.

“Get up, up, up, up,” Charlie said, as he pulled his parents’ blankets off and dove into the middle of their bed.

As both of his parents looked at one another, a massive tickling session was now in store for Charlie, and laughter and giggles were sure to have woken others up!

After breakfast, visiting the Jungle was still in effect, but they weren’t just going to go and hike into the forest.  Rather, The Tuckers had planned a Riverboat Adventure!

The boat was a good-sized vessel, but it was very different from the boat the Tuckers had taken out to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  This boat was blue and white with a big red wheel off the back of it. They clambered aboard.

“Look!” Charlie said, as he pointed to the big wheel churning water at the back of the boat, as it pushed them up the Amazon River.

“Wow, that’s a lot of water being moved through the wheel, eh, Charlie?” Mr. Tucker replied.

One of the guests on the Riverboat, also a tourist, came over and asked, “You didn’t just say ‘eh’, did you? Why, are you Canadians?  I’ve always heard people mention you can tell a Canadian by that one word.” The older gentleman finished with a hand on Mr. Tucker’s shoulder.

“Yep, we are Canadians,” Mrs. Tucker said, as she came to her husband’s side, laughing as Mr. Tucker nodded.

She continued, “You gave us away again. Kidding,” she said, as she nudged her husband while Charlie watched the grownups talk.

“Why, I’ll be darned, if that wasn’t a pink river dolphin over there,” the older man said, bringing his hand up to his eyebrows and leaning forward to try and get a better look.

“That is impressive if you saw one already, especially with all this rain coming down,” Mr. Tucker replied.

“A what-coloured dolphin, mom, did the man say?” Charlie questioned, as he tugged at his mom’s shorts.

“A pink dolphin, dear,” Mrs. Tucker responded, looking down at him with excitement in her eyes.

“No, really?  Pink?” Charlie said in astonishment.

“Yep, they have pink dolphins in the Amazon River. If we are lucky, we will see one in the next day-and-a-half,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

“We might even be able to see sloths when we stop at one of the lookouts,” Mr. Tucker added.

“They are so slow, young fella, that you and I will both see them,” the old man said with a chuckle.

“You are pretty fast, if you have already seen a pink dolphin, sir,” Mr. Tucker piped up.

In response, the older man took his white traveler’s hat off and bowed his head in acceptance of the kind words Mr. Tucker had spoken.

“Wow, that is a colorful bird, mom,” Charlie said, as he watched a Toucan land on the railing of the boat and then move closer to him, making birdlike noises and cocking its head so its bright, yellow eye could take a closer look at little Charlie.

“Now, that is a rarity,” the old gentleman responded, continuing with, “I’ve been on this riverboat adventure 3 times in my life and not once has a Toucan flown on the boat and now while it is raining–even more amazing!  They normally stay to the tree canopies.  He must like the cut of your jib, young fella,” he said as he motioned for others to take a look.

“Hello, perty birdy. My name is Charlie Tucker, and I am your friend. What’s your name?”

The bird cawed, placing its beak between its claws and bobbing its head back and forth, as if bowing. Then suddenly, it pushed off and flew away.

“Wow, that was amazing mom ‘n’ dad,” Charlie said in awe, as he watched the beautiful multi-coloured bird fly away up, up into the high forest canopies at the side of the river.

This was to be a place to remember for the Tuckers, for they had been lucky.  They had seen three pink dolphins, numerous sloths, and many other Amazonian fish and wildlife. The Peruvian people were very kind, and the architecture, truly astonishing.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

In writing this story, information was found from three sources:

1. *Wikipedia, Amazon Rain Forest, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_rainforest, September 21, 2011, homepage.

2. Gap Adventures; The Great Adventure People. http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/amazon-riverboat-adventure/PVIIA/2011/, September 21, 2011, homepage.

3. Welcome to Iquitos Peru.http://www.dawnontheamazon.com/iquitosperu.html, September 21, 2011, homepage.

 

 

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The Adventures of Charlie Tucker- The Ngorongoro Crater

by Crystal August 17th, 2011 - No Comments »

“We are going to the Country of Children, Charlie,” Mrs. Tucker said with a smile as she embraced her son.

“What do you mean, mom, by a Country of Children?” Charlie questioned while looking up at her with a puzzled expression.

“Almost 50% of Tanzania’s population is made up of children, so it is really a country of children,” she answered.

“Wow, maybe I’ll make lots of new friends then,” he said with a lively voice.

Charlie continued, “I’ve learned a lot from this world trip so far, mom; I’ve learned how different people are, but how similar they are as well,” Charlie said, becoming quiet in contemplation.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it, how big our world is, and how different people’s lives can be, yet how little gestures can suggest warmth and welcoming,” Mr. Tucker added.

“I have heard so many different languages, pops, and tasted really different foods, but all people seem to share what we share–a need to be appreciated and loved,” Charlie replied.

“You are wise, my little man,” Mrs. Tucker said, as the plane began its descent to Tanzania.

Where is Tanzania located, dad?” Charlie asked, curiously watching the blue sky disappear as the plane descended through the fluffy white clouds that now appeared to surround them.

“Tanzania is in Africa, the eastern part of Southern Africa to be more specific, where zebras and lions roam the countryside and birds of all colours grace the sunrises with their colourful wings and unique tunes. We are going to go to the Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We’ll be staying for an evening right on the crater’s edge, Charlie, at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge,” Charlie’s dad replied.

Just as they were landing, Mrs. Tucker clarified, “We are going to be taking another flight.  This one’s going to be a short flight from Arusha Airport, and then we will arrive at the Lodge within a couple of hours after a little bit of a drive.”

“No kidding, that’ll be quite the rest of our day mom and dad!” Charlie exclaimed, trying to imagine falling asleep on the edge of a crater.

“The beauty of Africa with its wildlife and all the unique animals will certainly amaze you,” Mrs. Tucker said, as she stepped out into the blazing hot, dry air from the cool plane, and started to walk over to where they would wait for their next short plane ride. Thankfully, they did not have long to wait and were soon airborne again.

Now in the small plane, with the engine straining and propelling them closer to the horizon and their destination, Charlie pointed at some brightly colored birds a couple of hundred meters below them, “Look, real pink birds with long skinny legs, and so many of them,” Charlie said with great surprise.

“Those are real pink flamingos,” the pilot said, as he banked the plane gently around so he could circle the Magadi Lake’s perimeter for Charlie and his family. The sight of thousands of pink flamingos seemed to create a ribbon of pink around one corner of the lake.

“Wow, thank you for letting us have a closer look. Those birds are so colourful. Back home, people used to take fake pink flamingos and stick them on a person’s front lawn as a gift, but real flamingos, wow,” Mrs. Tucker said, still looking down at the groupings of pink birds.

“Yeah, they are the swans of Africa,” Charlie replied with his nose pushed up against the plane’s small window.

Once they landed softly on the dusty runway, they graciously thanked the kind pilot for his special tour of the lake region, and then they all waved good-bye.

Not surprisingly, the Tuckers instantly found themselves immersed in the heat of Africa. The sun had danced its way well past its highest point of the day, yet still the immense heat radiated on. As they slowly walked to the dark green car where their driver awaited them, Mrs. Tucker stopped and took in a deep breath of the hot, dry air and smiled, “Here at last,” she said softly to herself, gazing around her contentedly before joining the others in the vehicle.

The scenic drive was one to remember, and went by very quickly due to the majestic scenery they passed and the animals they glimpsed.

After a full day of travelling, the Tuckers were admittedly tired. Arriving just as the sun was setting, they found the lodge to be beautiful and serene. The spectacular scenery and the soft bird sounds were heavenly.

“Are those really zebras over there on the hill, mom?” Charlie asked with a look of awe on his small face.

“My goodness, yes, they are, Charlie,” Mrs. Tucker said, tapping her husband’s shoulder as he was trying to carry too many pieces of luggage to the lodge door all at once.

“Look,” Mrs. Tucker said with a dazzling smile, nodding in the direction of the striped creatures.

“Yes, oh, wow, zebras,” Mr. Tucker replied, as he gently placed the luggage bags down to enjoy this special moment with his family.

With a delicious dinner and a good solid sleep, the Tuckers were ready to take on their next adventuresome day in Africa.  Who knew what a-waited them this morning, in such a large, ancient African crater—anything was possible!

It was a bit cooler in the morning time, yet compared to Canadian standards, it still was very hot.

“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, and hello, Charlie. I’m Noel, and I’m going to be your safari guide today. We are going to see a whole assortment of different, exciting things. As we’ve got a youngster here on board our truck today, we might skirt a few of the events that happen here in the crater, but nonetheless, there’s still so much to see,” he said with a smile that was so darn friendly.

As the Tuckers settled into their deep bucket seats in the truck, Noel continued, “The road can be a bit bumpy at times, so please don’t hesitate to hang onto the padded bars behind the seats, or on the dash for you, Mr. Tucker. Please don’t get out of the truck when we stop, as we need not have any concerning moments,” he said, as he winked at Charlie’s parents.

“Yes, we won’t be getting out, thank you,” Mrs. Tucker agreed, and so the safari adventure began.

“Check that out, over to your right you’re going to see about twenty hyenas relaxing on the soft African grasses, and if you look up and to the left about 400 or so yards, you’ll see a lone elephant. It must be a male elephant, as female elephants normally stay in groups. It must be a male looking for a new girlfriend,” Noel said, as he drove closer to take a look.

“Yep, it’s a male,” he confirmed.

“Why are the hyenas making all of those scary noises back there, Noel?” Charlie asked, feeling a bit concerned and shifting in his seat in an effort to see what was occurring behind him. He could feel each little hair on the back of his neck jump up on end.

“The hyenas are probably going to go on a hunt, or maybe they are playing. You are safe in here,” Noel replied.

“Ha, they make quite the loud noises, don’t they, Charlie?” Mr. Tucker responded.

“Yeah, they sound scary,” Charlie replied, his voice a little louder than usual.

“Check out the wildebeests on the left up by the lake. They must be having their morning drink. Look at how a couple of the older wildebeests keep watch for any trouble that may come their way,” Noel said, as he stopped the vehicle for the Tuckers to take some photos.

“They sure are beautiful, and look at their huge, sharp horns. They also are a bit striped,” Mrs. Tucker observed as she zoomed in on the creatures with her camera.

“They feed off short grasses, which a lot of the other animals in our crater don’t really, so it gives them a good advantage. Their eyesight is not so great, but they sure can smell trouble, though,” Noel emphasized.

The rest of the day was filled with amazing sights and sounds. Some of the sounds were pleasant, but there were others that made Charlie want to shrink down below the window. The Tuckers even watched baboons playing in the African trees and spotted other notable African animals as well. Everyone saw the pink flamingos up close and admired them.

Charlie was sure to tell all of his friends about the flamingos, which for the rest of the trip with his parents he would refer to the as the pink swans of Africa.

 

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Little Charlie Tucker, The Great Barrier Reef

by Crystal July 2nd, 2011 - No Comments »

Leaving Beijing was hard for Charlie and his parents. The old Chinese culture and the many different sights they saw would be cherished for a long time.

“I’m going to miss you and your home country,” Charlie said, first hugging his friend, Ava, goodbye, and then bowing to Ava’s Grandma out of respect.

“I will see you when you get back to Canada, Charlie, and I’ll let everyone know about our trip to the Great Wall of China! Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, for taking me to the Great Wall!” Ava said, waving farewell as the Tuckers’ ticket line started to move.

The Tucker family waited for the plane for a little while, and then had a great flight that went by quicker than everyone had expected, just possibly because Charlie received a toy kangaroo and a book about Australia. They landed in the great land of kangaroos, and then drove to Cairns, where they would see the next amazing wonder of the world, albeit this time, a natural wonder.

“Oh, wow, look how clear the ocean is, mom and dad,” Charlie exclaimed, staring out the rental-car window as they drove on the road that ran alongside the ocean.

Parking at the marina, Mrs. Tucker flashed a smile quickly at Charlie, saying excitedly, “We are going to take a charter boat out to the Great Barrier Reef and go snorkeling today.”

“We are? No kidding, I have always wanted to go snorkeling,” Charlie said happily.

“Me, too. I have yet to go snorkeling, and it’s about time,” Mr. Tucker added.

“There’s the boat we are going to take, right over there,” indicated Mrs. Tucker gesturing to her right where the boats were docked.

She continued, “It looks like people have already boarded the boat, so we’d better hurry.”

“Quick, Charlie, grab your sunscreen and hat, and don’t forget your swim trunks,” Mr. Tucker said, taking his own carry-on bag out of the car.

As the Tuckers made it down to the dock and neared the boat, Charlie asked, “How did you know this was our boat, mom?”

“Oh, by the name on the stern—see where it says,” Mermaid by the Reef”? That’s the boat we chartered for our adventure,” Mrs. Tucker answered.

“Oh, I see. You know, mom, every boat down here has a name,” Charlie observed, reading out loud the names he could make out as they boarded the charter vessel: “Frogs are a Flying”, Kangaroos a Jumping”, “Almost Heaven”, “Aquaholic”. Ha, what does “Aquaholic” mean, dad?”

“I think it means someone who is addicted to the water,” Mr. Tucker laughed, tousling his son’s hair.

“Hmmm”, Charlie said, as if thinking over what his dad had just said. In fact, his quick eyes had spotted a smooth orange shape gliding through the water, and he was wondering just what else he might see under the waves.

“Welcome aboard the Mermaid by the Reefs. She’s a swell old lady who is known to give her passengers a swell of an adventure,” the captain said in a deep voice accompanied by a soft chuckle.

“I hope she doesn’t go up too high and then come down. I can’t get seasick, George,” an older woman said to her husband, who comforted her by pointing to the calm waters.

“Oh, dad, do you think we will experience waves today, maybe big waves? Charlie inquired wonderingly. “Ooh, how exciting that would be!”

“No, it looks like it is dead calm out on the water today, and besides, we will be snorkeling, and you wouldn’t want big waves,” Mr. Tucker stressed.

“Last call! All right, let’s get her ladyship moving. Lifejackets are to be kept on any youngster under ten at all times, and we will be giving lifejackets to anyone who would like them for snorkeling as well,” the captain said with a smile, as he stepped back into the cabin.

Charlie, who wanted to see what the cabin looked like, popped his head in to take a peak.

“Hey, young fella, come on in–you can be the co-captain today,” the old captain said, as he checked out Charlie to make sure his lifejacket was fastened properly.

“Is he alright in here?” Mrs. Tucker popped her head in to check on her son.

No problem at all, thank you, ma’am. I rather like the little man. He is quite curious and has an ocean way about him,” the captain responded.

Relieved of parental responsibility, Mrs. Tucker went back out to visit with Mr. Tucker.

“Could I ask you an important question, sir,” Charlie asked with a little hesitation.

“Go for it,” the captain said, as he steered his boat out into the open waters.

“Are we going to see or run into sharks when snorkeling today?” Charlie questioned.

“Them big sharks don’t come around here that often, sonny, but you may, though unlikely, run into a reef shark. Now let me tell ya, you mustn’t ever corner a reef shark, though. He must have a place to escape, or you could be in trouble,” the captain advised.

“I see, then I’ll keep that in mind when I’m out with my parents today,” Charlie acknowledged.

“You’ll be fine. No one on my boat has evah had any problems with them reef sharks, just great times in the water with the colourful fishies,” the captain added.

He continued, “Better go find your parents, young un. We’re here now, and get those flippers on,” he advised, wagging a finger in mock seriousness.

“Thanks for letting me be here with you. See you later,” Charlie said, saluting the captain goodbye.

Once in the water, the Tuckers were astonished by the multicoloured corals and swirling fish.

As Charlie splashed around, he thought to himself how the reef looked like a rainbow had been splashed all over, and that there were even sea creatures that looked like stunning flowers.

As Charlie and his parents took their snorkels off for a little while, Mrs. Tucker remarked, “The water is so shallow over the reef there, and did you see all those fish? What amazing colours they were!”

“Yeah, and the sea urchins that look like flowers…,” Mr. Tucker noted, as he treaded water.

“I saw those flowers, too, dad,” Charlie added, as he noticed something swimming beneath them that he hadn’t seen before.

“Look, mom and dad! I think that’s a reef shark like the one the Captain mentioned,” Charlie said, his voice coming out a squeak

“No, they usually don’t come into the shallow coral reefs– it must have just been a shadow,” Mrs. Tucker said, her voice a little tense.

Before anyone could stop him, Charlie put his goggles back on, rolled sideways, and made a shallow dive under the waves to have another look.

“No, it’s a shark and it is so amazing!” Charlie said, surfacing quickly. Charlie started to jackknife under again for a better look, when he remembered the captain saying not to corner reef sharks.

As Charlie popped to the surface, his parents, one on each side of him, grabbed him under the shoulders. They kicked hard with their flippers to propel themselves and Charlie away from the shark they now both saw.

Charlie spluttered as a little water splashed in his mouth and over his head. Finally, his parents let him go where they felt they were far enough away.

“Thanks, mom and dad. The captain said we weren’t to corner a shark ever,” Charlie said, realizing just then how differently things might have turned out.

With the excitement of the afternoon’s snorkeling still fresh in each of their minds, they spent the latter part of their day sightseeing on land. The next day, they even saw a family of kangaroos, but nothing could quite match the excitement of the Great Barrier Reef.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

 

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Little Charlie Tucker, The Great Wall of China

by Crystal June 21st, 2011 - No Comments »

The next part of their adventure took them all the way across the world to China, where they would travel to the Great Wall!

Once off the plane, Mrs. Tucker and Mr. Tucker informed Charlie that there was a surprise visitor awaiting his arrival in China!

“Who is going to be waiting in China for me, mom? I don’t know anyone who lives in China,” Charlie said, but then a thought dawned on him.

“What if Ava were back visiting her grandparents in China? No, it couldn’t be,” he thought to himself.

Or could it?

Just as Charlie was leaving the international arrivals area, a voice called out, “Charlie, Charlie!”

As Charlie wasn’t the tallest seven year old, he couldn’t see who was calling his name, until out from the crowd stepped Ava, who was holding her grandma’s hand.

“Ava, you’re in Beijing,” Charlie called out excitedly.

“Hey, Charlie, great to see you in my home country! Your mom and dad mentioned you would be going to China, and I knew I would be there at the same time. I’m so excited, as they have planned to take us both to the Great Wall–surprise!” Ava replied, feeling very excited about her good friend and their upcoming journey.

“Wow, that is great!” Charlie replied.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker, This is my Grandma Mak,” Ava said, smiling up at her kind grandma as she introduced her.

“It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Mak,” Mrs. Tucker said, bowing her head.

“She does not speak that much English,” Ava replied, while her Grandma said something to her in Mandarin, nodded, and smiled.

“She says it is very nice to meet you, too,” Ava continued.

“No worries, nice to meet her as well,” Mr. Tucker said nodding and smiling back at Ava’s grandma as Charlie watched with his big, bright eyes.

Ava then hugged her grandma more than a couple of times, as she said goodbye in Mandarin. She then made sure her grandma knew to meet her at the Airport at 6 p.m. in two days’ time.

And so the adventure to the Great Wall began. Mr. Tucker had given Charlie and Ava a children’s brochure about the Wall to entertain them on their drive, and many laughs erupted from the back seat of the car.

“Dad, it says that the Great Wall is almost 44 million hotdogs long,”* Charlie said in awe.

“That is a lot of hotdogs, isn’t it Ava,” Mr. Tucker responded, while driving their rental car.

“Yes, Mr. Tucker, I could never eat that many hotdogs,” Ava laughed, and Charlie joined in.

“It says here, dad, that the great wall is very high, 15 to almost 25 feet high in places.* That’s like, well, I’m… How tall do you think I am, Ava?” Charlie asked.

I think you are, hmm… maybe three feet,” Ava replied.

“That means the minimum height of the Great Wall of China is three times higher than you, Charlie, and in places, a little over 8 times higher,” Mrs. Tucker said with emphasize.

“Wow, that is a big wall,” Charlie blurted out as Ava nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, it’s a big and very long wall. I have heard my grandma mention that the Great Wall stretches over desserts, mountains, grasslands, and plateaus,” Ava said, feeling amazed at her people’s incredible accomplishment.

“Wow, that is a long wall. Dad, what are ‘plateaus’?” Charlie responded with a puzzled look on his face.

“It’s an area of fairly high, but quite flat ground,” Mr. Tucker responded.

“Ah, I see,” Charlie replied.

After driving for a little over three hours since they had left Beijing, the Tuckers came to Mutianya, where they parked and took the cable car up to the top of the Great Wall.

“Gosh, I can see the wall from here. It’s huge, isn’t it, Ava?” Charlie said, looking at his friend who was kneeling beside him, as she looked out the window of the cable car at the Wall, too.

“Yeah, it’s big and it looks like it goes on forever,” Ava commented, looking at the hills they passed as they went up and up until they came to the Great Wall itself.

Once on the wall, Charlie, Ava, and Mr. and Mrs. Tucker went for a long stroll. At times, Charlie and Ava were not tall enough to look out over the sides of the great wall. As they would have missed the many beautiful views, Charlie’s parents decided to lift both Charlie and Ava up to see the scenery around them, and what beautiful mountains they did see!

“This is a magnificent structure, isn’t it, dear? Mrs. Tucker observed, extending her arm expansively as she glanced over at her husband.

“Yes, it is hard to fathom how many people and how much time was spent constructing it,” he replied.

“How many people, dad, do you think worked on building this Great Wall,” Charlie asked.

“I think it has been estimated anywhere from 800,000 to almost 3 million people have worked on this wall, Charlie, but no one is certain of the exact number,”* Mr. Tucker replied.

“My grandma said there were soldiers, workers, and even local people who helped to construct the wall. It took a long, long time to build,” Ava added.

The rest of the day was filled with more interesting questions, and everyone learned from their trip to the Great Wall of China.

“Here we go, down, down, and we’re stopping,” Ava said, as she pretended to shrink in her seat as the cable car came to a quick halt.

Everyone laughed as they exited the cable car onto the walkway.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

* Evans, Thammy. 2006. Great Wall of China: Beijing and Northern China. Bucks, UK: Bradt Travel Guides.

For more interesting facts about the great wall of china, check out this link!

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Little Charlie Tucker- The Arctic Ice Caps

by Crystal June 8th, 2011 - No Comments »

“Seeing the northern lights was amazing, mom and dad,” Charlie said, watching the clouds pass by as he looked out the plane window.

“Where are we going next, dad?” Charlie asked.

“We are going almost to the north pole to see the icecaps and icebergs, Charlie, and of course to meet the Inuit people,” Mr. Tucker replied.

“Ooh, the north pole–think Santa Claus will be out and about?” Charlie questioned.

“You never know, but we won’t be going up quite that far,” Mrs. Tucker replied, as Mr. Tucker looked at her.

“Hmm, what about penguins, mom?” Charlie asked, leaning forward to see his mom, who was sitting on the other side of his dad.

“Oh no, Charlie, penguins live in the Antarctic, not the Arctic where we are going,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

“You might be able to see polar bears, Charlie,” his dad suggested, sensing Charlie’s disappointment.

“Really?–a live, big, white bear, so exciting,” he responded squirming in his seat on the plane.

“I have another question. Are we going to the place where people sleep in igloos? George mentioned people up north live in igloos,” Charlie said.

“Those people, out of respect, my little man, should be referred to as Inuit people, and the majority of them now live in houses just like us,” she replied.

“Ha,” Charlie responded.

“To clarify, on some occasions, the Inuit people will build and sleep in igloos when they are on hunting expeditions, but as a rule, it isn’t their place of residence all of the time, that’s for sure,” Mr. Tucker added.

“Are we going to go on a hunting expedition?” Charlie queried.

“No, but we will be meeting the Inuit people, and even staying in one of their houses. You know, we may get to see an igloo… although, I doubt there is that much snow up there to make an igloo now as it is springtime, Charlie,” Mrs. Tucker remarked.

“The natural wonder that we are going to see, and that we would like you to remember for years to come, are the icebergs that are floating in the Arctic Ocean.  Not very many people get to see the beauty of these floating pieces of ice, Charlie, Mr. Tucker emphasized.

“We also want you to see the vast icecaps which are also part of the natural wonders of our world,” Charlie’s mother said with enthusiasm.

“So, we are going to go and see mounds of ice, but what is so important about these surfaces made of ice, dad?  Is it that we can go skating on them?” Charlie asked, looking a bit miffed.

“No, not skating, Charlie.  You see, what is so very special about these enormous icecaps and big icebergs, too, is that our planet depends on having these large chunks of ice around.  That is, the Arctic, and for that matter the Antarctic, ice keeps our world from heating up.  Some say that the icecaps and icebergs act to reflect some of the heat the sun sends our way,” Mr. Tucker replied.

“And, not only that, Charlie, if we all keep heating up the earth, these large bodies of ice will keep melting, and certain places in the world may then be under water, permanently,” Mrs. Tucker added.

“Oh, I see, so not only are they a natural wonder, mom, but both the ice bergs and ice caps are melting away. Hmm, that’s not good,” Charlie said, with a concerned look on his face.

“No, but people are doing a lot to slow the melting process by being more conscientious, and not doing as many things that would heat our planet up and thereby melt those icecaps,” Mr. Tucker responded.

“You know that old truck that sits in our yard at home, Charlie, with the flower garden coming out of the hood?  We parked it there about ten years back, before you were born, and bought a very functional, fuel-efficient car.  By that choice alone, we are helping to keep our planet cool and slow the melting of the ice,” Mrs. Tucker added.

“But how does that keep our planet cool?” Charlie questioned, with a puzzled look on his face.

Mr. Tucker jumped in, saying, “Well, the old truck used an awful lot of gas and was not at all fuel-efficient. The CO2 emissions coming out of its muffler were affecting our world’s temperature system in a negative manner.  So, by choosing a very fuel-efficient car that doesn’t expel as many fumes, we are reducing our carbon footprint and our harm to the environment and icecaps!”

This tended to be the type of conversation for the next couple of hours until they landed.

After landing the Tucker’s then took two other short flights where they  finally landed in Greenland. Once in the lobby of the airport, they then met the kind Inuit family that they were going to stay with for the next couple of days.

After settling in and having a wonderful lunch and some tea, as well as listening to the vibrant Inuit family at times speaking their own fascinating language known as “Inuktitut”, it was time to explore.

For the remainder of their day, Mrs. Tucker had planned a dog sledding adventure that would take them where they would be able to listen and watch the many sea birds.

First, though, Charlie made an interesting discovery. “Mom, look at all of the puppies, wow!” Charlie said in awe.

“Can I pet them?” Charlie asked the Inuit guide.

“Yes, just let them smell your hands first so they can become familiar with your scent,” the guide said, while demonstrating to Charlie what he meant.

“Wow, they are so soft,” Charlie exclaimed, as he was being kissed by the beautiful huskies.

As the day progressed, the Tucker family had an amazing sled ride, where they traveled in between large icebergs and watched numerous seabird colonies.  Charlie even saw a seal, and Mr. Tucker watched as a walrus dived off the ice sheets into the frigid water.

“I can see why we need to look after and value this part of our world, mom and dad.  There are so many species that depend on this type of habitat, and they love the colder weather!” Charlie said, leaning against his parents to keep warm.

“Not too many people know about the Arctic regions of our world, and we all should make an effort when home to learn even more about this region,” Mrs. Tucker emphasized.

Before leaving the north, after having a wonderful stay, the Tuckers reflected upon their visit to the Arctic, noting that they had managed to visit two hunting camps, and that Charlie did even experience a traditional igloo!

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

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Little Charlie Tucker- Yukon: Northern Lights

by Crystal June 4th, 2011 - 1 Comment »

“First stop, the Yukon, here we come!” Mrs. Tucker said excitedly, shifting her gaze to Mr. Tucker and Charlie, who was at that moment looking out the taxicab’s window.

After going through airport security, and taking a reasonably short flight, the Tuckers landed at the Whitehorse Airport.

“Where in the world are we again, mom? It looks very cold out those doors, brrr,” Charlie commented, as he looked out into the crisp scenery and gave himself a bear hug.

His mom then looked at Charlie and smiled, “Time to get out your map, Charlie, so you can place your first star on it. You are in the Yukon.”

“Your mom has decided that we are going to stay in the Yukon for two nights and three days, Charlie,” Mr. Tucker said, helping Charlie to put on his jacket before they all ventured outside.

“That’s exciting,” Charlie said, as he held his small hand up to hold his dad’s hand now that his jacket was on.

Once Charlie and his parents were outside, they couldn’t help notice how the air was crisp and very clean, and Charlie couldn’t believe how beautiful the Yukon was.

“What natural wonder of the world are we going to be seeing today, mom?” Charlie asked with curiosity while they waited for a taxi.

“We are going to be observing the northern lights tonight, Charlie,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

Before Charlie could ask why these northern lights were so special, his dad clarified with, “The unusual phenomena of the northern lights is one of our world’s natural wonders. Your mom has planned a couple of sky-watching sessions at night for us, where we will get to see, and maybe even hear if it is quiet enough, these dancing colorful lights in the sky. Some have said you can hear them crack and pop as they dance through the sky.”

“Wow, we are going to be stargazing and seeing lights in the sky, and they dance and make noise above our heads?” Charlie queried, almost disbelieving.

“Yep, they sure do, and depending on the given day, one night may be better than the other night, so that’s why we are going to stay in the Yukon for two nights,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

As the day progressed, the Tuckers settled in at the lodge, took a small hike, and then a horseback ride into the backcountry during the afternoon, but the best was yet to come.

As the sun went down, and the Tuckers finished their warm stew, they then prepared for their northern lights and stargazing experience.

Charlie couldn’t wait to see the light show!

Then there they were, the Tuckers lying on their backs watching the first stars that graced the night’s sky coming into view, when suddenly it happened.

“Look, mom, do you, did you see that green and blue light across the sky? Ohhhhh, there it goes again. It looks like waves of color,” Charlie exclaimed, his voice high with excitement.

“Wow, yeah, I saw it, too,” Mrs. Tucker gasped.

“Listen. Did you hear those snapping sounds and the slight crackling?” Mr. Tucker asked.

“Yeah, pops, pretty amazing” Charlie said, staring up into the night sky.

“Wow,” all of the Tuckers cried out in unison, as a rainbow wave so mesmerizing appeared that its beauty took them all by surprise. It was several minutes before anyone said anything.

“I feel so small looking up into the big sky, and thinking of all of the possibilities that are out there,” Charlie said in a softer tone.

“I know what you mean; it leaves one in wonder, doesn’t it?” Mr. Tucker responded.

“What an amazing experience it is to be alive and to witness such a sight,” Mrs. Tucker said in awe.

The following night, the Tuckers were again fortunate in seeing a spectacular aurora borealis.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. The Tuckers had experienced an amazing couple of nights watching the northern lights dance and crackle above their heads.

They now found themselves back at the airport, awaiting their next flight that would take them further north!

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

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Little Charlie Tucker- Not Taking Things for Granted

by Crystal June 1st, 2011 - No Comments »

Mrs. Tucker dropped Charlie off at his grandparent’s home so she could meet her husband and run some errands.

“Take care not to wear your grandma and grandpa out while we are gone, my little man,” Mrs. Tucker said, while hugging her son good bye and passing him over to his grandma.

“I won’t, mom. Grandma is going to tell me some stories and make rice crispy squares with me,” little Charlie replied.

“We’ll be fine, no worries,” Grandma Sue said, as Charlie ran over to give his grandpa a hug.

“Alright, we’ll be back by the evening,” Mrs. Tucker replied, as she hugged her mom and waved goodbye to her dad and little Charlie.

“Are we going to make rice crispy squares right away, Grandma?” Charlie asked, as his grandma came over to where he and his grandpa were standing.

“I don’t see why not, but let me show you something I saw on the news today, Charlie,” Grandma Sue said.

She continued, “It just left me with such a feeling of hope for our world and a sense that there are really good people on this planet. Come have a seat over here,” she motioned.

And so Charlie watched a video clip* about a homeless person who had been treated with respect by a kind and caring lady. Then when this kind and caring lady herself needed help, he gave back by paying for her home, so she could keep her son and daughter in her custody.

“You see, Charlie, sometimes life throws you a curve ball, just like that lady and her little children, who were just fine, living under a warm roof with no financial worries just half a year ago, and then the mother lost her job, and after that, her house,” Grandma Sue said.

“It is sad, and I hope that little boy and girl are going to be alright, and that their mom will find a job again. It’s just that homeless person is special, really special, grandma,” Charlie said, with his eyes tearing up a bit as he felt happy to have watched a video about such a caring person.

“Yes, he is. He has given help to a stranger in a time when no one else would help; he’s an angel,” she said, giving her grandchild a squeeze.

“Will he have a home, grandma, some day?” Charlie asked.

“I hope so,” she replied.

“I, I’m very lucky, aren’t I, grandma?” Charlie queried.

“Yes, you are; we all are,” Grandma Sue responded.

She continued, “Many people are having a very hard time just surviving, or as your grandpa would say, making ends meet. People have lost their jobs, their homes, their animals, and some, their kids, because of the financial strain and natural disasters, all of which have been going on in our world lately.”

“Just to make sure I understand, what does “financial strain” mean?” Charlie asked, as he followed his grandma over to the kitchen.

“It means, people who in the past would have had enough money to survive and buy the basics, food and clothing, that kind of stuff and pay for rent, well, a lot of people don’t have the money to properly survive, so they feel strained.”

“I see, then we are really lucky mom and dad both have jobs, aren’t we?” Charlie replied.

“Yes,” his grandma said emphatically. “We must always be grateful for what we have and give back to those who don’t have as much, so we can help out. That wonderful person who is homeless has more of a heart and a will to give than most of us. He sure set a good example for others in looking after our fellow beings,” she said, pulling the rice crispy cereal box out of the cupboard.

“I’d like to give back to people who are making a positive difference in people’s lives one day when I can,” Charlie said.

“Whether you know it or not, Charlie, you already are giving a lot of people such joy and happiness with your positive outlook and caring ways,” Grandma Sue said, passing Charlie a marshmallow to munch on.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

*This story was inspired by a real life occurrence, please see the youtube video below:

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Little Charlie Tucker- The truth shall set you free!

by Crystal May 11th, 2011 - No Comments »

It was an unusual day at Seaview Elementary School. It was a day that everyone would remember. The sun was out, but there were a few clouds dotting the sky as they moved slowly by. The wind was subtle, and the new grass blew gently.

Charlie and his young friends were out in the playground recalling a television show.

Charlie had watched a new, popular cartoon a few nights back and was sharing it with the others, laughing and waving his arms in the air, “Did you see the penguin ski down the mountain on his head, and then the squirrel bounce up? It was so funny!”

“Yeah and when they were at the bottom of the mountain a giant snowball came rolling down and went right through them, and they were laughing. Oh, oh, and then the penguin waddled away, and the squirrel imitated him,” Ava said giggling.

“I didn’t see that episode, but it sounds like it was really funny,” Emilia replied.

“I saw it, but I didn’t think it was that funny,” George said.

“Why not?” Charlie asked.

“Oh, ah well, umm,” George said.

“You must’ve watched a different episode because this was funny, really funny,” Ava insisted.

“Tell me how the episode started, so I can make sure I watch the right one,” Emilia said, looking at George.

“Oh, ah me, no, why not get Charlie or Ava to fill you in?” George said with hesitation.

“No, go for it, George,” Ava responded.

“Well, I, I didn’t actually watch it,” George said, hanging his head.

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Charlie asked, turning his palms up and shrugging.

“You lied, George. Why couldn’t you just say you hadn’t watched it,” Ava asked, feeling hurt.

“I, I wanted to participate and have you think I watched the episode you did. I shouldn’t have lied,” George said, feeling bad for not being truthful.

“Telling the truth is very important, or else we won’t know when you are honest or when you are not, George,” Emilia cautioned.

“How can we trust you to be honest?” Charlie asked, feeling hurt and mad that his friend had chosen to lie.

“I don’t know. I can promise to tell you the truth,” George said.

“But, how do we know your word has any worth now?” Charlie responded.

“You don’t know for sure, but I am willing to earn your trust back,” George offered.

“How do you do that?” Ava asked.

“I prove what I am saying is the truth, and I work at it, all of the time,” George vowed.

“I will trust you again, but I won’t forget what you have done today. Everyone makes mistakes,” Emilia said.

“I have just learned a very important lesson; lying is not worth the pain it will cause those you really care about. I’m really sorry,” George apologized.

Just then, the recess bell went, and everyone tramped back in, but no one forgot how important telling the truth was to maintaining healthy and happy friendships. George learned the very important lesson that lying does have grave consequences, and he was thankful that his friends gave him a second chance.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan


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Little Charlie Tucker- Courage

by Crystal May 5th, 2011 - No Comments »

Charlie couldn’t wait to see his mom, and was so excited to tell her all about his weekend camping trip.

“Hey mom,” as she opened the front door to their house and gave him a big bear hug.

“How was your trip Charlie?” Mrs. Tucker asked as she helped carry his small luggage bag into the house.

“It was great mom.  Dad and I went way up into the backcountry to that campsite where we took part in reforestation practices.  Do you know that campsite is only open for three months of the year, but it was full of people,” Charlie replied.

“Why would it only be open for three months of the year?” she replied with a puzzled look.

“Oh, we found out that the trees, well the new trees can only be planted within that time period or the ground gets to hard and they don’t do well in warmer weather,” Charlie replied.

“Ha, that’s very interesting,” Mrs. Tucker responded, as she went to the front door to help her husband in with the rest of the camping supplies.

“While you were both gone, I had quite the time of it,” Mrs. Tucker said to her husband and Charlie.

“What do you mean,” Mr. Tucker replied with a concerned look.

“Well, just yesterday I had to help poor George’s mom and George.  It was quite unexpected, but his mom called and said she needed help and then hung up the phone,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

“And was everything alright,” Mr. Tucker asked.

“Well, so I drive over to their place, and run up to their front door to find no one is there, so I go around back of their house and what a site I saw.  There was George and his mom trying to catch a little over twenty or so baby guinea pigs,” She replied.

“Guinea pigs, geepers mom, I thought something was going to be wrong with George or George’s mom,” Charlie interrupted.

“Oh no Charlie,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

“But you may not know this Charlie, but I am, well how to put this scared of rodents, big or small,” she said putting her hands up in the air.

“That explains why you haven’t wanted me to have a hamster,” Charlie responded.

“So, what did you do, did you help them catch the baby guinea pigs and how did they escape. Well and how were there so many of them,” Mr. Tucker questioned.

“Ah, well, they had this massive cage, I think it was seven or eight levels high.  George’s dad had built it from reclaimed wood. It was George’s birthday present a year ago,” Mrs. Tucker responded.

“Ah wood, that explains how they got out, they chewed there way out,” Mr. Tucker said.

“Okay, what did you do mom, did you help out or not, those poor little guinea pigs,” Charlie responded with a look of concern.

“Easy Charlie, I’m sure your mom saved them, right dear,” Mr. Tucker said looking straight at her.

“Well, it had crossed my mind that we could have a new wild population of Guinea pigs on the island, and I was very scared, but looking at George, and his mom courageously scooping the little ones up and taking them to safety, I did go and help,” Mrs. Tucker replied.

“Good for you dear, that must have taken courage to overcome your fear,” Mr. Tucker said in awe of his wife’s inner strength.

“Thanks, and after I saved them, I realized, I wasn’t so afraid of them after all, or at least not Guinea pigs. As such, you have a new friend in the kitchen waiting for you,” Mrs. Tucker said motioning for Charlie to go and look.

As Charlie ran to the kitchen, he saw the biggest fur ball of a baby guinea pig, and it had blue eyes to his amazement, “Mom this is awesome, can I take him out and play with him?”

“Yes, just make sure the dog is outside,” Mrs. Tucker said still sorting luggage down the hall with her husband.

“Wow, I leave for a couple of days and you gain new found courage.  Charlie we are going fishing again, right now, get your gear,” he kidded, giving his wife a big hug.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

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Little Charlie Tucker- Patience

by Crystal April 30th, 2011 - No Comments »

When Charlie awoke in the morning from his peaceful sleep, he took note of the constant sound of raindrops, pitter, patter, pitter, patter, drip, drip, drip went the chorus of rain outside his window.  This couldn’t be, he thought to himself. It’s raining, but we watched the weather channel last night and there was only the smallest chance of rain.

“Mom!” Charlie called out.

“Yes, Charlie, is everything alright?” Mrs. Tucker asked, popping her head in the door to his bedroom.

“Well, yes and no.  It’s raining out, and dad and I are supposed to go fishing and camp in that reforestation campsite today, mom, but how are we supposed to do either of those things when it is raining?” Charlie asked.

“I’m surprised, Charlie, since a little rain has never affected you before.  Why, just a month back, you and I planted our lovely apple trees in the rain,” she replied.

“Yes, but, it’s just we were able to come back into a dry, warm house, but if we are camping, it will be cold, mom,” Charlie said, pulling his covers up to his shoulders as he imagined the cold, wet weather he would possibly soon have to endure.

Mrs. Tucker replied, “You know, your dad would never let you get cold, and I’m sure if it is raining by the late afternoon, you and your dad will rent a cabin for the night.  We will just have to pack your rain jacket and some extra warm clothes and gloves.”

She continued, “Chances are, the weather up in the Interior of British Columbia will be a lot different than the rainy weather we get on the Coast here, my little man.  Come on down, and let’s get breakfast going,” she said, while turning to go back out Charlie’s bedroom door.

“Thanks, mom, for reassuring me. I’ll be down in a minute,” Little Charlie replied.

Therefore, after the Tuckers had breakfast, Mr. Tucker and Charlie began their trip up to the Interior.

“Dad, are we there yet?” Charlie asked, after about an hour of driving.

“Not yet, my little man. We are not driving as fast as we normally would because it’s raining,” Mr. Tucker replied.

Five minutes later, looking out at the rainy scenery, Charlie again asked, “Are we there yet, dad?”

“No not yet, Charlie, so let me tell you a very special story to pass the time,” Mr. Tucker responded.

“Ooh, a story, that sounds great, dad,” Charlie replied.

Mr. Tucker began, “There once was this young girl who had to have everything right away, and would do anything to get her way.  One day, her grandma asked for her help to get a pillow down from a shelf.  The girl had little patience because she wanted to go for an ice cream cone. Tossing her head impatiently, she snatched the pillow from the shelf, knocking over an old vase as she did so. The vase broke into a dozen pieces, spreading dirt and old roots all over the floor.

The grandma turned a sad face to her grandchild.  “That vase you have just broken was given to me by my grandma, and I only received it because I was the most patient person.”

“I’m so sorry, grandma. Why did you have to be the most patient person, grandma?” the little girl said, now feeling bad about breaking her grandma’s vase.

“Within the vase there was a flower that only blooms every 70 years. It was to be the 70th year this coming spring, my dear.”

“Maybe we can fix it,” the little girl suggested.

“Maybe, but it depends on how patient you are,” the old woman said in response.

“What do you mean, grandma?” the little girl asked, her wide-open eyes fixed on her grandmother.

“It will take all of the patience in the world to find a new vase that will work, and then to thread roots of the old flower back into the vase while carefully adding soil. You then will have to water the roots with only one teaspoon of water each day for another month, and maybe, just maybe, you will have a flower come up.  It’s just there are no guarantees,” her grandma said with a sigh.

“I will try my best grandma to save your flower,” the little girl said.

“So, dad, did the little girl save her grandma’s flower in the end?” Charlie asked with hope.

“Well, Charlie, the little girl did end up saving her grandma’s flower, but only after being the most patient little girl.  The story goes that it took her a whole afternoon to thread the roots of that old flower back into a new vase, and then she had to water it each day for a whole month.  The grandma was very proud of the young girl who learned a great and ancient lesson.

“What’s that, dad?” little Charlie asked.

“Well, some of the best and most rewarding things in life take the most patience, Charlie,” Mr. Tucker replied.

He continued, using another example, “It’s like that turtle and rabbit who raced against each other. Though the turtle was slow and methodical, he won the race and must have had a lot of patience,” Mr. Tucker stated.

“Because he was slower, I guess the turtle was able to see more of the scenery as he took part in the race,” Charlie said, as he looked out the car window.

“Yes, more scenery than the rabbit,” Mr. Tucker replied.

And so, Charlie didn’t ask if they were there yet again, but instead, he admired the passing scenery and watched the rainclouds lift off of the mountains. Then to his amazement, he saw the sun’s rays come shining through a cloud to form a rainbow, a very magical sight  indeed for him to see.

© 2011 Crystal Buchan

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