The Boy in the Blue Shirt

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Far back, in a tiny village that is surrounded by hills and forest, lived a curious small boy called Mike. Mike was just seven years old, with his bright eyes that were full of surprises, in his favorite blue shirt that he loved wearing often. As a young and smart boy, Mike loved to exploit places in his village and beyond which whenever that he want to exploit, he will follow butterflies across the poking sticks or field into forest.

On one hot afternoon when the sun was shining, Mike's mother was very busy making lunch, Mike wandered out of their compound to chase a colourful butterfly he saw flying close to the edge of the forest. As he got closer to the butterfly, it danced and fluttered out of reach, leading Mike's father until he was deep within the trees. Immediately, Mike stopped and looked, but he saw the butterfly no longer as it vanished.

Mike looked around to see if he could see the butterfly. The trees looked high above his head, and in all the directions he looked, they all looked the same. Mike called out to his mother, but the only answer he got was the chirping of rustling leaves and crickets. His mother noticed the quiet in the village. She then called Mike's name immediately, before calling him louder.

Neighbors in the village gathered quickly. They went into the field and searched the riverbank and even the footpaths between the farms. Mike was still nowhere to be found. As night started to get closer, fear crept into the hearts of everyone.

Meanwhile, Mike found a large flat rock and sat down on it, trying to be brave in the forest. Mike recalls what his brave father once told him. "Mike, if you ever get lost, ensure you stay where you are. " Your loved ones will come for you. So remembering this, Mike waited in the forest, despite how the shadow grew longer and the sounds of the forest kept getting louder in the dark.

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Mike's heart raced when he saw a soft rustle that came from the bushes. It was a village dog that had joined the search for Mike. Wagging its tail, and barking, before it then ran back. Immediately, voices filled the air, torchlight pierced the trees, Mike's father shouted, His mother cried, running into her arms.

As she hugged Mike tightly, tears of relief poured down her face. The villagers felt happy and cheered at each other, and even the dog barked happily. From that day, Mike never visited any forest again or chased butterflies, but he kept wearing his blue shirt.