The Island Where Nobody Helps

How you ever been in a new place? Or have you ever felt like you didn’t know what to do? The Bible talks about a time when God’s people were taken far away from their homes and they had to figure out what to do and how to be God’s people in a new place. You can read one of those stories in Daniel 1:1-21. So, what do we do when we don’t know what to do? Little Barty Badger told me this story and it helped me understand.

As the legend goes, Little Barty Badger and Miss Felicity Fox were off on an adventure! They were searching for their favorite picnic spot when the strangest thing happened. Clouds rolled over - not just any clouds, but dark and dangerous clouds. A wind blew up — not just any wind, but a wind that smelled like the ocean and sounded like a train. The two friends looked at each other, but before they could say anything, that wind picked them up like they were leaves!

WHOOOOSH! Over forests, they flew, and then over an ocean! They held on tight to each other’s paws. SHMOOSH! They landed on the softest moss they'd ever felt, on an island they'd never seen before.

"Well," said Felicity, dusting herself off, "that was unexpected."

They started exploring, but something felt... off. It seemed like a forest they knew, but then they saw a rabbit struggling with a heavy log blocking her burrow. A family of moles walked right past without stopping. They saw a bird with a bent wing trying to reach berries. Three strong owls just watched and flew away.

“Barty,” whispered Felicity, "nobody's helping anybody!"

“Where are we?” Barty whispered.

There was a very old puffin with sad eyes that they hadn’t noticed sitting nearby. His black and white feathers drooped and his beak was a dim orange. "Welcome to the Island Where Nobody Helps," he said sadly. "That's how it's always been here. Everyone looks out for themselves. That's the rule."

Felicity looked at Barty. “But…” she said, “Adventurers always help.”

The puffin looked at her and asked, “What’s an adventurer?”

"Maybe we should follow their rules while we're here," said Barty quietly. "We don’t want to get in trouble.”

"Maybe..." said Felicity, but she didn't sound sure.

They tried to explore like nothing was wrong, to see which way was home, but then they heard a sound: a small voice crying "Help! Please, somebody!"

Down by the shore, a young otter was caught in old fishing rope, and the tide was coming in fast. All the other animals just walked by. One iguana even said, "That's not my problem."

Barty started to walk past too, remembering the island's rule. But then Felicity grabbed his paw. "Barty," she said firmly, "what are we?"

"We're... we're Adventurers," said Barty. “But we’re not in Old Raven’s Forest any longer…”

Felicity stood up tall and said, “But we are who we are. And Adventurers always help!"

Barty’s eyes lit up. “Ok. Let’s help that otter!”

Together they rushed to the otter. The rope was tricky and the waves were getting bigger, splashing them with cold salt water. But they kept working, with Barty's strong paws and Felicity's slip-joint pliers (how did she have exactly the right tool even on an island!?), they finally freed the little otter just as a big wave crashed where he'd been stuck.

The old puffin watched with amazement. His eyes weren't sad anymore and his beak seemed a brighter orange. “I haven’t seen that since I was a hatchling,” he whispered.

“Well,” said Barty, “I’m not quite sure where we are…”

“Or how we’re going to get home,” Felicity chimed in.

“But while we’re here, let’s go adventuring! And find some snacks.”

Well, that’s how the legend goes, but I know one thing is true: adventurers always help, no matter where they are.