During the summer, I facilitated creative writing workshops for children ages 4 to 10 years of age, teaching them how to brainstorm as a group and write stories, giving them free reign on their imagination. There is nothing more endearing than listening to youngsters brainstorm a story.
In honor of Tasty Tuesday (Pork Loin – Fast & Easy recipe below), I am going to share a story, which features a diamond pig, written by a group of five to seven-year-olds.
The Postman, the Zoo Keeper and a Diamond Pig
One day, Peter the Postman delivered a mysterious package to the zoo.
“What is in this package?” Zorro the Zoo Keeper asked as he opened the gates for the Postman.
Peter the Postman walked through the gates and opened the package. “I brought you some fish and apples for lunch.”
Zorro the Zoo Keeper gasped. “Oh, no,” he said. “I hope that isn’t Happy Feet in there.”
“That was a great movie.” Peter said and then shook his head. “But it’s not Happy Feet. It’s a tuna salad and candy apples, and I have something else for you.”
Peter then handed the Zoo Keeper a Tiger.
Zorro the Zoo Keeper pointed to a cage. “Put the tiger in there. I’ll train it to jump through a big hoop. You have more packages for me?”
“Yes.” Peter the Postman then pulled out a silver box with knobs and buttons. “Here is a time machine for you.”
Zorro scratched his head. “I didn’t order one of those.”
Peter put it on the ground and they both stared at it.
Zorro pressed a few buttons and turned a big gold door knob. “Okay, I’ll go inside it and make sure it works.”
The first thing Zorro the Zoo Keeper saw was a house.
A floating house.
“This is so cool,” said Zorro. “With a floating house, I don’t have to cut the grass. And there’s a floating car. Good, don’t have to fill it with gas. That will save me a lot of money.”
Zorro looked around inside the Time Machine and saw a bunch of pink, purple, blue striped Tigers dressed in suits and carrying briefcases as they went to work, and their pets were people.
This is a strange place, thought Zorro the Zoo Keeper. “I don’t like staying in this time machine.”
He then punched a big red button and hoped that would get him back to the zoo. Round and round the machine went and landed with a thump.
Zorro opened the door and stepped out, standing in front of Peter the Postman again.
“Was that fun?” Peter asked.
“Kind of cool,” Zorro said. “Do you have anything else for me?”
The Postman took out a bunch of colorful balloons—red, orange, yellow, blue, green, striped ones, polka dot ones, some with stars and some with squiggly lines.
“Oh, these are beautiful,” said the Zoo Keeper. “I will give them to the kids who come to the zoo.”
“There’s happy flowers inside this box too,” said the Postman.
Zorro smiled. “I’ll give all those flowers to the mom’s that bring their kids to the zoo.”
Peter then took out a small wooden box. “The package also has this chest with a gold key stuck in it. I don’t know what it is. I am not allowed to open it. You have to open it.”
Zorro gulped and took a step back. “I think I’m afraid to open it. What if pirates jumps out?”
“Then give them your lunch,” said the Postman. “The tuna sandwich and candy apples will make them friendly.”
“Good idea,” said the Zoo Keeper.
Peter the Postman handed Zorro the Zoo Keeper the treasure chest with the gold key.
Zorro opened the chest and a silver fog came floating out of the treasure chest. He stepped back and his eyes went wide.
After the silver fog went away, a great big pig made out of diamonds popped out of the package.
A note was attached to the sparkling pig.
It said: “Beware—This is a treasure that will play a new trick everyday. Now turn this note over.
Zorro walked toward the diamond pig and turned the note over. It said: And eat chickens, because they make good chicken McNuggets.
Then a beautiful alien, dressed in a long, white and green polka-dotted dress appeared and flew down and stood beside the Zoo Keeper.
“Greetings,” said the alien. She was holding a big purse and when she opened it, the Zoo Keeper looked inside. There were pearls, rubies and sapphires.
“I’m Ally, from the Planet of Jewel,” said the Alien.” I come in peace and glitter.”
Ally the Alien smiled and the Zoo Keeper and Postman shook her gold and silver hand.
“Goodbye,” said the Postman. “I’m finished my deliveries.”
“Good luck on your job,” said the Zoo Keeper.
The Postman turned to leave, but a blue vapor surrounded him and he disappeared.
“Where did he go?” asked the Zoo Keeper.
Ally the alien smiled and said, “That was the President of Planet Jewel.”
The vapor swirled around Ally and she too disappeared.
Zorro the Zoo Keeper looked at all his gifts that were delivered, and scratched his head. “All in a day’s work, I guess.”
~~ The End ~~
I give these kids 5 stars! What do you think? Do you agree with my review 🙂
RECIPE
Fast, Easy Porkloin Roast:
Ingredients:
Boneless pork tenderloin (do not make this with diamond-studded pork 😉 )
4 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary (depending on the size of your pork loin roast you could add more)
Roasted Garlic (if you don’t have garlic already roasted, you can use a few garlic cloves, minced)
Olive Oil (about 1 TBSP)
Kosher Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 F
Make a slit through your pork loin roast, just enough for you to slip in the rosemary sprigs. Insert rosemary.
In a small bowl, mix the olive oil with garlic.
Rub the garlic on top of the roast, and also insert some in the slit that you made.
Add salt & pepper and a few sprigs of Rosemary on top of roast.
Bake EXACTLY for 5 and 1/2 minutes PER POUND at 500 F temperature.
Then turn your oven OFF and DO NOT open oven door for ONE HOUR.
Remove from oven, cover with foil and let the roast sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Slice and serve a moist roast pork loin dinner.
Please stop by and visit Pg Forte as she shares a BREAD PUDDING NEW ORLEANS STYLE by Pg Forte
Selena Robins, Author 
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