Legend Of The Great White Ape

     This is a story that I wrote for my children when they were still very young.  It was intended to be a story to be read out loud to children, and I was hoping to have the story illustrated some day.  I would still love to some day see it as a book.  So, if you know of anyone that loves to draw, I would love to see what they can do with this story.  Until then, if anyone reads this to their children, I would truly like your feedback on how it went.

Thank you, Brett

     Not so long ago, in a land called Idaho, there was a story of a great beast. The beast stood ten feet tall. He was covered from head to toe with thick white hair. The old folks thought he must be “Bigfoot” and many of the people called him “Sasquatch”, but now days he is just known as “The Great White Ape”.  Many people did not believe that he was real, but some did. Some people claimed to run into the great white ape while hiking up in the mountains of Idaho, and these people spoke of him as a terrible monster that would capture anybody who crossed his path. This was the legend of the great white ape.

     Jack Brave was an explorer, perhaps the greatest explorer that had ever lived. Jack loved to explore the mountains, and to take pictures of the marvelous creatures that he found while exploring. He had taken pictures of deer, elk, moose, mountain lions, bears, eagles, and all other types of creatures that can be found out in the wild. Jack even claimed to have pictures of a whole herd of jackelope. He was truly a great explorer.

     One day while visiting a tavern in Idaho, Jack heard the stories of the great white ape. Jack knew right away that he wanted to see the great beast for himself, so he could take pictures of this wonderful, scary creature. Jack also knew that this would be his most dangerous job ever, but Jack wasn’t afraid, he was Jack Brave.

     Jack would never be able to find the great white ape on his own, so he hired a mountain guide who knew right where the great white ape lived. The mountain guide was scared. He did not want to go anywhere near the great white ape. However, the mountain guide needed money, and Jack promised to pay him lots of money if he would just show Jack where the big beast lived. The mountain guide finally agreed, and on a dark rainy afternoon, the two started their journey into the Idaho wilderness.

     The journey took several days, and many times the mountain guide wanted to turn back because he was so scared, but each time he tried to turn back, Jack Brave would talk him out of it, and the two would continue on their journey. Finally, after ten days of walking through the Idaho wilderness, the guide stopped. Their journey had taken them many miles over wide rivers and huge mountains. They were almost there now. The mountain guide looked ahead and told Jack that he could find the great white ape up the trail a little farther in a large clearing. The mountain guide refused to get any closer to the beast that Jack was searching for, because he was much too scared.

     As the guide turned to leave, he gave Jack one last bit of advice. “The beast will be standing in the clearing, holding perfectly still. You can take all the pictures you want, but whatever you do, NEVER TOUCH HIM!” With that said, the guide turned and started back towards town as fast as he could go.

     Jack stood there for a moment, staring at the dark scary trail up ahead. Then he started for the clearing where he could find the great white ape.

     When Jack Brave reached the clearing, he could not believe what he saw. Right in the middle of the clearing was a huge beast that was covered with white hair from his head to his toes. The beast was even bigger and more scary than Jack had expected.  It must have stood at least twelve feet tall, and it looked strong enough to lift a whole house by itself, but the creature just stood there, not moving at all. Jack even thought that it might be nothing more than a statue, but remembering the words of the mountain guide, Jack did not dare to touch the great beast.

     Jack pulled out his camera, and spent the rest of the day taking pictures. Nobody had ever photographed the great white ape before, and Jack was sure that he would become even more famous when the rest of the world saw his pictures of the huge beast. Finally, Jack ran out of film, and he knew he should start his long journey home. However, first there was one thing that Jack Brave wanted to do. Jack wanted to touch the great white ape to see what it felt like. After all, the ape had stood there perfectly still while Jack had taken many pictures. What could it possibly hurt to touch the creature?

     Jack slowly moved towards the white beast. He got closer, and closer, and closer, until finally, he was close enough that he could reach out and touch the thick white hair. Jack Brave slowly reached out his hand, stopping just before he touched the beast.

     Should he do it?

     Jack decide he should. He reached out his hand, and touched the beast.

     “ GRRRRR!”, with a great big roar, the giant creature came to life.

     The great white ape truly looked frightening as it roared and came chasing after Jack Brave. It was all Jack could do to get away as the beast swung his huge arms at Jack. Jack dropped his camera and all of his belongings as he turned and ran from the terrifying monster. Jack no longer felt so brave, and he ran as fast as he could, in hopes of escaping the terrible monster. Then, as Jack reached the end of the clearing, he turned to see if he was still being chased by the great white ape.

     “GRRRRRRR!”, the monster was right there, closer than ever.

     Jack continued to run as fast as he could. Then Jack thought of a brilliant idea. Seeing a very large tree up ahead, he ran for it and jumped up into the low branches, climbing as fast as he possibly could. He climbed until he was right up to the top of the big tree, sure that he would now be safe.

     “GRRRRR!”,

     What? The monster could not have possibly followed Jack up the tree, but there he was, closer than ever and grabbing at Jack.

     Jack jumped out of the tree in hope of escaping the beast. He was very high up, but luckily Jack landed in a big deep river. The river swept Jack down it, banging him into rocks all the way, but soon Jack found a place he could get out of the mighty river. As he climbed the river bank, Jack felt that he would now be safe.

     “GGRRRR!”

     NO WAY! Yes, it was the great white ape still chasing right behind Jack.

     Jack was sore from banging into rocks and tired from running so far, but he couldn’t give up hope. Jack jumped to his feet and ran off as fast as his legs would carry him.

     The great white ape grabbed at Jack, but he missed him as Jack started running again.

     Jack soon found himself standing at the top of a very large cliff. If he jumped, Jack could get hurt, but Jack thought that this might be his last chance to escape the hideous monster chasing him. As the beast grabbed at him, Jack jumped from the cliff. Jack landed hard on the ground below and he could no longer run, but at least he was still alive.

     “GRRRRRR!”

     How could this be? The terrible monster was right there ready to grab at Jack.

     With all the strength that Jack had left, he began to crawl away as fast as he could. Finally, after several miles of crawling, Jack could go no farther. The chase was over, Jack had to stop.

     The great white ape had been chasing Jack the whole time, and now he had finally caught up with Jack Brave. The monster slowly moved in closer to Jack. Closer, closer, now he was right over top of Jack. The great white ape looked as if he was about to do something very very terrible to Jack. Then the beast reached towards Jack with his huge hand.

     He touched Jack Brave softly and said, “Tag, now you’re it.”.

     Then the great white ape turned and ran off into the woods never to be seen again. All along, the kind beast had thought they were only playing a game of tag.

The End