Lauryn was relieved they wouldn’t need to reach the summit of Mount Craggleheart. As Pico explained, they were actually heading for a cave about halfway up — a cave that would take them through a tunnel to the other side of the mountains. Halfway up or not, getting to the cave entrance made the entire journey so far look like a picnic in the park.
On the first day, they encountered perilous precipices and catastrophic crevices that threatened to send Lauryn and Pico plummeting to their doom.
Day two brought a blinding, blustering blizzard that caused the two adventurers to lose their way and wander the wrong direction for hours.
By the third day, the temperatures dropped to 40 below, forcing them to huddle together for warmth and turning their leftover wild walnut soup into wild walnut popsicles.
It didn’t matter much, because their fourth night saw a pack of snow wolves raid their camp and gobble up their frozen foodstuffs.
The next morning got off to a rough start as well, when a little burp from Pico triggered an avalanche that carried them all the way back to their campsite from day three.
And just when they thought they were making good progress, they ran into a pack of yodelling yetis. They turned out to be cousins of Clyde and insisted that Lauryn and Pico join them for an afternoon of Craggleheart karaoke.
Despite the wild weather, the setbacks and the steep climbs, Lauryn and Pico persevered, taking one frostbitten step at a time.
And a full week after leaving Junkyard Hollow, they finally heaved themselves over the lip of the ledge that led to the cave entrance.
“We made it!” said Pico, huffing and puffing.
But from where she stood, Lauryn knew better than to celebrate just yet. That’s because a landslide of Clyde-sized boulders had completely blocked the mouth of the cave.
“Huh,” said Lauryn. “How about that?” She then plonked herself down into the snow and proceeded to have a proper good cry. Pico joined in a moment later.
Twelve-and-a-half minutes later, the two wiped the final tears from their cheeks and returned their attention to the problem at hand. Even with her trusty rusty shovel, Lauryn knew they could only clear away a small handful of the rubble at best.
It was simply too much. “We can’t do this,” she sighed.
Pico tapped his foot on the ground, his hands on his hips. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. “You’re absolutely right!” he declared. “We can’t do this … At least not by ourselves.”
With a wink, he brushed a layer of snow off his suitcase, unsnapped the latches and stuck his head inside. Perplexed, Lauryn watched him rummage about. “But we are by ourselves,” she said. “… Aren’t we?”
“Not when you’ve got a buddy beacon!” Pico replied, emerging from the suitcase with what looked like a large firecracker.
Lauryn remained perplexed. “You’ll see,” Pico said with another wink.
He then struck a match on a nearby rock, lit the fuse and pulled Lauryn a safe distance away. The two crouched behind a boulder, cringing in anticipation as the hissing fuse sputtered its way into the firecracker.
The ledge went silent for a second or two, making Lauryn wonder if the firecracker had fizzled out. But before she could share her concern with Pico, the buddy beacon came to life, rocketing into the air with a mighty WHOOSH! before erupting in a spectacularly colourful BOOM!
It was a lovely display. But Lauryn didn’t know how it was going to help them move all those rocks.
She didn’t have to wait long to find out.
Because suddenly a series of crackles and pops could be heard behind them, filling the air with colourful sparks and thick smoke.
And when that smoke cleared, Lauryn could hardly believe her eyes. In front of them stood the most unexpected collection of friends imaginable.
The Ballyhoo Bean. Captain Codger. Clyde. Lady Lou and SCRAPS. Even the yodelling yetis were there.
Lauryn looked at Pico in bewildered delight. “The buddy beacon!” he said with a smile. “Looks like we’re not as alone as you thought.”
And so, the team got to work, hauling away boulders one by one, hour after hour, until the gaping cave entrance finally came into view.
That night, the curious crew sat around a campfire in the mouth of the cave, sharing stories and singing songs until a very grateful Lauryn finally closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. And by the time she opened them again, the magic of the buddy beacon had faded, sending her friends back to where they came from in colourful clouds of crackles and pops.
.
Ideas for your own journey!
Like the landslide blocking the cave entrance, life often hands us challenges that we can’t tackle alone. Yes, admitting you need backup can be tough. But no matter who you are — or how talented you might be — we all need to lean on the strengths and support of others from time to time.
That means asking for help when you need it and letting people lend a hand when they offer.
Who can you turn to for support when you’re going through a tough time? Who are your rocks: the ones you can depend on, no matter what? Who do you know who can provide you with motivation? Some expert advice? A listening ear? A light-hearted distraction for an hour or two?
Just like the Ballyhoo Bean showed Lauryn that tools come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so do the various roles your team members can play.
The first people to come to mind might be your family and friends. But sometimes you may not feel comfortable talking to them about what you’re going through. And sometimes they simply aren’t equipped to provide you with the support you need. So you may need to look beyond your immediate circle to find people who can offer the right help and make you feel seen, heard and understood.
And that’s OK! Because there are all kinds of caring individuals out there who want to lend a helping hand. Your teachers and guidance counsellors. Doctors and therapists. Support groups, clubs and the person on the other end of a helpline. The list goes on and on.
Take some time to identify some of the key players who can help you. Once you’ve identified your teammates, talk to them. Whether you formally invite them to be part of your journey is up to you. But it’s important to know who you can turn to when times get tough.
Because when you’re facing an obstacle, you should never be afraid to bust out your buddy beacon.
DESERT ISLAND DREAM TEAM
Desert Island Dream Team is a fun way to pass the time and reflect on the importance of teamwork. Here’s how it works:
- Imagine you’ve been stranded on a desert island.
- Players then take turns identifying who they would want to be on their team to help them survive on the island — and explaining why they’re a good choice. Maybe you know someone who’s a nurse and can help keep your team healthy. Maybe you have a farmer in your social circle who could help you grow food.
- Ideally, choose from a pool of people you both know. Or open it up to celebrities, historical figures or even fictional characters.
- Once a person has been recruited onto a team, no one else can pick that person.
- And to avoid hurt feelings, make it a rule that anyone playing the game is off limits and can’t be picked for a team.
It’s a silly game. But it can help you recognize the valuable — and varied — contributions others have to offer. And at the same time, it can get you thinking about the people in your life who you may be able to turn to when you need support.
NEXT: CHAPTER 7 – MURKYMUCK CAVERNS
PREVIOUS: CHAPTER 5 – JUNKYARD HOLLOW
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