Once upon a time, in the bustling town called Collegeville, lived a young man named Victor Van Bremen. Victor was twenty years old, a typical college student with a head full of dreams and a bag full of books. Every morning, he’d drive to campus, humming a tune, until one day—wham!—his drive turned into quite the harrowing adventure.
That day, as Victor was driving to class, a loud 'HONK! HONK!' echoed through the streets. Startled, Victor looked around and saw a car pulling up beside him. 'Roll down your window!' shouted the driver, flailing his arms like a windmill.
Confused, but curious, Victor rolled down his window. The other driver, red-faced and huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf, growled, 'You think you can cut me off like that and get away with it?'
Victor blinked in surprise. 'I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize,' he said, trying to calm the growling grizzly. But the stranger was as steamed as a kettle, not ready to simmer down. 'My car almost crashed because of you!' he bellowed, eyes blazing like two hot coals.
Despite Victor’s apologies, the driver’s temper roared louder than a lion. 'You need to learn some manners!' he shouted. Victor, in a cloud of confusion and a sea of nerves, decided to drive away, hoping to find peace.
As he drove, Victor felt the weight of the encounter pressing on him. But little did he know, that was just the start of a peculiar series of events. His day was about to twist and turn like a roller coaster.
Later that day, while walking to class, Victor stumbled upon a talking squirrel! 'Hey there, student! Care for a nutty riddle?' it chattered. Victor’s eyes widened. A talking squirrel was the cherry on top of his bizarre day.
The squirrel, with a twinkle in its eye, said, 'I’m the wisest squirrel of all! Solve my riddle, and your worries will fall!' Intrigued, Victor nodded. 'What has keys but can’t open locks?' asked the squirrel.
Victor thought and thought. Suddenly, he knew the answer! 'A piano!' he exclaimed. The squirrel clapped its tiny paws. 'Well done, young scholar! Now, follow the music to clear your days of bewilderment.'
Guided by the squirrel’s words, Victor marched on, feeling lighter. He reached his classroom, where his favorite professor greeted him with a grand 'Ta-da!' Suddenly, everyone burst into song, turning his day upside-down in the most delightful way.
His classmates sang, 'Oh Victor, oh Victor, the bravest we’ve seen! Though his day began rough, he stayed calm and serene!' Victor laughed and danced, feeling the odd tension of the morning disappear like mist in the sunlight.
That day ended with a swirl of laughter, music, and newfound friends. Victor learned that sometimes, strange encounters lead to whimsical adventures. And as he lay down to sleep, he thought, ‘What a wonderfully weird world!’
Reflection Questions