Twelve Upon a Time…

by Edward Galluzzi

  Drawings By:

  Adam, Sarah, Sharon and Hannah Bocik

  CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  Twelve Upon A Time…

  Copyright ©1988, 2001, 2009, 2010 by Edward Galluzzi

  ISBN-13 978-1-926918-30-3

  Third Edition

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Galluzzi, Edward, 1951-

  Twelve upon a time [ electronic resource ] / Edward Galluzzi;

  drawings by Adam [Bocik] … [et al.]. – 3rd ed.

  ISBN 978-1-926918-30-3

  Also available in print format.

  I. Bocik, Adam II. Title.

  PS3607.A423T84 2009 813'.6 C2009-906861-3

  Additional cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada

  Illustrated by Adam, Sarah, Sharon and Hannah Bocik.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

  Publisher: CCB Publishing

  British Columbia, Canada

  www.ccbpublishing.com

  Twelve Upon A Time...

  “A Keepsake Book”

  Presented With Love To

  Presented With Love By

  Date

  Acknowledgements

  I wish to express my appreciation and gratefulness to Joe and Ellen Bocik, my neighbor and friends, who through their kindness and generosity enabled their children, Adam Joseph Bocik (age 12), Sarah Elizabeth Bocik (age 10) and Sharon Rose Bocik (age 7), to create their original drawings that unfold in each story. I also wish to thank Hannah Joy Bocik (age 7 months) for her contribution (the readers are left to their ingenuity and imagination to identify Hannah’s sole and exclusive drawing). The Bocik children’s 144 colored drawings reproduced here in black and white are not only beautiful, but they were created with little information and represent the genuine imagination only children can bring to life. Their drawings enhance each of the 12 stories and provide parents and their children an enriching experience beyond words. It is with deep gratitude that I thank Adam, Sarah, Sharon and baby Hannah.

  Table of Contents

  January: Bronto’s Visitors from Another Time

  February: Surprised by a Secret Admirer

  March: Goggy and His Pot of Gold

  April: The Great Festival of Rabbunia

  May: The Mother’s Day Surprise

  June: Memories in Five Balloons

  July: Furly and Kurly Color the Flag

  August: The “Yad Gnihton Taerg” on the Mirror Planet

  September: The Underground Adventure

  October: Trick or Treat with Bitty the Bat

  November: ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving…

  December: The Magical Cane to Christmas’ Journey

  Introduction

  Twelve Upon A Time... is a storybook for families. It was written to provide a way for families to share family time, that precious and increasingly limited time between mothers, fathers and their children. Each monthly story is unique and illustrated by the original drawings of children whose interpretation of the words can only be seen through their eyes. The stories are written to assist the imagination of children and to strengthen the parent and child bond through the sharing of heartwarming, silly, absurd and believably impossible tales.

  January: Bronto’s Visitors from Another Time follows the adventures of a family back to the time of prehistoric dinosaurs and their search for the time portal that began their misadventure on New Year’s Eve. February: Surprised by a Secret Admirer explores the growing friendship between two children and their special celebration of Valentine’s Day. March: Goggy and His Pot of Gold unfolds in the legendary country of Iarland in the town of Glocky Nora where children search for a leprechaun and his pot of gold. April: The Great Festival of Rabbunia follows the adventures of children to the mythical land of Rabbunia where they celebrate the Great Festival with the inhabitants of Rabbunia. May: The Mother’s Day Surprise tells the story of how children and animals strive to surprise a special mom on Mother’s Day. June: Memories in Five Balloons is a story of how a family survives with the death of their father and how they keep alive his memories each Father’s Day.

  July: Furly and Kurly Color the Flag celebrates the birth of our country by visiting the woman who knitted our flag on our first birthday. August: The “Yad Gnihton Taerg” on the Mirror Planet celebrates the “Yad Gnihton Taerg” on the mirror planet Tenalp in the central city of Rorrim, a celebration that occurs just once every 500 years. September: The Underground Adventure shares the heartwarming story about animal friends who want to make the end of summer a special one for their human friends before going back to school. October: Trick or Treat with Bitty the Bat looks at the tradition of Halloween through the eyes of creature friends. November: ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving... is a Thanksgiving story that unfolds in rhyme. December: The Magical Cane to Christmas’ Journey celebrates the warmth of the holiday season with a family whose children share the Christmas’ past of their parents through the magic and wonder of a special candy cane.

  So sit back and relax with your children and cuddle up in that special place in your home as you enjoy the adventures that unfold one month at a time for a whole year in Twelve Upon A Time...

  This Page Scribbled Intentionally

  January: Bronto’s Visitors from Another Time

  Once upon a time... Oh, please, perhaps you were expecting a different kind of story starter? May I continue?

  Once upon a time, a time long ago or just like yesterday, depending on your point of view, Don, Jane and their children, Donja and Amanda, sat at their stone table for breakfast. They lived in a cave that they have since come to know as “home.” It was trying at times for the family to live among prehistoric creatures. Amanda, Donja and their parent’s world indeed was turned topsy-turvy and it all happened one New Year’s Eve.

  Six months ago, Donja, Amanda and their parents were at the museum for children on New Year’s Eve. They were attending a special presentation of “The Land of the Dinosaurs.” Dinosaurs from the two distinct groups that evolved early in their history were exhibited: the saurischians and ornithischians.

  Amanda related the exhibit information to her family about the saurischians. She read that saurischians (lizard-hipped dinosaurs) had pelvic girdles common to lizards with three prongs to each side. Saurischians on display at the museum were the two-legged Tyrannosaurs and the four-legged Brontosaurus.

  Donja read the exhibit information to her family about the ornithischians. She shared that ornithischians (bird-hipped dinosaurs) had bird-like pelvic girdles with four prongs to each side. Ornithischians on display at the museum were the four-legged Stegosaur and two-legged Duck-billed dinosaur.

  Donja and Amanda often studied dinosaurs. As they viewed the mammoth dinosaurs on display, the girls never guessed they would actually live among them.

  Amanda and Donja wore their backpacks on this museum trip. They were filled with survival items like bottles of pop, Twinkies, popcorn, nail clippers and lipstick to mention a few. As they walked among the exhibitions at the museum, their interest was drawn to a cave display of early man. The generation that knows computers, television, VCRs, telephones and all the other technological advancements had some difficulty relating to the stark stone materials and utensils of the time. Amanda and Donja turned to each other and said, “This just won’t do, wouldn’t you say sis?”

  Donja and Amanda followed their parents into th
e opening of the cave. It was late and they heard the museum clock chime twelve. Amanda, Donja and their parents wished each other “Happy New Year.” All of a sudden, everybody knew that something was not right. They wobbled as they walked through this gel-like stuff and found themselves in an unfamiliar land. Donja and Amanda grew afraid and clutched each other for reassurance. Amanda and her family were no longer in their own time. Their parents looked at each other in some amazement knowing only that they were now living in earth’s past—way past… way, way, way past! They stood midway between a forest ahead of them and a cave-like structure behind them. As they stood frozen in their steps, loud creature noises were heard from a short distance away. It was not long before the source of the clamor displayed itself—unbelievably, a tall-bearing dinosaur.

  Donja and her family ran toward what looked like a cavern opening in the distance. Upon reaching the entrance, Amanda’s parents made a quick search of the entrance and decided whatever was inside was probably safer than what they saw outside. So in they went, like rabbits they scurried, to the safety of the rock formation.

  The dinosaur had not yet approached the cave. They peeked outside and gazed at the mammoth creature. It was at that moment that Amanda shouted, “We’re OK! That’s a Brontosaurus!” Donja and her parents admired Amanda’s dinosaur identification adeptness, but this hardly reassured them. They stared at Amanda in such a way that elicited her to repeat: “It’s a Brontosaurus!” As such knowledge did not improve her family’s understanding of the situation, Amanda continued, “It’s herbivorous. It just eats trees, plants and grasses.”

  Donja and her parents appeared somewhat relieved at Amanda’s disclosure. They sat quietly and peered at the Brontosaurus as it nibbled among the nearby trees. A small lake was beside the trees. Donja broke the silence and said: “I think I call it ‘Bronto’ for short.” Donja was known for her love of animals and the boarding of all types of creatures. Her menagerie of such creatures at home would attest to that. Amanda and her parents also knew well enough not to contest her naming of them. So “Bronto” it would be.

  Bronto stopped chewing on the tree limb as it caught a glimpse of humanoids near the opening of the cave. In dinosaur-like strides, it pounced in the direction of the cave. Amanda and her family retreated into the mouth of the cavern.

  Beyond its size, Bronto did not appear ferocious or frightening. Its facial features were rather inviting and kindhearted in expression. As Bronto approached the cave, Don and Jane withdrew further within the safety of the cave with their daughters. Bronto was now as close to the cave opening as its proportions permitted. It peered in search of the humanoids it had glimpsed just moments before.

  Donja and her family slowly crept forward toward the cavern entrance. They soon could see Bronto, which meant that Bronto could see them. Each eyed each other perhaps more curiously than cautiously. As Amanda and Donja reached the cave opening, Bronto stretched its neck as far as it could. It stared at the girls, blinking its eyes and seemingly smiling. Donja drew closer and reached out toward Bronto. It was not startled and did not move. Donja touched its face softly. “Well, she’s made another friend” thought Donja’s family. Amanda soon joined Donja and both were patting Bronto’s head. Bronto did not seem to mind and smiled as well as a Brontosaurus could smile.

  Darkness was setting on the four humanoids. Don and Jane guessed that they must be on earth more than 65 million years ago. This was their belief since it was about 65 million years ago when dinosaurs disappeared from earth. They also knew that dinosaurs unlike Bronto roamed the earth. These dinosaurs were carnivorous and likely a threat to themselves and their children. Their counterparts also would not spare herbivorous dinosaurs.

  Donja and Amanda’s parents instructed them to gather anything that might burn, but to stay together and near the cavern entrance. They would need some manner of light and heat during the night. As the girls gathered what material they could, their parents prepared the cave for a fire and places to sleep. It would be difficult to rest under such circumstances, but there would be much to do in the morning.

  Amanda, Donja and their parents got what rest they could that night. Bronto stood nearby the cave that served as some comfort to the family, especially to the sisters. As the girls drifted off to sleep, their parents discussed their plans for the morning. They had to find food and water for survival. They also needed to discover how they were transported to this long ago time and how they were to return to their own time over 65 million years in the future. Their discussion gave way to their tiredness. Don and Jane fell asleep and rested like their daughters. The fire that was built was no more than cinders now. It was morning. Donja was the first awaken by morning’s light. Her sister and parents remained asleep. Donja approached the cave entrance. Bronto was not standing in the spot that it occupied last night. Donja looked around but did not see Bronto. Yet, she heard many creature noises in the distance. Donja ran back into the cave and gently awakened her sister and parents.

  The four humanoids on the planet of dinosaurs had survived their first night. Survival was foremost in the minds of Amanda’s parents. They explained to their daughters that it was time to look for food and water. Water may not be a problem as they remembered the small lake nearby the trees where they first spotted Bronto.

  Amanda and her family began their trek toward the small lake. They heard many animal noises in the distance, but did not see any creatures nearby. They were prepared, however, to make a dash back to the cave if necessary. Don and Jane stopped near the site they first entered from their own time. They search briefly for an entrance, a time portal, an opening... they were not sure what they were searching for; yet, they knew that returning to their own time must be linked to their arrival to this area.

  The girls were first to reach the group of trees near the lake. The herbivorous dinosaurs ravished some of the trees. The family reached the lake with no sign of other living things. They filled what Amanda and Donja had in their backpacks that could hold water. For food, they would have to go beyond the tree line and hope they did not encounter other creatures of the earth.

  Don and Jane led the way into the small forest. As hoped, they encountered various berry bushes and fruit trees. They picked what they could and what their daughters’ backpacks would hold. The noises of the forest grew louder and the earth shook under their feet. Friend or foe they did not know. Nobody had to tell anybody that it was time to retreat to the safety of the cave. Amanda, Donja and their parents ran back to the safety of the cave.

  As Donja’s parents put away the collected supplies, her sister and she sat at the cave entrance. The unknown noises in the distance were both scary and intriguing. Reading about things present and past in textbooks is one thing. Living and interacting with the experience is quite another.

  As Amanda and Donja talked at the cavern entrance, they spotted Bronto in the distance heading toward them. They yelled, “Mom! Dad! Bronto is here!” The girls ran out of the cave to meet Bronto. Bronto stopped short of the girls not wanting to frightened them. After a moment, it extended its neck down as far as it would stretch. The girls patted Bronto’s head as they had done before. A bonding of sorts between past and present was developing, a bonding between the herbivorous and the girls.

  Their parents looked on believing that their daughters could tame just about anything. As that thought hung in the air, a loud, angry, screeching cry was heard coming from the lake by the trees. Even Bronto appeared unnerved by the wail. Amanda, Donja and their parents headed toward the safety of the cave.

  Once in the cave, Amanda and her family peered out of the opening. Although the screeching cries grew louder, they did not see anything. They expected that something quite large was heading their way. Yet, they heard everything and saw nothing.

  The cries grew louder. Donja and Amanda soon spotted a small lizard-like dinosaur coming toward them. It was no taller than their knees, but it sure was loud. It was a rather silly looking dinosaur. It ha
d large green eyes, a bump in the middle of its forehead, two noses, wide floppy ears and long thin tail. Bronto returned near the cave entrance to see what all the fuss was about. The lizard-like dinosaur stopped near the entrance of the cave, but kept screeching like a pig squealing in the mud.

  Amanda and Donja did not know how to talk to Screecher (that’s what they named it). It just kept walking in a circle and screeching. Then Donja noticed a limp in its walk. She moved slowly toward Screecher, stopping for a few minutes after each step so as not to scare the little dinosaur away. Amanda looked on as Donja stopped right in front of Screecher. The dinosaur seemed calmed by Donja’s presence and gradually stopped its chatter. Donja sat on the ground and was now eyeball-to-eyeball with Screecher. It stared at Donja for a moment; then, as if satisfied that she was no threat, lifted its right leg. Now Donja knew why Screecher was screeching for in its foot lodged deeply was a splintered bone from another animal.

  Donja yelled, “Amanda, get mom and dad! Quick!” Amanda disappeared in the cave and returned shortly with her parents. Donja said to her father, “Dad, Screecher has a bone buried in its foot. What can we do?” Her dad replied, “So you named it already?” Amanda and Donja yelled, “Dad!” Their father called out, “OK! OK!” He walked slowly toward Screecher. He asked his daughters to get their backpacks. Their father saw that the bone embedded itself further into Screecher’s foot with each step that it took.

  Amanda and Donja returned with their backpacks and walked slowly near their father. Their father took hold of the bone, but was unable to dislodge it from Screecher’s foot. Screecher started screeching once again.