The Adventure: A Tale of Christopher, Donkey, and The Jabberwocky

Once upon a time there was a royal family. In that family there was a father and son, king and prince. Christopher’s mother had left her position as queen to become an ordinary peasant. The kingdom right now is thriving, and Christopher is thought of very highly. However, this was not the same before. Let me rewind the story for you…

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Christopher and his father were sitting in the palace living room discussing Christophor’s future, when one of the servants came running into the room.

“Sir, Sir,” the servant said, “the main stable has been burned down!”

“By who?” Christophor’s father said. 

“The Jabberwocky’s work, sir,” the servant said. “The only animal saved was a delusional donkey.” For the next few days, Christophor and his father have gotten endless reports of Jabberwocky's doing. They heard of the Jabberwocky holding Christophor’s  half cousin for ransom. Christopher and his father had also heard of all the vegetables being smushed, and all the livestock disappearing from multiple main farms. Most importantly, Chrisophor and his father had heard of an evacuated village being burned down and a note left in the ruin saying that this could be the castle next, signed by the Jabberwocky, Jub Jub bird, and the Bandersnatch. 

“Son,” Christophor’s father called Christophor one day. “You are just a scrawny prince, but I have no other sons, so you will become king one day. You want to live up to the family name, and make a name for yourself? Go kill the beast, the loathsome  Jabberwocky.” 

After listening to his father speak, Christopher thought to himself: At least my father thinks I have potential. It will be scary and life threatening, but in the end I will take the risk so that my father will be proud of me. 

“Yes Father, I will leave in three days, but for now I must prepare,” Christophor said. Now my friends, this is just the start of Christopher's adventure.

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One day before Christopher leaves

“Son,” Christopher’s father said. “I would have given you a horse, but they have all been killed in the barn fire. Instead, I will give you a donkey as your companion on your journey.” Christophor’s father leaned in and whispered out of the donkey's hearing,  “He's been driving me absolutely crazy, good luck with him.” 

“HELLO! I'm Donkey! Do YOU like adventure? I DO! I’m SO excited!” The donkey said while jumping from excitement. 

“Ugh,” Christopher sighed dramatically, then left for his room.

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Day of Christophor’s departure 

“Goodbye son!” Christopher's father said. “Be good and make the family proud!”

“Goodbye Christopher,” the townspeople said in unison, “goodbye!” 

And so, Christopher went off to find and kill the Jabberwocky. Christopher walked days and days through the forest before coming across any evidence of the Jabberwocky. After an exhausting five days Christophor came across a burnt down village with a trail of footprints the size of a massive bear. Christopher knew that this was the work of the Jabberwocky. Christopher followed the footprints for hours and hours. As he walked, he thought to himself: I wonder where the Jabberwocky went? Is the Jub Jub bird and the Bandersnatch with them? Now readers, Christopher walked and walked straight, until he came to a fork in the road. The footprints had come to an end, so Christopher had to decide which way he would go. Left or right. 

“Now this is a road bump,” Donkey said.

 “I know,” said Christophor, “which way do we go?”

 “Oh no, " Donkey said, “I was talking about this rock, but now thinking of it, I guess that is a problem too. Just follow where your true heart is.” 

Donkey whispered to himself quietly, That was a good one, Donkey! Now what Christophor does not need to know is that I saw that sappy quote off of a poster in my middle school teachers room.  Now, Christopher was not very bright, so he figured that his heart was on the left of his body, so he must turn left. Satisfied with this answer he went along to the left and walked for hours and hours. Finally, Christopher  came across more footprints leading up to a shed. The Jabberwocky must be in here, Christopher thought. Christopher walked up and…

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5 years before Christopher left

“Dad, Dad!” Christopher said. 

“Can't you see I'm busy,” Christopher’s father said. “I'm in a meeting, now GO!”

“But I got all hundreds on my report card! Aren't you proud?”

“That is what is expected of you, now SCRAM,” Christopher’s father said. He will never be proud of me. I'm not good enough for him, Christopher thought to himself.

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Present day

“YOU GOT THIS CHRISTOPHER!” Donkey screamed enthusiastically, and with that, Christopher swiftly crept up to the shed, silent as a mouse, fast as a cheetah. Christopher positioned himself in front of the door, ready to kick it down. Christopher braced his body for attack, but the next moment ran as fast as light. Now readers, Christophor did not kick down the door and slay the Jabberwocky as he had planned. Instead, he ran. He ran and ran into the bushes back to Donkey.

 “Didya do it?” Donkey said.

 “No, didn't you see? I ran away,” Christopher confessed.

“Hm, of course I did, not. Sorry, I got distracted.” 

“Why? Did you see the Jub Jub bird or the Bandersnatch?” Christopher said, intrigued.

 “Uhh, no,” Donkey said sheepishly, “ I saw a butterfly! It was red and black all over!” He’s hopeless, Christopher thought as he hid in the bushes waiting to redeem himself. My father was right. Wait, if he was right about Donkey, then is he right about me? Am I really scrawny and weak? Do I really have no future as king? Now readers, at that moment Christiphor  was starting to second guess himself and his ability to kill the Jabberwocky. Hm, Christopher thought. Should I just stay in the woods forever?  Then, Christopher realized something crucial. He was the last pure royal. He had no close relatives other than his father. Christopher thought, if I run away from the duties I have as a royal prince, there will be no more royals after my father dies. I need to do this for my kingdom. For my father. For myself. I CAN do this. It was at that moment that the Jabberwocky emerged from the shed. It was HUGE. The Jabberwocky was as big as a small bus, red and black like a black widow spider and as scary as the thought of the Earth blowing up.

“Oh whoopsie daisy,” Donkey said. “That's what I saw –not a butterfly!”

Ok this is the moment. Christopher thought to himself. I can do this. And so, Christopher snuck up to the Jabberwocky, determined to succeed. He pulled out…

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Five years ago

“A sword! Thank you so much, Dad! 

“Christophor,” his father said. “I already have low expectations for you, but I need you to do one thing for me.”

“Yes, yes, anything you'd like father,” said Christophor.

“When the time is right,” Christophor’s father explained. “You are to use this sword. Do you agree?”

Christophor jumped up and replied, “Of course, Father, anything to make you proud!”

“Very well then, I will tell you a story.” Christopher’s father said. “Once upon a time, there was me, Peter Henry Jonas V. My father too told me to go kill something similar to the Jabberwocky, but there was a whole army of them. They were called Slithy Toves. I hate to admit it, Christophor, but I was extremely cocky. I then went with full confidence, and got this close to killing all of them, until I chickened out. I ran home to your grandmother and told her that I did not want to do it.” 

“Really, Father?” Christopher asked.

“Yes, Christopher. Now where was I? Oh yes, I remember now. Your grandmother told me that if I did not go out there and chickened out, then I would never have mango, almond, chocolate ice cream ever again. Now Christophor, at the time, mango, almond, chocolate ice cream was my favorite thing in the world. After your grandmother and grandfather, of course. So, I went back out there with a bravery that I had never had before. I walked and walked with a new confidence. Now, this is the interesting part. When I went to kill the army of Slithy Toves, my sword had turned into a magical thing. It could slice through anything and everything. After that transformation, I came home to my whole village greeting and congratulating me. It was the best day ever.”

“Woww!” Christopher said in amazement.  Father is so brave, Christopher thought to himself. I hope that one day the sword also transforms for me– it would be so cool.

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Present day

Determined to make his father proud and slay the Jabberwocky, Christophor pulled out his sword, and ran full speed at the scaly monster.

“You got this Christophor!” Donkey screamed enthusiastically. “I believe in you! I also believe in TACOS! Ooh a taco sounds  rEAl good right now!”

“Donkey, focus,” our future hero said, annoyed while still running full speed at the Jabberwocky. Christophor pulled out his sword which had turned an emerald green. He finally knew what his father had meant by the sword transforming. Chrisophor’s childhood dream was about to come true, and he knew that this was his time to shine. The sword gleamed a vibrant green in the sunlight. Clash. Boom. 

Christophor and the Jabberwocky fought hard. With Christopher’s new sense of confidence, they were an even match. Christopher would attack with his sword, and the Jabberwocky would block it by stepping out of the way. The two fearsome opponents went back and forth for a very long time, and Christopher was starting to lose hope, until, “Slice his head off like you slice pizza, or tacos! Hmm tacos still sound really good right now!” Donkey said. The best idea he’s had yet, Christophor thought to himself. Christophor lunged with his invincible sword and caught the Jabberwocky by surprise and beheaded it.  Dark green blood oozed out of the dead Jabberwocky, a slight shimmer to the blood. 

“Is it just me, or is that pickle juice?” Donkey asked, “Oh great, now I want a taco WITH pickle juice!”

“ I have done it!” Christophor yelled in triumph while holding the beheaded Jabberwocky.

“Great job Christophor! I knew you could do it! You know what this calls for? A TACO FEAST! TACOS! TACOS!” Donkey said. 

So readers, Christophor and Donkey walked back with pep in their step the entire way back. After hours and hours of walking, Christopher and Donkey had finally reached the front of the castle, which was filled with people from the village. Christopher, who had been holding the head of the Jabberwocky the entire walk, lifted it up for everyone to see.

“Son,” Christopher’s father said. “Have you killed the Jabberwocky? Come here my beaming boy.”

“Christopher, Christopher,” the adoring children said. “Can we get you anything? Food? Water?”

“Sure…”Christopher almost said.

“No.” Christophor’s father said. “Christophor, politely decline.”

“Ok.” Christophor said. “Actually, wait, no. You have pushed me around my entire life! It’s time I say no! Yes, I would like some water and tacos please,” Christopher said with a smirk on his face.

“OOH YES! ME TOO,” Donkey said. “I WANT TACOS! Can I get ten with pickle sauce, and ranch?”

And so, Christopher, his father, and Donkey lived happily ever after. With pickles.

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The End.

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