THE BLANKET

Once upon a time there was a blanket named B.

B was a very special blanket.

It belonged to a little person called Sam.

B went everywhere with Sam.
During the day it trailed along behind…

during the night it helped Sam to sleep.

One day, B even saved Sam’s life.

Sam and Mum went for a walk.

Naturally, B went too.

Sam’s Mum walked a long way. Sam got very tired.

‘I want to go home on the bus, Mum.’

Sam was not happy.

‘I’m tired! Wait for me. Walk slower!’

But Sam’s Mum was in a hurry. She walked faster and faster. Sam got further and further behind.

They entered the forest. Sam’s mother was just a small figure, far in front of them.

Sam was very cross. ‘So what if Mum is a long way ahead? I’ll walk home on my own!’

Sam arrived at a place where the path divided in two.

Which way had Mum gone? Sam peered into the trees. Mum was nowhere in sight.

Sam looked around.

The trees seemed very large... the ground seemed very rough... and the bushes very close together.

It was getting darker by the minute. Day was changing into night.

Sam listened. There were noises...

and scuffling sounds.

Sam was very scared and clutched hold of B. It was dark and cold...

and they were lost in the woods.

Sam shivered. It was definitely very chilly.

Sam was about to sit and cry, when B pulled. The blanket was stuck on a bush. Sam looked. There, behind B, was a large tree – a very large tree.

In the tree, at just the right height for Sam to climb into, was a hole.

It could be safe in there!
Sam climbed into the hole.

B wrapped itself right round Sam so that only the top of Sam’s head was poking out.

B cuddled around Sam, keeping the heat in and the cold out.

Sam felt quite warm, and almost safe.

It was very late.

When Mum and the policeman eventually found Sam, the policeman whistled.

‘Well, it’s lucky that Sam had the blanket. Without that, a little person could die of cold!’

They carried Sam home, where there was a warm bed ...

a hot water bottle ...

warm milk and biscuits...

and, of course, Sam’s very own blanket to cuddle all night!

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© Hamilton Reading Project 2002