The Dirt Queen and the Bubble King
“I can’t!
I shan’t!
I won’t get in the bath!
The bubbles prick my eyes.
The water wrinkles my skin.
I can’t, I shan’t go in!”
Little Sam scrunched his face and bunched his fists.
“But you’ll be dirty,” said Sam’s mum.
“I want to have the dirt!” cried Sam.
Sam’s mum looked at Sam’s dad.
“Your turn,” she said.
“You are old enough now, Sam,” said Sam’s dad, “To hear about the dirt and the bubbles.”
“The dirt lives on your skin full of grubs, bugs, and nasty things which want to make you itchy.”
Sam gasped. He did not like being itchy.
“But that’s why you have baths. Baths have bubbles in them and the bubbles fight the dirt.”
“The most important bubble, is the Bubble King. He is the biggest and strongest of the bubbles and he gets rid of lots of the nasty dirt especially the Dirt Queen.”
“The Bubble King is the lord of the suds,
He’ll protect you from dirt from the Queen of the mud.
He’s slippy, he’s slidy.
He keeps neat and tidy.
You’ll sparkle all thanks to the bubb-el-ly King.”
“Look! I think he’s in there,” Sam’s dad said, staring at the bath. “Would you like to meet him?”
Sam nodded excitedly and got into the bath.
“Now he’s very shy and sometimes will disappear,” said Sam’s dad
“Hold out your hands nice and carefully.”
Sam held out his hands which were now wrinkly from the water.
Sam’s dad put some bubbles in his hands and there he was. The Bubble King!
“Hello Mr Bubble King,” Sam whispered.
The Bubble King waved and then disappeared with a POP!
“All done now Sam, the dirt has gone away. Let’s get you into bed, tomorrow you can go to the park.”
“I can’t!
I shan’t!
I won’t go out and play!
The dirt will come and get me.
The cold will let it in.
I can’t, I shan’t go out!”
Little Sam scrunched his face and bunched his fists.
“But you love the park,” said Sam’s dad.
“There’s dirt outside!” cried Sam.
Sam’s dad looked at Sam’s mum.
“Your turn,” he said.
“You met the Bubble King last night.” said Sam’s mum.
“Well sometimes you can have too many bubbles and might end up sliding everywhere,” said Sam’s mum.
That doesn’t sound so bad, Sam thought.
“What’s worse is that you might slip over and everything you hold would fall out of your hands with a WHOOSH.”
“Even ice cream would WHOOSH away?” asked Sam
“Yes, even ice cream,” Sam’s mum said.
Sam gasped. Ice cream was his favourite.
“But the Queen of the Dirt can help you.”
“The Queen of the Dirt just wants you to laugh.
She’ll stop you from slipping like you do in the bath.
Fun’s grubby, play’s mucky.
But if you are plucky,
Then go on adventures with the Queen of the Dirt.”
“Look! I think she’s in there,” Sam’s mum said, staring at a puddle. “Would you like to meet her?”
Sam nodded excitedly and walked outside towards the puddle.
“Now she’s very shy and sometimes will disappear,” said Sam’s mum
“Look closely in the water.”
Sam bent down towards the water.
He could see his face and then, behind him, a woman appeared. The Dirt Queen!
“Hello Mrs Dirt Queen,” Sam whispered. “It is very nice to meet you.”
The Dirt Queen blew him a kiss and then the puddle rippled and she disappeared.
“Who is good, the Dirt Queen or the Bubble King?” Sam was confused.
“BOTH,” Sam’s parents said
“You see you need a little bit of dirt…” said Sam’s mum
“…and a little bit of bubbles,” said Sam’s dad
“Now Sam, would you like to go to the park?” asked Sam’s mum.
“Yes please,” Sam said.
Sam had lots of fun at the park and went on every ride. And as Sam went down the slide, he did not see his mum and dad give each other a secret parenting high five.