By Nate Feldman
One hot day in mid-August, Kipper visited the C&O Canal Towpath near mile 23 in Maryland, where the Seneca Creek flows into the Potomac River. He excitedly ran across the aqueduct connecting the two bodies of water. He was there for an enjoyable day out in nature.
He went deep into the woods and came across an old structure made of dark pink-red stone. Inside of it, he found a strange creature, Manny the Monster, hiding. Manny was completely bald with pale skin, two dark, lifeless eyes, and no mouth. Kipper was petrified, but Manny insisted Kipper stay, pleading he was not harmful and needed help. Though he had no mouth, Manny could communicate somehow.
Manny said that something terrible had happened to the area. Each night, ghost-like creatures, which Manny called "frightening phantoms" flew throughout the area making horrible shrill-like sounds, scaring all of the animals and people of the forest. No one had any idea how to make this stop.
Kipper wanted to know what Manny had tried to do. Manny said he had tried to attack the monsters, but to no avail. He and other creatures of the forest attacked the phantoms one night, but they were soundly defeated.
Kipper asked if Manny had considered trying to be their friend. Manny didn't know how such a thing could be possible. Kipper told him to prepare a gift of some kind. So, Manny went to his cabin in the woods and with locally grown apples, prepared homemade applesauce. That night, he approached the frightening phantoms with the gift, saying they would love this special recipe.
The phantoms tried the applesauce and were pleasantly surprised. They devoured it until the jar Manny had given them was completely spotless. Afterwards, they promised to no longer scare anyone in the forest and try and be friends with others.
Kipper's lesson for Manny and the other creatures was clear. Before you fight anyone, see if you can make them friends first. From then on, the forest was at peace, and Kipper was able to splash around in the water with joy.
