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This is Jack. Today Jack is in an exploring mood. He and his best friend Billie are playing explorers. They have made a hideout in Billie’s backyard. It is made from scraps of wood and tin. From here, they can spy on the Feather Monsters. Billie finds a big plank of wood at the bottom of the woodpile. ‘Hey,’ she says. ‘Let’s make a bridge!’

‘Good idea!’ says Jack. He helps Billie lift one end of the wood onto the roof of their hideout. They lift the other end onto the chicken coop. It makes a very good bridge. ‘Now we can creep up on the Feather Monsters without them seeing us!’ Billie says, grinning. She begins to climb up onto the plank of wood. ‘Um,’ says Jack. ‘I don’t know. It looks dangerous.’ ‘Don’t be silly!’ Billie says. ‘Look! It doesn’t wobble at all!’ She pushes the plank of wood. It doesn’t move. ‘But still…’ Jack says. ‘What if you fall off? It’s a long way to the ground.’ His tummy begins to squeeze with worry.

Billie rolls her eyes. ‘The monkey bars at school are much higher than this,’ she says. ‘I know,’ Jack says. ‘But…’ ‘Come on!’ says Billie. She climbs up onto the plank of wood and sits waiting for him. Jack bites the inside of his lip. His heart jumps about. He doesn’t want to climb up there. He wishes she would come down. ‘I don’t want to play this game anymore,’ he says. Billie frowns. ‘You’re such a scaredy cat,’ she says. ‘I’m not!’ Jack says. ‘You are!’ Billie says. ‘You never want to do anything fun.’ ‘That’s not true, Billie!’ Jack says.

‘Then prove it!’ Billie says, crossing her arms. ‘Fine, I will!’ says Jack angrily. He climbs up the side of the hideout. Then he pulls himself up onto the plank next to Billie. Billie smiles and gives Jack a hug. ‘See?’ she says. ‘It’s not scary, is it?’ Jack looks down. It’s not very far from the ground. Billie is right. It’s not too scary at all.

‘Look at us!’ Billie says. She stands up on the bridge. Then she holds her arms out and walks over to the chook pen. ‘I’m the queen of the world!’ she shouts. Jack grins and stands up too. ‘And I’m the king of the world!’ he yells. He walks slowly towards Billie. Suddenly, a chicken flaps up towards him. Jack gets a fright and steps backwards. His foot slips and he falls off the plank onto the ground. ‘Ow!’ he yells. His foot is twisted up under him.

Billie jumps down beside him. ‘Oh no!’ she says. ‘Are you OK?’ Jack tries to move his foot. It hurts so much. His tummy squeezes. But he swallows back his tears. He doesn’t want Billie to see him crying. She might think he isn’t brave. ‘Of course I’m OK!’ he says, laughing extra loudly. Billie looks worried. ‘Maybe I should go and get your mum?’ she says. ‘You look pale.’