BAKKI'S MISSION TO THE MOON

Bakki's Mission On The Moon.

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-0 BLAST OFF!!

Heading for the stars. And with a loud thunder boom, the rocket lifted off. A big puff of smoke zoomed out of its tail. Leaving the world behind; soon the rocket was orbiting in space. Instantly, Bakki's missile was heading straight for the moon. Bakki watched as stars blitzed past the rocket ship's window.

It wasn't long before the rocket ship landed on the moon. The landing was loud and bumpy. Looking out, the stars seemed a million miles away still. Bakki left the rocket ship. He was eager to begin his mission on the moon.

Bakki was greeted by a sign that said: Welcome To The Moon! Population: ?

The moon was dark and quiet. It seemed to be a lonely place. Bakki's footprints followed him from his rocket as his moonwalk began. They were the only company he had. Confident he would soon find the man on the moon. He must be very lonely.

Soon he came upon a set of curious footprints that were not like his. Each impression had three toes. He followed the trail of footprints that led him to a big rock and ended. Anxiously Bakki lifted the rock. Underneath, he found a quivering toad hiding.

The Toad frightfully looked up at Bakki. "Save yourself!" shouted the Toad in a desperate outcry. "From what," Bakki asked? Looking around, there seemed to be no present danger.

"The moon stomper," said the Toad in a slight panic.

"The moon stomper?" Bakki asked, looking puzzled.

"Why yes," replied the Toad, "not long ago, the whole moon shook; he's a terrible monster!" Toad said. The Toad had been under the rock ever since.

Perhaps it was the bumpy landing that shook the moon. Certainly not a moon stomper, Bakki thought to himself.

Introducing himself," I'm Bakki," he said, extending his hand. "Jasper Toad," proudly Toad replied.

Bakki suddenly remembered his worthwhile mission. "I've come in search of the man on the moon," Bakki said.

"The man?" replied the Toad. He was perplexed. He had never seen a man.

"Yes, the man on the moon," Bakki said, "You must know him."

"No man, but I have seen a rabbit," said the Toad. "Why the malicious little creature is not far from here," said Toad.

A rabbit Bakki thought to himself. He had never heard of a rabbit on the moon. He was surprised to find a toad.

"What business do you have with the man on the moon?" Asked Jasper Toad. "I intend to offer him a ride home in my rocket ship," said Bakki.

Jasper Toad began thinking finding the man on the moon may be a good thing. It could mean leaving this dangerous place. And never having to hide from the moon stomper again.

"I'm afraid I never met the man on the moon. I have met Buster Rabbit. We can visit Buster Rabbit and find out what he knows," Jasper Toad suggested. So Bakki and Jasper Toad set out to find Buster Rabbit in a moon buggy. Bakki and Jasper Toad went riding up and down on the bumpy moon surface.

Suddenly there were streaks of light appearing in the dark sky. A meteor storm was approaching.

"Oh dear," cried Jasper Toad. "A meteor storm is certain!"

It wasn't long before the air was filled with flying scrap. Bakki and Jasper Toad were forced to take cover. Desperately Bakki trying to dodge the flying debris.

"Hold on," Bakki shouted! Hastily he turned the moon buggy around, nearly losing Jasper Toad. Jasper Toad held on tight, trying to avoid the flying junk that filled the air.

The moon buggy swayed out of control to the left and to the right. At times it skyrocketed off the moon's surface. Jasper Toads feet flinging back and forth loosely in the air. He had been lifted out of his seat and doubtful he would survive this one.

The storm was violent. The flinging rocks fiercely pelted against the windshield of the moon buggy.

Bakki drove in a fierce frenzy. They headed back to the rocket ship, taking cover till the storm passed. After the storm passed, moon rocks were everywhere, littering the ground. Safe now, Bakki and Jasper Toad headed out again in search of Buster Rabbit.

Finally, up ahead, Bakki noticed a tall thin disdainful looking rabbit. He had built a little den house on the moon. Buster Rabbit was stooping over, picking up moon rocks after the meteor storm. Keeping some and tossing some fiercely over his shoulder back through the air.

Suddenly Buster Rabbit heard a painful outcry. "Aargh, Ow!" Jasper Toad cried. One of the flinging rocks hit Jasper Toad on the head. Instantly leaving a gnarly goose egg on Jasper's head.

Looking up, appalled to see that Bakki and Jasper Toad had arrived uninvited in a moon buggy.

"Oops!" said Buster Rabbit unapologetically. "Oh dear Toad, what are you doing here?" He said, ticked off. Toad rubbed the painful bump on his head.

Bakki couldn't help but notice the sign on Buster Rabbits property: BUSTER RABBIT.

ALL TOADS ARE FORBIDDEN. KEEP OUT!

"And who might this be?" Buster Rabbit said. Still showing annoyance at their arrival.

Bakki spoke and said, "Hello, I'm Bakki. I've come in search of the man on the moon."

"Well, I'm a rabbit, in case you hadn't noticed," Buster Rabbit replied sarcastically." See!" he said, pointing out his long floppy ears. "There's no man here, so if you two will excuse me!" Buster Rabbit said grumpily.

Jasper Toad chimed in, "Rabbit, Bakki is here to give the man on the moon a ride home in his rocket ship!"

Oh!" blurted Buster Rabbit, very interested, "Why didn't you say that in the first place?" Rabbit began to have second thoughts. He was tired of eating moon dust and pesky toads. Getting away from the moon could be a good thing.

"Where can I find the man on the moon? Bakki asked. "That's a good question," Rabbit said, "why up until now, I didn't know there was one."

"You never heard of the man on the moon?" Bakki asked again, surprisingly.

"No, honestly, I haven't," said Buster Rabbit. "The woman never mentioned him," he went on.

"The woman?" Bakki asked, alarmed. He had never heard of a woman on the moon.

"What woman?" Said Jasper Toad, just as surprised.

"The woman on the moon, of course!" Suddenly getting agitated again at Jasper Toad. "Perhaps we should ask her," Buster Rabbit said kindly, turning his attention back to Bakki. He didn't want to ruin his chances of a seat on the rocket ship.

First a toad, then a rabbit, now a woman. What more Bakki thought to himself. "Where can we find this woman?" Asked Bakki contrary.

"On the far side of the moon," said Buster Rabbit. "Perhaps I can be of service."

The Rabbit seemed softer when he spoke this time. Bakki just wanted to accomplish his mission. So he agreed to let this dreadful rabbit tag along.

So Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit headed for the far side of the moon. Finding the man on the moon was becoming quite a chore. The moon was also becoming quite crowded.

After traveling a while, they came upon a Blue Moon Cafe on the side of the road. A sign outside read: Out Of Water! Bakki parked the moon buggy, and they went in to inquire.

The cafe was nearly empty. It was run by cricket, and a grasshopper who went by the names S.C. and O.G. O.G. was an old grasshopper. He sat alone at a table, quietly sleeping.

S.C. bought Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit a glass of fresh moon juice.

"Welcome to the Blue Moon Cafe, where business comes to every blue moon!" S.C. said with a welcoming smile and hearty laugh.

"Oh," said Buster Rabbit," then no need to ask how's business." Giving SC only a snippy grin showing his buck teeth. Jasper Toad sat silently squirming. He preferred being seen and not heard.

S.C. went on, "How bout that meteor storm? It was a doozy." And on he went, "O.G. got caught up in the middle of it, ain't spoke a word since."

And then, "How's that juice?, can I get you another? Is that a real toad?"

S.C. was one talkative cricket. Bakki was just waiting to ask about the woman on the moon. There seemed to be no end to S.C.'s chatter.

Bakki suddenly interrupted," We're looking for the woman on the moon. Do you know where we can find her?"

"Who, Big Bertha? S.C. asked cheerfully, "A real nice lady. She comes by with her cats every blue moon. Why she was just here last blue moon, ain't seen her since; but expect to see her soon with the new blue moon coming."

Bakki was relieved. At least she had been spotted. Bertha would undoubtedly get him closer to the man on the moon. Finding him was the whole reason for the mission. He'd never expected to see the moon to be such a crowded place. Or the obstacles to pass to get to the man on the moon. He wondered, where was he hiding?

The three bided S.C. farewell as they left the Blue Moon Café. The hunt for the man on the moon continued.

Not long into their travel, they spotted something in the middle of the road, flat as a pancake. Bakki stopped the moon buggy for a closer look. The two flattened eyeballs stared back up at Bakki. It appeared to be run over by a steam roller.

"Oh dear, said Jasper Toad, what is it?" "I'm not sure," said Buster Rabbit, "but it's dead as a doornail. I'm sure I could have eaten whatever it was."

Bakki picked up the remains of the unlucky creature. What a fateful day. He moved it to the side of the road. There he gave it a proper moon burial. "RIP."

Suddenly there was an awful "THUMP" followed by a "BUMP!" The whole moon fiercely shook. Terrified, they all froze in their places.

The fear showed in Jasper Toads' eyes as he gulped for air. "The moon stomper, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" tensely shouted Jasper Toad. They were all doomed.

Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit ran in three different directions. The purple and the blue giant, three-eyed, three-armed monster had the most enormous feet ever. Bakki watched the moon stomper from behind a rock. When He came close to the moon buggy, the giant feet came crashing down. "CRUNCH, SMASH!" The moon buggy was stomped. Turning it into a pancake just like the last victim. The moon stomper was stomped and flattened everything in its path. The moon shook till the moon stomper completed his conquest. It had been a vicious attack.

Then just like before it happened, the uproar ended. Bakki and Buster Rabbit approached the doomed moon buggy. Looking down, "I could have eaten that," said Buster Rabbit, uncaring.

Bakki looked around. Where was Jasper? Toad was missing. There were no footprints. "We have to find Jasper Toad," Bakki said.

"Can't we just leave the dear little guy behind?" Buster Rabbit said, uninterested. Bakki gave him a shameful look. "Ok, ok," Buster Rabbit said as he began his search for Jasper Toad.

Bakki found Jasper Toad under another rock. Jasper Toad was relieved when the rock lifted to see his new friend looking down. So the three of them continued on foot seeking the woman on the moon.

It had been a long trek to the far side on foot. Finally, they came to Big Bertha's house. They found her feeding her two cats. Big Bertha was as round as the moon and had cheeks that looked like two full moons. And an everlasting smile and jolly laugh. Big Bertha was delighted to have company. She welcomed Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit.

"It's been a blue moon since I saw anyone," said Big Bertha. "We heard," said Buster Rabbit, snarky remembering what S.C. told them back at the Blue Moon Cafe. Big Bertha laughed. They sat down to dinner.

Bakki was anxious to ask about the man on the moon. He had traveled a long way. So many obstacles he had overcome. This was the closest he had got to the man on the moon's whereabouts.

"I've come in search of the man on the moon. Do you know where I could find him?" He said without stopping.

Big Bertha stopped laughing. "I never speak of the man in the moon," she said, unsure.

"See, I told you," said Buster Rabbit.

"I've come to offer him a ride home in my rocket," said Bakki.

No one had ever come to visit before or offer the man in the moon anything.

Flabbergasted, Big Bertha didn't know what to say. The man in the moon had never met anyone personally. Except her, and no one had ever requested to meet him.

After dinner, Big Bertha requested they follow her. She could lead them to the man on the moon. Bakki got excited. He would finally meet the man on the moon. It had been a long trek in the dark to the far side. The journey had been unusual but stimulating.

She led them up to a gigantic crater-like wall. It looked like the moon had suddenly ended. Then instantly, she stopped. Big Bertha began to call out, "Oh, light of night and dark of day!" Suddenly the wall started to rumble as it moved. It thundered a little, and the ground began to quake. Bakki and Buster Rabbit seemed quite curious. Jasper Toad thought of hiding under a rock, thinking the moon stomper was near.

Then two big bright eyes opened, and the vast wall smiled a friendly smile. Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit were dazed. "Hello, Big Bertha." The crater in the wall spoke kindly with its giant mouth. "Hello, Aeon," replied Big Bertha smiling at her long-time friend.

"What brings you here this time of day?" The wall continued.

Delighted, finally to bring a gift for Aeon. Big Bertha said, "There's someone here to meet you."

"Meet me?" said Aeon puzzled.

He had never in Aeon's had a calling guest. Big Bertha introduced Bakki, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit to Aeon. The only man on the moon. When Big Bertha told him why they had come, Aeon let out a great big hearty laugh.

Although quite pleasant, the man on the moon was nothing like Bakki expected. Aeon had been on the moon forever. Aeon was the moon, and the earth needed Aeon for the light of night. And to control the tides of the oceans. And to protect our climate. Bakki had traveled a long way to meet the man on the moon. Only to find that Aeon could never leave.

Bakki and Aeon talked and became fast friends. Before leaving, Bakki promised Aeon to visit again. Aeon thanked him for coming. His mission on the moon had been accomplished. This mission bought new friends together. And him new, unexpected friends. Aeon, Big Bertha, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit, SC & O.G. Big Bertha offered them a ride back to the other side of the moon.

Satisfied, mission accomplished; it was time to leave the moon. Bakki offered Big Bertha, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit a ride back in his rocket ship. They all refused his offer. The moon was the only home they knew. Aeon would be lonely without Big Bertha. They were good company for one another. Jasper Toad and Buster Rabbit decided to stay with the chance to leave the moon staring them in the face. Jasper Toad was beginning to grow on Buster Rabbit.

Buster Rabbit and Jasper Toad learned the value of friendship. Bakki had shown them friendship means caring and sharing. Before entering his rocket, Bakki changed the population sign to Population: 9. Including 2 cats and 1 vicious creature.

Bakki waved from the rocket ship window. Big Bertha, Jasper Toad, and Buster Rabbit tearfully waved back. Bakki would miss his new friends. Into his rocket he went and started the engine:

10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 BLAST OFF! In a big puff of smoke, Bakki was headed back home. Soaring through space alone, as he had come. With mission accomplished for the greater good!

The End