No stopping Banana Stop
M&T were having breakfast, scrambled eggs and tomatoes.
From their balcony they looked out at the beautiful sunny world.
It was going to be an exciting week and amazing things were planned in SnoozyTown.
But suddenly, they heard knocks on the door.
The knocks were a little bit too quick.
There was something happening. What was it?
M&T ran to the door. Outside were their two good friends: Frida and Maple.

Frida and Maple were volunteers at this year's Banana Stop competition.
Banana Stop was the most popular game in all of SnoozyTown, and the Banana Stop competition was the year’s biggest event.
Frida and Maple had their Banana Stop t-shirts on, covered with big smiling bananas. But their faces were not smiling.
“M&T! We need your help!
The tournament!
The tournament is in doubt!
It might not happen!”
M&T couldn't believe it.
The Banana Stop tournament was an ancient town tradition and it must continue.
If you don’t know how to play Banana Stop, this is how it goes:

It’s very simple.
You need one bouncy ball and two bananas.
Find a flat surface, either inside or outside.
Arrange the bananas in a half-moon shape, leaving a small entrance for the ball.
Stand a little bit back from the bananas.
Now, your job is to roll the ball into the banana half-moon. And get it to stop.
If it rolls past, hits the bananas on the outside, or bounces back out, just try again.
That’s it. That’s Banana Stop.
As a bonus, you get to eat the bananas after the game.
But remember, no eating the ball!
Banana Stop requires kiddies and adults to slow down. To be calm and steady. To find a place within themselves where their hearts slow.
Banana Stop is the perfect mix. Wonderfully calming, and wildly good fun.
M, T, Maple and Frida were very worried.
“What’s happening?” asked M&T.
“The bananas are disappearing from the banana garden,” answered their two friends. “Quick, we’ll show you.”
Together, they ran down to the banana garden, where all the beautiful bananas were grown for the competition.

M and T inspected the trees.
It was true. Some of the bananas were missing, but nobody knew how it had happened.
The banana garden was tenderly minded by SnoozyTown volunteers.
People from all backgrounds came together to share their skills and talents.
Like local farmer Mrs Plateful, who brought her knowledge of plants. Or Opa the Drone Operator, who brought his eyes from the sky, to make sure no one got in to nibble on a banana before the big day.
Or even the wise Velvet Judge, who just loved to get away from his dusty shelves in the afternoons and get his hands in the muck.
Having changed into their Fixer t-shirts, the gang started their investigations and called Opa the Drone Operator.
His drones had hovered above the garden 24/7, but hours of camera footage showed nothing unusual.
Except the disappearing bananas.
“We must check for evidence,” said Maple.
Out came their magnifying glasses and the hunt for clues began.
“Look for things like footprints and tyre tracks, or discarded tools,” said M.
After a few minutes of silent searching, T called them over. He was staring at the ground.
“Have you found a footprint?” said M excitedly.
“Not quite,” said T. “I’m confused.”
T had spotted a faint trail leading up to one of the trees.
It seemed like something had moved towards the tree without leaving a trace.
“What could have done this?” said Frida, as puzzled as all the Fixer team.
What they knew was the tournament was only two days away, and they needed to make sure that no more bananas were stolen, and to recover the ones that had.
“We’re going to have to keep a watch on this place.”
So they set up chairs and sat at the back of the garden until dark fell.

Then, Opa the Drone Operator would do the nighttime watch. His drone buzzed overhead. Always watching.
As dawn broke, M&T woke and ran to the garden.
On arrival, they saw Frida and Maple’s faces, even more worried than the day before.
“Someone has been taking the bananas, haven’t they?” said T.
Maple nodded and pointed to the fresh trail leading to an empty tree.
“The big tournament is tomorrow. What are we going to do?” she asked nervously.
Maple, Frida, M and T had a big chat. “Come on,” they said. “We’re Fixers. If we put our minds together and work together, we’ll be able to find a way.”
They knew whoever it was, was coming at night. And they were coming so fast the cameras couldn’t even detect them.
A few minutes later, Opa the Drone Operator spotted the four Fixers leaving their huddle with little grins on their faces.
“Have you got a plan?” he asked.
“We might,” smiled Frida. “Tonight, we’re going to stay here with you and wait.”
Just as light was fading, the four Fixers left Opa and did some special work at the rear of the garden beside the finest looking banana trees.
Their secret plan was taking shape.

As the night settled in, they watched with patience. For a long time there was silence. But then there was wind. A kind of rush of energy. A branch wobbled and its bananas were gone…
Something was moving in the garden. Something too fast to see.
Except in the briefest of moments, the Fixers thought a faint trail of light flickered.
M and T looked at each other. They held their breath. They could see that there was a banana. A beautiful banana. On a tree not far from them. Just where they had laid their trap.
The sound went again. The flickering light moved. And then the slip came.
Up she flew. Up into the air. And down she had fallen. In a flash.

Felicity Flash had slipped on the banana skins the Fixers had left on the ground in their special operation.
Just as she landed, the Fixers jumped out.
“We’ve got you! Why are you doing this, Felicity? Why are you stealing the bananas?”
Felicity had a sad face.
Felicity Flash was the fastest person in all of SnoozyTown. Nobody could compete with her running or moving. Everything she did was like lightning. But today she was not happy.
She said, “I’m sorry, guys… I’m sorry. I know I know I’m in big trouble. But I just can’t. I can’t play Banana Stop. I throw the ball too fast, and it never stops. I’m always too fast. Too quick. And every year I watch everyone having so much fun, and I can’t be part of it.”
The four Fixers went quiet.
They understood that trying to stop Banana Stop was very much NOT okay. But also why Felicity was a little bit jealous.
They loved Banana Stop and wanted everyone to be able to play.
Their fellow volunteer, the nice and wise Velvet Judge, had been listening patiently by the side.
He could see too that Felicity Flash was not mean. She was doing something bad because she didn’t know how to join in, or ask for help.
The Velvet Judge whispered in T’s ear.
T, in turn, passed on the gentle idea to M, Frida and Maple.
A smile rippled across their faces.
The Velvet Judge had not recommended punishment.
He hadn’t told them to put Felicity Flash in the places where the beds never get warm.
Instead, he had asked them to share something of theirs.
Little Maple was the first to walk to Felicity Flash. Felicity’s face was down. She knew she hadn’t done right, but also didn’t know how she could fix it.
Maple softly looked her in the eyes and took her hand. “Come with us,” she whispered.

The next day was the tournament.
It was a beautiful day.
The flags were flying in the wind, and the children began singing the tournament anthem:
“No stopping Banana Stop!”
“No stopping Banana Stop!”
“We’re not stopping, Banana Stop.”
“I’m not stopping, you’re not stopping, we’re all not stopping Banana Stop.”
After the song, everyone was joyful,
and the games began.
The kiddies played.
The adults played.
And the balls were rolled. Soft, gently, down towards the bananas.
With luck and skill they would go through the front of the banana-created crescent moon.
And they'd bounce off the back of the banana, and then they'd stop. Banana Stop!
And the kiddies would cheer.
And the adults would dance.
And everyone would love Banana Stop.
At the end of the tournament, once the medals had been handed down, the Velvet Judge and the Fixers walked to the middle of the arena.
The Velvet Judge thanked everyone for another wonderful tournament of Banana Stop.
He reminded SnoozyTown that everyone is different, and each of us has different abilities and he said that this year, they had a very special final player.
He passed the microphone to Maple.
The youngest Fixer let out a tiny breath, and spoke up.
“Our special guest today has never had a Banana Stop. She has worked her heart out in practice and wants to try three times today… Please welcome Felicity Flash.”
Quicker than the crowd’s eyes could track, Felicity Flash appeared at Maple’s side,
leaving nothing but a trail of fire in her wake.
They were still murmuring, “Wowww…” when she had her first roll.
Down, down it rolled.
Straight into the banana half-circle.
But the bounce was big and out it came.
No Banana Stop.
Felicity’s eyes closed for a second. But determined, she rolled again.
Slower this time.
Towards the target it went.
It looked good, but the bounce was too strong, and it did not stop.
She took a breath. Looked at the eyes of her Fixer friends and made her heart still.
She rolled.
Time passed as slow as the ball. The crowd stood.
Was this roll too fast, again? Would it bounce back, again?
They stared.
And then. It stopped.
Right in the middle of the bananas.
“Banana Stop!” roared the crowd.

Felicity Flash beamed. Inside and out.
The Fixers hugged her. And the Velvet Judge winked her way.
They had understood Felicity’s struggle.
She had been the fastest in all of SnoozyTown, but every game needs different skills.
And for Banana Stop, she just needed to learn how to slow down.
The kiddies had helped her. They had worked all night. Calmly, gently, and at her speed.
Sure, Felicity Flash still plays fast.
That’s who she is.
But with her friends, she learned a new way, and has slowed down just enough.
Together they had done it.
And now, every year, in the town square, SnoozyTown kiddies and Felicity Flash come together to play Banana Stop.

Night after night they roll, until adults call for beddy-time, and the sun goes down.
To beds they head.
Tired but thrilled.
Falling yet again, gently, into sleep.
The End.