Once upon a time in a far away jungle, the animals that lived there could talk. Not only that, but there was a people village and an animal village. Now these two villages were very different and they were not to be mixed. In the animal village lived a wise old gorilla and a curious monkey. . .

“But Mom!” “Why not?” “Because it’s too dangerous and I said so. Now go run and play.” Just as Mark the monkey was leaving, his father stepped in. His mother sighed. “That boy still has it in his head that he can go to the people village.” Mark’s father answered. “I tell you Mary that we are going to have to do something with that boy.” Meanwhile, Mark wasn’t running toward his friend Ollie’s house. Instead he ran in the direction of the wise old gorilla’s hut. He always gave good advice.

Mark reached the hut just as the gorilla’s wife was setting down a plate of leaf and ant sandwiches. “Yes!” he said. “I’m just in time.” He helped himself to three sandwiches. Then he stated why he was there. “I still don’t know why I can’t go to the people village.” The gorilla answered in a deep yet gentle voice. “You would get run over and get hurt or killed. Can’t you see?” Mark’s heart dropped. “Now leave and take some sandwiches to your mother.”

He trudged outside where a hippo was standing. “You’d better take his advice.” But monkey didn’t take his advice. All he took where some sandwiches. He dropped them off at his house then turned toward the people village. As soon as he stepped into the village, a cart rolled over his tail, five people stepped on him and two boys pulled his tail. He trudged back saying, “I’m never doing that again.”

Publisher’s Note: This story was written as an assignment on compound sentences. The author received no story or character related guidance.