Yoda (left) and Eloise on the Beanbag. - Contributed

Yoda gives us this final chapter.

My doggie Mummy, Eloise and I love it when our human mummy takes us to the beach. The one we like the most is out on an island called Lime Cay. We have to travel on a canoe to get there. I will never forget how much fun it was the first time. Human Mummy took us, and we got there really early, when hardly anyone was on the beach. She normally lets us run around more when there isn't a crowd, because some people don't like to play with dogs.

On this particular day, human Mummy had given us water in our bowls, so we lapped it up and then trotted off to explore the island. We came across a lounge of lizards, who all ran away from us. Maybe they are like the people who do not like dogs. Then we heard a deep voice, "Hello there." I jumped and cowered away. I looked around, but could not see where it was coming from. "Down here," the voice bellowed.

We looked down to see the most beautiful creature. There below us was this orange hard-shelled fellow. He had 10 legs, but the two front ones had large claws attached. I had never come across anything like him before. "Hi," I said shyly. I always get nervous when I meet someone for the first time. "Who are you and what's your name?"

Mummy went and started sniffing him.

"My name is Charlie The Crab. Do you like the way I smell?" he asked Mummy.

"Yes," Mummy replied. "Good enough to eat."

"What?" asked Charlie, who had now scurried behind a rock.

"It's true," I said. "Would you mind if we ate you?"

"Of course I would," said Charlie. "I thought I was doing a nice thing by greeting you. I was going to offer to show you around my island, but if you are both going to be so mean, then forget it."

Mummy then replied back, "Oh gosh, we are so sorry. We didn't mean to upset you, but you do smell great. However, we did not know that this was your island and we'd love you to give us a tour. We promise that we will not gobble you up, right Yoda?"

"Ohhh, sure," I quivered. I would never dream of disobeying my doggy Mummy.

"Right then, that's settled. Follow me." Charlie turned sideways and started to walk among the leaves and sand. We walked alongside, asking him questions: How long he had lived here; who his parents were; if he had any brothers and sisters; what it was like living on the island.

Live in harmony

Charlie had spent his entire life on the island, but had not seen his family for as long as he could remember. He insisted that he didn't mind, because he'd become friends with the ants, lizards, birds, and hermit crabs, who had accepted him. They all got along really well and had grown to live in harmony with one another. He told us that the biggest lesson he'd learnt from being on his own was to never judge those who were different to him, but to accept everyone equally and kindly.

Mummy looked at me and said, "Remember that, Yoda, the next time you start chasing after the stray cats, the cockroaches and the moths at home. They too have a story and a right to be here."

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POSITIVE Parenting