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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/2253820-Gary-Galahs-Broken-Heart
Rated: E · Short Story · Children's · #2253820
This is the first draft of a children's picture storybook.
Gary Galah's growing up

This is the first draft of a children's picture storybook. It is part of a series of picture books aimed at helping parents discuss serious social issues with young kids. I literally wrote it just now ... inspired by another of my works 'Fergus the Frog'. So if anyone feels compelled to review or critique, please do so knowing that I have spent literally no real-time editing myself. I just wanted to try this process, as opposed to my usual painstaking process. Be KIND, constructive thoughts only.


Gary Galah closed his sad tired eyes,
They'd hidden so much, his clever disguise.
He pretended to be happy, and so full of spark,
Yet some of his feelings were still trapped in the dark.

His friends, Fergus the frog, and Gertie goldfish didn't know,
He was still too afraid for his true feelings to show.
Instead, he smiled and simply laughed out loud,
All while living under the threat of an emotional dark cloud.

What had made him feel this way?
What things had happened, turning his life to muted grey?
His life had always been full of sunshine and joy,
Now, he just felt like a confused feathered boy,

Losing his grandpa had broken his heart,
Shattering his life, tearing it wide apart.
Grandpa Ton had always been there for him,
They would often laugh, joke, play games, fly around, and sing.

He wanted to talk to his mum and dad,
But he felt he could not, as they were both still very sad.
He tried to speak to his Grandma Floss,
But dad said, "give her space son, she's feeling grief and loss".


Gary didn't quite know what grief and loss' were,
All he knew was that Grandma Floss was trapped in a blur.
She cried, she laughed, and she just needed space,
Poor little Gary's own emotions were all over the place.

He needed to talk about how he felt inside,
He could no longer pretend, no longer hide.
"Dad, how do I get over losing Grandpa?"
"And how can I help my darling, Grandma?"

Gary's dad George smiled, hugged him tight,
And said, "sweet little boy things will be alright".
It takes time and patience to heal a broken heart,
But talking about our feelings is making the perfect start.

George said, "you can always talk to your mum and me?'
Learning to honour your Grandpa through memory.
Don't be afraid to remember all the fun times you had.
It will help during times when you'll feel confused, angry and sad.

Gary's dad told him "when those we love pass away",
'It's okay to feel angry, confused, sad, and grey".
He explained what grief was, and why we all felt so bad.
He also said things would get better, and that they all missed granddad.

Gary's dad talked about an 'emotional rollercoaster'.
About, "highs and lows and getting through it together".
Gary felt better, he now understood,
The confusion, loss and sadness, felt just as it should.


He didn't feel so afraid anymore,
Opening his weary eyes and saw,
The promise of healing, of learning to survive,
In a world full of colour, even though Grandpa wasn't alive.

He smiled as he remembered grandpa's own special magic,
He realised he could, and would get over something so tragic.
He also realised that he felt just as he should.
And that he'd eventually feel better, if not even good.

His eyes didn't feel so heavy anymore,
He felt a little better than he had just before.
He promised himself that he'd speak to his friends,
Showing them his true feelings, and not just trying to pretend.

The one thing Gary wanted desperately to do,
Was to tell his Grandma Floss, what he knew.
He hugged her gently, whispering in her ear,
"I love you so much Granny, I'm so thankful you're here".




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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/2253820-Gary-Galahs-Broken-Heart