Blackfoot and the secret playground

CEBU, Philippines - There was once a secret playground, only known to the three kittens known as Blackfoot, Whitefang and Stripe. It was a special place, one where the kittens would go to play after their lessons with Brad, the world’s smartest rat, were done.

One day, Blackfoot thought about not taking part in any of Brad’s lessons, going directly to the playground instead. But as he was on his way to the secret playground, he had a hard time looking for it, even though he knew where its location was by heart.

Spending the whole morning looking for the secret playground alone, he eventually met with Whitefang and Stripe after Brad’s lessons.

“Guys!” said Blackfoot upon seeing Whitefang and Stripe. “The secret playground is gone! I’ve been looking for it all morning and I just couldn’t find it!”

“What are you talking about, ‘foot?” asked Whitefang. “Yeah,” followed Stripe. “We’re in the secret playground right now!”

Looking around, Blackfoot realized that he actually was already in the secret playground.

He noticed the swing on the left, the slide in the middle, and the seesaw on the right, but something was off about them. Though the swing, the slide and the seesaw were there, he didn’t feel like playing in the secret playground at all.

Noticing Blackfoot’s reaction, Stripe, the smartest of the three, says “Are you okay ‘foot? You missed Brad’s lessons today, and we figured you were sick.”

“Uhm… I only pretended to be sick this morning, Stripe,” said Blackfoot. “Truth be told, I wanted to spend the day playing in the secret playground, since we only get to play in it after Brad’s lessons.”

Being the smartest of the three, Stripe took the time to think about Blackfoot’s situation. He thought about Brad’s lesson for that day, which was all about duty and responsibility.

After thinking for a bit, Stripe finally says, “It seems like you missed an important lesson Brad was talking about today, ‘foot – a lesson about duty and responsibility.”

“What does that have to do with not being able to find the secret playground, Stripe?” asked Blackfoot.

“Well,” said Stripe, “the way I see it, you couldn’t find the secret playground because one can only find it once duties and responsibilities are fulfilled.”

“Since you failed to do your duty as a student today, you couldn’t find the secret playground since it is only open to those take their duties and responsibilities seriously.”

Thinking about Stripe’s words, Blackfoot began to realize that he was right. As a student, it was his duty to study, just as it was his duty to have fun. He thought about Brad’s previous lessons too, particularly the one that talked about how there is a time for everything.

In failing to fulfill his duties and responsibilities as a student, Blackfoot couldn’t find the secret playground, and realized that there really is a time for everything.

Just as there is a time to play, there is a time to study.