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Morning light fills an indoor playroom with a soft rug. Brayden kneels laughing as a tower of colorful blocks crashes down while Zander claps beside a bright red ball.
Brayden and Zander sat on the soft rug. Brayden rolled a red ball to his little brother. Zander clapped his hands and giggled. They stacked colorful blocks high into the air. Crash! The tower fell down. Both boys laughed loudly. "Again!" said Brayden. Playing together was so much fun. The room was full of happy sounds.
Midday light spills across the same playroom. Brayden crouches on the rug holding a block, eyes wide toward the open doorway where shadows linger, while Zander sits frozen, hands mid-clap, both listening to the unseen noise.
Suddenly, they heard a funny noise. "Oooooh!" it went. Brayden looked around the room. Zander stopped playing and listened too. "What that?" asked Brayden. The sound came again, louder this time. "Oooooh!" Something was moving near the doorway. The boys watched with big, wide eyes. What could it be?
A tall figure hidden under a blue blanket lumbers into the afternoon-lit playroom, arms raised. Brayden sits back gasping while Zander's mouth forms a wide 'O' beside toppled blocks.
A big, bumpy shape wiggled into the room. It was covered with a blue blanket from head to toe. "Grrrr!" growled the blanket monster. It waved its arms up and down. Brayden gasped. Zander's mouth opened wide. The monster moved closer and closer. Its feet made thumping sounds on the floor. It looked silly and scary at the same time!
Bright ceiling lights shine in the playroom as the blue-blanketed figure strides forward with outstretched arms, blanket swaying. Brayden scoots backward on the rug and Zander points a tiny finger at the looming shape.
The blanket monster wiggled toward the boys. "Oooooh! Grrrr!" it said again. Brayden scooted back a little bit. Zander pointed at the monster with his tiny finger. The monster's arms reached out wide. It took big, funny steps across the room. Thump, thump, thump! The blue blanket swayed back and forth. What would happen next?
Warm overhead light fills the playroom while the blue-blanketed figure leans toward Zander with reaching arms. Zander stares up, eyes huge, as Brayden kneels nearby watching with tension on his small face.
The monster turned toward little Zander. "I'm gonna get you!" it growled in a silly voice. Zander's eyes got even bigger. He looked at his big brother Brayden. The monster's blanket-covered arms reached toward Zander. "Grrrrr!" it said, moving closer. Brayden knew he had to do something. His little brother needed help right now!
Soft afternoon light bathes the playroom where Brayden stands tall, hands on hips and a serious expression, facing the towering blue-blanketed figure. Behind him, Zander crouches holding a red ball.
Brayden felt his heart beat fast. But he loved his little brother very much. He stood up on his wobbly legs. "No monster!" Brayden shouted bravely. He put his hands on his hips. His face looked very serious and strong. Brayden took a big step toward the blanket monster. He would protect Zander! Nothing would scare his brother!
Brightly lit indoors, Brayden grips a corner of the blue blanket and yanks hard, fabric billowing mid-air while a small part of daddy legs are shown. Zander watches wide-eyed from the rug of scattered blocks.
Brayden reached out with both hands. He grabbed the corner of the blue blanket tight. "Gotcha!" he yelled. Then Brayden pulled as hard as he could. The blanket started to slide off the monster. Brayden pulled again, even harder this time. Whoosh! The blanket flew off completely. Who was underneath? Brayden couldn't believe his eyes!
Sunlight streams into the playroom as Daddy, hair tousled, kneels smiling beside the discarded blue blanket. Brayden and Zander stands before him with mouth open in shocked delight while colorful blocks lie around them.
"Surprise!" shouted Daddy with a big smile. It was Daddy the whole time! His blonde hair was messy from the blanket. Daddy's eyes twinkled with joy. Brayden's mouth dropped open in surprise. Then he started to giggle. Daddy wasn't a scary monster at all! He was just playing a funny game. What a silly trick!
An evening glow softens the playroom as Daddy sits cross-legged on the rug, arms wrapped around Brayden and Zander in a warm embrace. All three grin widely with toys scattered like confetti around them.
"Daddy!" squealed Brayden, laughing hard. Zander giggled and clapped his little hands together. Daddy laughed the loudest of all. "You were so brave, Brayden!" said Daddy proudly. He scooped both boys into a big, warm hug. They all laughed and laughed together. The room was filled with happy sounds again. What a fun surprise!
Lively overhead light brightens the playroom where Daddy reappears under the blue blanket, arms raised and growling playfully. Brayden leaps forward and Zander toddles after him, both laughing amid scattered blocks and the red ball.
"Again! Again!" shouted Brayden, jumping up and down. Zander bounced excitedly too. "Do monster!" he babbled. Daddy smiled and picked up the blue blanket. "Okay, but this time you both have to catch me!" he said. Daddy threw the blanket over his head. "Oooooh! Grrrrr!" The blanket monster was back! The boys giggled and chased after him happily.