Everyday superheroes

Basil was a small brown bear who lived with his daddy, Barnaby, and his mummy, Bisma. Both were brown bears too, but they were much bigger and much older than Basil. They all lived in a house built into the branches of a tall oak tree.

Bisma was a nurse and went out to work every day. Barnaby would stay home and look after Basil. They would play games, go for walks and attend lessons.

Today, Basil wanted to play dress up. He had watched his favourite TV show about a white tiger called Tianna, who was a super-strong superhero that could fly.

She wore a blue cloak and a blue mask. She kept the people of the mountains safe from avalanches and evil villains.

Basil ran into his playroom and began to search for his Tianna the White Tiger costume.

‘Why don’t you dress as a different hero today?’ Basil’s dad asked.

Basil stopped and looked at his other costumes. He couldn’t see another superhero outfit.

‘But Dad, I don’t have another superhero outfit.’

Barnaby looked through the costumes and picked one up. ‘What about a nurse, like Mummy?’

‘But Daddy, nurses aren’t heroes,’ Basil whined

Barnaby raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh really? Who makes you feel better when you are sick? Who looks after you when you graze your knee? I think that makes them heroes, don’t you?’

Basil thought about this. He nodded in agreement and reached for the costume. But Barnaby picked up another costume.

‘What about a police officer, like Turner the Turtle?’

‘But Daddy, police officers aren’t heroes!’ Basil whined.

Barnaby raised his eyebrow again. ‘Oh really? Who arrests villains and keeps you safe? Who helps Mrs Fig cross the road? I think that makes them heroes, don’t you?’

Basil thought about this. He again nodded in agreement and reached for the costume, but Barnaby had picked up another.

‘What about a Supermarket worker, like Eamon the Elephant?’

Basil shook his head firmly. ‘But Dad, they can’t possibly be a hero!’

Barnaby smiled. ‘Oh really! Who brought our food when we couldn’t go out? Who makes sure food is on the shelves? I think that makes them heroes, don’t you?’

Basil smiled and nodded in agreement. But he didn’t reach for the costume. This time he ran back upstairs. ‘Wait there, I know which hero I want to be!’ he yelled.

Barnaby was confused as Basil hadn’t taken a costume.

Suddenly, Basil burst into the room. He was wearing a red shirt of Barnaby’s, a pair of Barnaby’s shoes that were much too big for Basil, and Barnaby’s favourite green tie hung around his neck.

Barnaby chuckled. ‘Why are you wearing my clothes? I thought you wanted to dress as a hero?’

Basil smiled. ‘You help me when I’m ill, you help me cross roads safely, and make sure I always have food when I’m hungry. And you give me the biggest cuddles and make me feel loved. I think that makes you a hero, don’t you?’

By Chris Allerton