Mr and Mrs Lewis with a five-year-old daughter, Minnie, and a one-year-old son, Bunter, lived in a cottage on the edge of the forest. The children spent most days playing outside with squirrels, caterpillars, butterflies and birds.
Minnie made sure Bunter didn’t get into trouble. Once he found a hole in the trunk of a tree, and stuck his hand into it. Then he let out a howl as a wasp bit him! Mummy had to ensure that he didn’t get into trouble in the kitchen. But Bunter was always up to some mischief.
They had a puppy called Bingo. He followed Bunter everywhere. They spent hours playing with a ball or playing hide and seek, or simply rolling on the grass!
When Mrs Lewis could hear Bunter’s laughter as she worked, she knew Bunter was safely playing in the garden. Sometimes Minnie would join them. At other times, she would sit near by with a picture book.
One day, Bunter toddled off into the forest, with Bingo at his heels. Minnie was sitting with her picture book, so she did not see when he drifted off.
After a little while, Mrs Lewis looked out of the window. There was no sign of Bunter or Bingo. Only Minnie sat reading under the tree.
“Minnie, where’s Bunter?” called Mummy.
Minnie looked up to say, “He was here just now, Mum. Must be around somewhere. I’ll have a look.” She got up and walked around the house calling Bunter and Bingo. But there was really no sign of either of them! Worried now, she ran back to the house, “Mum, I can’t find him!”
Mrs Lewis came out looking worried and scared. Both of them ran around shouting, “Bunter! Where are you? Bingo! Bunter!” But there was no reply. Now Mrs Lewis was truly frightened.
She called her husband and Mr Lewis arrived with sirens screeching. He had brought the police and the fire brigade with him! People ran around the cottage and into the forest.
Suddenly, Bingo came running out of the forest. He had a lot of twigs and leaves all over him. He ran to Minnie and Mr and Mrs Lewis, barking and pulling at their clothes.
“He was with Bunter,” said Minnie, “He’s asking us to come with him!”
Everyone followed Bingo into the forest. There was Bunter sitting with a troop of monkeys, eating bananas and playing! With a lot of cajoling, the police managed to get Bunter away from the monkeys. He came back delighted with his adventure, quite unaware of the danger!