Mighty Mike and a Bear on a Hike Grandpa In My Pocket

Not the shrinking cap, Grandpa!

Catch me if you can!

TYRES SCREECH

ENGINE WHIRRS

Come down, Grandpa!

Ha-ha!

JOSH AND ELSIE GASP

Grandpa!

TYRES SCREECH

'Sunnysands is called Sunnysands because it's sunny

'and it's sandy, and it's right by the sea.

'I love Miss Smiley's cafe and Mr Whoops's shop,

'Mr Mentor's lighthouse,

'Bob's boat in the harbour,

'but my favourite place of all is the Mill on the Marsh.

'Today, Elsie had gone sailing, so I was with Grandpa.

'We were playing with my action figures

'and Grandpa was being Mighty Mike.'

Look, Josh, there's a monkey in trouble out at sea.

I must go and rescue him!

'Auntie Jules was cleaning our boat, the Queen of Sunnysands,

'but we all call her Queenie for short.'

I wish you could shrink and dress up as Mighty Mike, Grandpa,

-just for fun.

-Oh, I'd love to, but I never shrink just for fun.

There always has to be a good reason.

'Suddenly, we heard squawking.'

The bungle bird! Better look out for our toys, Josh.

-You know, Bongle birds like shiny things.

-OK, Grandpa.

'Just then, one of our friends arrived in the meadow.'

-Hello, folks!

-Oh, Mr Yomper Stomper!

'Yes, it was Mr Yomper Stomper.'

# A-riddle-dee-ree, a-riddle-dee-ree

# It's a rambler's life for me.

# Up in the mountains and down in the Dales

# Rivers and waterfalls, valleys and vales

# Yomping and stomping through England and Wales

# Rumbling and tumbling free. #

The Bongle bird was singing along.

I'm not a fan of Bongle birds - always stealing shiny things.

So, what brings you over here, Mr Yomper Stomper?

Um, I've forgotten.

'He's always forgetting.'

I know! I wanted you to meet someone. Look, a bear on a hike!

Bear on a hike, meet Mighty Mike!

Hello, Mighty Mike.

Oh, yes, I can see they are going to be great friends.

'Yes, this was the day to play with...

'Mighty Mike and a Bear on a hike.'

Lovely, isn't he? Got him in Sunnysands market.

Oh, I'd love to go to Sunnysands market today.

Going to markets - it's my latest hobby.

Well, you must go straightaway, catch all the bargains.

Oh, I can't. I've got a whole list of things to do.

I'll do your jobs for you, you can go to the market!

Really? That's very kind of you, Mr Yomper Stomper.

Come inside. I'll show you the list.

'It was so kind of Mr Yomper Stomper to offer to help.'

Tidy the balcony up there - right.

Wash up the breakfast things in there - right.

Water the plants from the water butt right here - no problem.

Thank you so much, Mr Yomper Stomper. See you in a bit.

Have a lovely time.

RUSTLING AND JANGLING

What job do you fancy first?

Tidy the balcony. That's exactly what I thought! Come along, then.

'So, Mr Yomper Stomper went onto the balcony.'

Hello, Grandpa! Hello, Josh!

Hello, Mr Yomper Stomper!

What? What? Oh, yes.

Hello, Mighty Mike!

Hello, Bear on a hike!

Go on, wave at Mighty Mike - he's your new best friend.

BONGLE BIRD SQUAWKS

'Just then, the Bongle bird flew by.'

Come on, Josh. Let's get this stuff inside

before the Bongle bird gets it.

'Mr Yomper Stomper was so busy trying to get away from it

'that he did THIS.

'He held the bear over the balcony and it fell into the water butt.'

-Help! Help!

-Whoops!

Oh, I've lost my bear.

HE WAILS

Oh, dear. The butt's full of water and the bear's right at the bottom.

-What are we going to do, Grandpa?

-We'll need some expert help.

-Has Mighty Mike got any diving gear?

-Yes. Why?

Because you can't jump into a water butt without diving gear -

he won't mind if I borrow it. But first, I must put this on.

Not the shrinking cap, Grandpa!

Catch me if you can!

'You know what happens when Grandpa shrinks.'

Grandpa!

'He runs and jumps about all over the place

'and it's impossible to catch him.

'Sometimes, he zooms about in Jason's toy car.

'Sometimes, he drives his Sunnysands train.

'Or sometimes, he dresses up to solve problems, like THIS.

'And THIS.

'And THIS.'

Captain Dumbletwit to the rescue!

-'And today, he dressed up as Mighty Mike!'

-I'm ready!

'Then, Mr Yomper Stomper came into the courtyard.'

My bear! Where's my bear?!

He fell into the water butt.

Oh, no! It's all your fault, Mr Bongle bird!

Don't worry, Mr Yomper Stomper,

Mighty Mike will rescue your bear.

He's got proper diving equipment.

Mighty Mike! Really? He must be an amazing toy.

'I didn't want Mr Yomper Stomper to see that it was ACTUALLY Grandpa.'

Stand well back, please.

'I put Grandpa into the water butt.

'Luckily, he had all the proper equipment with him

'so he could go in the water safely.

'And in no time at all, up popped the bear!'

My little mascot! Oh! I must go and tell Grandpa!

Er, not a good idea!

Sorry. He's having a little lie down, is he?

I won't disturb him, then. Let's go and dry you out.

'As soon as Mr Yomper Stomper had gone,

'I took Grandpa out of the water...

'..and I put him down on the ground.'

GRANDPA GASPS

I did it!

Right, let me get changed.

Er, not here. Mr Yomper Stomper might see you.

Oh, you're right.

-Let's go back to the meadow.

-Good idea.

'Mr Yomper Stomper dried his bear with a tea towel.'

There. That's better.

But I need to keep you nice and warm. I know!

'He tore off a piece of kitchen foil and wrapped him up.'

Look at you in your shiny blanket!

You look like a proper bear on a hike, now.

Come and sit outside in the sunshine.

'Grandpa had got out of his wetsuit

'and now he was wearing Mighty Mike's flying suit.'

It fits perfectly!

But why have you put it on?

You're not planning on doing any more rescuing, are you Grandpa?

You never know, Josh. Always be prepared.

Anyway, I'm rather enjoying being Mighty Mike.

You stay outside in your shiny blanket.

Oh, I forgot! I'm supposed to be doing those little jobs!

'Mr Yomper Stomper is always forgetting.

'He rushed inside, but there was a problem.

'The Bongle bird had spotted the bear in his shiny blanket

'and you know how Bongle birds love shiny things.

'He swooped down and grabbed the Bear on a hike.

'The Bongle bird flew into the meadow.'

Oh, nooo!

Oh, no!

Oh, no!

Help! Help! The Bongle bird's got the bear!

Looks like he's taking him into his nest in the nut tree.

Fetch a ladder!

We don't need a ladder.

We need Mighty Mike and his rescue helicopter!

But Grandpa!

'Once Grandpa's got an idea in his head, there's no stopping him.

'First, he scared off the Bongle bird.

'Then, the helicopter landed on a branch.'

JOSH GASPS

GRANDPA GASPS

Grandpa!

Mr Yomper Stomper's coming with the ladder. He might see you. Hide!

'So, Grandpa hid...

'and just in time, too.'

Hold the ladder for me, Josh. I'm coming, little bear! I'm coming!

Ha! There you are!

I'll pass him down, Josh. There you go. Got him?

-Did you know Mighty Mike's helicopter's up here, too?

-I know.

Amazing that you can fly a toy all the way up a tree

and make it land, too.

But where's Mighty Mike? He should be flying the helicopter.

'Of course, Mighty Mike was still hiding in the big nut tree.'

Well, Mr Yomper Stomper didn't see me. Ha!

Let's get this shiny thing off you

so the Bongle birds don't get to you again.

'I really needed Mr Yomper Stomper to go, so I said...'

Have you forgotten those little jobs

-that you have to do for Auntie Jules?

-Oh, yes! Thank you, Josh!

'So, off he went to do the little jobs for Auntie Jules,

'which meant I could talk to Grandpa.'

-We have to get you down, Grandpa.

-I know, but it's too far to jump.

'Then, I had a brilliant idea.'

-It's OK, you're wearing the parachute.

-Am I?

Yes, that's what's in the backpack.

If you use the parachute, you'll be safe.

Well, I've never done a parachute jump before,

but there's always a first time for everything.

I'll be here to catch you, just in case.

'So, Grandpa got ready to jump and I counted.'

One...two...three...jump!

'Grandpa jumped and the parachute opened.'

Weeeeee!

Would you believe it?

Mighty Mike on a parachute. He was in that tree after all.

Cor, that Josh does have some amazing toys...

but you're still my favourite, little bear. Oh, yes, you are!

'Soon, Grandpa was back in his own clothes.'

Cap off, quick!

Oh, that parachute jump was fantastic!

You had fun being Mighty Mike, didn't you Grandpa?

I did, but I didn't do it just for fun.

I rescued the bear from the water butt and I scared of the Bongle bird,

-but I couldn't have done it without you.

-Teamwork?

-Teamwork!

'Then, Auntie Jules came back from the market with lots of shopping.'

You two still playing with Mighty Mike?

Oh, yes. We never tire of Mighty Mike.

'Mr Yomper Stomper came out to see Auntie Jules.'

I am so sorry. I haven't managed to get any of your jobs done.

Oh, never mind. I didn't really expect you would.

My little bear's had all sorts of adventures.

-Luckily Josh's amazing toys came to the rescue.

-Oh? What amazing toys?

You know. Mighty Mike diving and parachuting

and flying his helicopter.

-Thank you, Mighty Mike.

-Any time, Bear on a hike.

You can't get that sort of thing down the market, I can tell you.

Oh!

You certainly can't.

Teamwork!