Murphy’s Special Talent Written by Jade Peterken and Stieve De Lance with illustrations by Franky Demaria Design.
Murphy loves spending time with his friends at school and at the beach. He would love to play with them all day.
Today, at school, Murphy’s friend Billy has come to visit. They play together in the schoolyard all recess.
At lunchtime, Billy shows the kids a new trick. They throw the ball for Billy. Billy jumps into the air and catches it!
“Murphy, you should try!” says Billy. The kids throw the ball for Murphy.
Murphy runs and runs. He jumps! But Murphy doesn’t catch the ball.
Murphy tries and tries to catch the ball all lunchtime.
“I can’t do it,” Murphy says. “It’s too hard!” Billy encourages Murphy. “It’s okay. You have to keep practising.”
Murphy is sad that he can’t catch the ball. After school, Murphy goes to the beach to see his dolphin friends. Hindley, Sandy and Turner, the Burrunan dolphins who live at the beach, are always having fun and make Murphy feel happy.
“What’s wrong, Murphy? You look a little sad,” says Sandy. “My friend can do a trick, but I can’t,” Murphy says.
The dolphins love to see Murphy. He always makes them smile and feel good about themselves.
“Did you try lots of times?” asks Hindley. Murphy nods. “I tried and tried, but I couldn’t do it. It’s Billy’s special talent.”
“Everyone has a special talent,” Turner says. “You just have to find out what yours is!”
“I’m really good at catching fish,” says Hindley.
“And I’m really good at swimming,” says Turner.
“My special talent is finding shells,” says Sandy.
What is Murphy’s special talent? Can you guess?
The next day, Murphy plays with the kids at recess. Everyone is running around playing tag.
Uh oh! Emily falls over and hurts her leg! “Murphy, go get help!” says Noah.
Murphy runs straight to get Nurse Penny and tells her what happened.
Murphy and Nurse Penny go back to help Emily.
Nurse Penny needs to put a bandage around Emily’s leg. Emily is sad and worried.
Murphy remembers that he is good at making people feel better and sits next to Emily. Emily gives Murphy a big hug while Nurse Penny puts on the bandage.
“Yes, thank you,” says Nurse Penny. “I was able to put on the bandage because you helped Emily sit still and stay calm.”
“Thank you, Murphy,” says Emily. “You helped me be brave and made me feel safe!”
The other children saw Murphy help Emily too. “You always make me feel happy,” says Noah. “And you are so good at getting help when we need it!” Chloe says.
Murphy smiles. “Helping people must be my special talent!”
“That’s right,” Nurse Penny says. “You’re great at giving comfort and helping people get better.”
The next time Murphy sees Billy, Murphy says he is so proud of Billy’s special talent of catching the ball. It always makes Murphy smile to see Billy do so well.
But Murphy has a special talent of his own, and it makes him smile too. Helping other people feel better is a very special talent indeed! What do you think your special talent is?
Written by Jade Peterken and Stieve De Lance with illustrations by Franky Demaria Design. Published by Firbank Grammar School.
www.firbank.vic.edu.au www.marinemammal.org.au
