Chapter 1: The “Stanky” Story

Once there was a kid named Steve, but everyone called him “Stanky”. His sister called him Stanky. His brother called him Stanky. Even his mom and dad called him Stanky. Steve didn’t mind it. It was just a nickname and soon it caught on. Now everyone called him Stanky, even the principal of the school.

Stanky couldn’t help but notice that some of the kids at school would giggle every time he walked by. At first it didn’t bother him because he didn’t know why they were laughing, but soon he realized that now everyone was laughing at him and this was very confusing.

Stanky had a best friend named Brad, but everyone called him “Buzz.”

“Hey Buzz, why does everyone call you ‘Buzz’?”

“Because that’s what my sister called me when she started to talk. I guess she couldn’t say ‘Brad.’”

“Oh. That makes sense. My family started calling me ‘Stanky’ because I was always getting into things as a baby and my mom had to give me a bath about 50 times a day! She thought I “stank” so the name stuck!”

Buzz started laughing.

“What is so funny, Buzz?”

“Well, the thing is that actually, Stank, you do kinda stink!”

“What are you talking about?”

Buzz continued. “Look, I’m glad you asked me about my name. It totally fits me. I like to buzz around and get a lot of stuff done. Unfortunately, your name fits you too. When was the last time you took a bath and washed your hair, Stankman?”

Buzz was the only one who called Stanky “Stankman.”

“I ‘unno. Last week.”

“Stankman, the reason everyone is laughing at you is because your name REALLY fits you now. You not only stink today, but you stank yesterday and the day before and the day before and the day before that.”

Suddenly, Stank had the urge to go home and take a long, hot bath. He didn’t like his name. He didn’t like that kids laughed at him, and he really didn’t like that he smelled so bad.

So Stank did just that. And from that moment on, everyone called him by his real name, except Buzz. Buzz still called him ‘Stankman.’ That’s because they were best friends and best friends can do that.

The lesson of this story is: Take care of yourself so you don’t stink, stank, stunk.

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