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Poppy ran fast through the tall green grass. There it was — the wobbly rope bridge! “Oh!” she gasped. “I HAVE to cross that!”
On the other side stood the big red apple tree. Poppy took a deep breath. “I am brave,” she said. “I can do it!”
She climbed onto the first plank. One step. Two steps. The bridge bounced. Poppy giggled — so far, so good!
Then the bridge swayed. Left. Right. Left again. Poppy gripped the rope tight. “Okay,” she whispered. “Okay, okay.”
She tried to jump to the next plank. Her foot slipped! She grabbed the rope and held on. Her heart went THUMP.
Poppy sat down in the middle of the bridge. She could not go forward. She could not go back. She was stuck.
Then a small voice called out. “Hello up there!” It was Pip — a little hedgehog on the bank. “Are you all right?”
“I'm stuck,” said Poppy. Pip smiled. “Try one step. Just one. Then one more.” Poppy looked at her feet. She nodded slowly.
One step. Then one more. One step. Then one more! Poppy crossed the whole bridge — because she didn't try to rush. She did it!
Pip scurried across to join her. They sat under the apple tree and shared a big, crunchy red apple together. “New friends are the best,” said Poppy.
Poppy looked back at the wobbly bridge. It still wobbled. But she just smiled. One step. Then one more. That's all brave is.
