2023
Big Stories
February 2023

“Big Stories,” Friend, February 2023, 14–15

Big Stories

By Mikaela Wilkins

(Based on a true story)

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

Beckham loved to fish with Grandpa. He even caught a little fish!

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

But when Beckham told Mom about it later, he might have told a little lie.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

Beckham won a jumping contest with his friends.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

But when he told Dad about it, he might have told a little lie.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

The next day, Beckham’s family went to the zoo. He even got to feed a monkey!

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

But when he told Grandpa about it, he might have told a little lie.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

Wow! Did you really feed a dragon?

Well, no … it was just a monkey. But people won’t think I’m cool if I tell them what really happened.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

You don’t need to make up stories for people to like you. Telling the truth is the best choice. And just being you is enough! Heavenly Father thinks so too.

Panel 1: Beckham and Grandpa are fishing. Beckham has caught a small fish. Panel 2: Beckham is talking with Mom. Grandpa might be seen in the background watching. The speech bubble shows a scene or part of a scene like the one in panel 1, but Beckham is holding a fish that is obviously bigger than the one in panel 1. Panel 3: Beckham and one or two other boys are playing some sort of jumping game together. Beckham is mid-jump. Panel 4: Beckham is talking with his dad. The speech bubble shows Beckham jumping unreasonably/comically far. Grandpa might be seen in the background. Panel 5: Beckham is at a petting zoo. A zoo attendant is holding a monkey for Beckham to give some fruit to. Panel 6: Beckham and Grandpa are walking or sitting together on the couch. Beckham’s speech bubble shows him holding the fruit out to a dragon. Panel 7: Grandpa looks at Beckham. Beckham is blushing. Panel 8: Grandpa hugs Beckham. Panel 9: Grandpa and Beckham together.

Besides, feeding a monkey is pretty cool.

Illustrations by Conner Gillette