Marlon goes to Africa  Illustrated by Marlena Gibas with words by Andrew Townsend    

 

Dear friends,  I am so excited that you are joining me on my amazing journey through Africa. We are going to have such fun learning along the way with my hidden words and spelling cards.    You can find out more about the cards, checkout the fun zone with games and puzzles, visit Mama Cha's shop and a whole lot more at www.marlonthemotivator.com    Are you ready? Let's go!    Lots of love    

 

Chapters  the journey    up, up and away!    meeting my friends again!    cico's chocolate cake    on safari!    the boys go fishing    the balloon    the flight    the homecoming   page   2    10    16    24    34    48    62    74    88        

Chapter 1- The Journey  Ring a ding ding... ring a ding ding...  the alarm clock  sounded. Marlon   threw back the covers, leapt out of   bed and ran to the window. He had   an enormous streeeetch and thought  about the day ahead.  2    

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You know how excited you are the day before your birthday? You know how you wriggle with anticipation the night before Christmas? You do?    4    

Well put these together and that's exactly how Marlon felt because today was the day he was starting a new adventure - he was going to Africa!   5    

First things first though - washing and packing! Excited as he was, he knew that he must brush his teeth and wash his face so he would look his best for his trip. Next he pulled out the battered rucksack  from under his bed and   started to pack.   6    

The rucksack might not look much, it was brown canvas with the odd tear and rip and covered with stickers from all the places that Marlon had visited but he knew that it was a magic rucksack, for whatever he packed in it it never got full - how useful was that!   7    

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In the rucksack he put his ball, his toothbrush , a banana, a bottle of water and his little camera - there were sure to be so many things to see in Africa and he wanted to be able to show all his friends the pictures when he got back.    9    

Chapter 2 - Up, up and away!   However many times Marlon had been to the airport he always felt a thrill. There were so many people going to so many places all with their story to tell.    10    

But today was his day, his story, yes   He was really going to Africa ;  he had  to tell himself again and again, it really was happening.  11    

The plane was huge and silver with a beautiful golden leopard with black spots painted on the side accompanied by the words "African Airways". The plane was so big how on earth was it ever going to get up in the air.  12    

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As he climbed the steps he could see the pilot sitting at the controls with his peaked hat and blue uniform covered in gold braid and with shiny buttons. He looked so smart he must know how to get the plane in the air! Marlon got his  favourite seat  by the window.   14    

He didn't want to miss a thing and before he knew it there was a huge roar as the airplane started off down the runway and then with an enormous swoosh he was in the air and on the way to Africa - yes his adventure had really started!   15    

Chapter 3 - Meeting my friends again!   When the plane landed at Kusulu airport the first thing Marlon noticed was the heat. It was like standing in front of an oven door after he had baked some cakes for his friends - so hot!    16    

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The second thing he noticed was his friends , Mango, Maua and their little monkey Cicio who was jumping up and down and squeaking excitedly. "Marlon, Marlon, it's Marlon, come to my birthday party, you've got to come to my birthday party, please please please".   18    

"Let him get down the steps first Cico", gently scolded Maua who looked as pretty as ever with a beautiful red  bow in her hair and brightly coloured dress. Mango just grinned broadly, he was so happy to see his friend again.   19    

They all walked towards Mango's truck, how the truck kept going Marlon wasn't sure. It was bruised and battered with hardly any paint left on it, with tape holding the windows on and patches on the tyres where the punctures had been repaired.   20   

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The seats had springs  poking out of   them and the glass on the instruments was cracked but Mango loved his truck and would never let it go. The truck must have been pleased to see Marlon too, as when Mango turned the key it started first time without a grumble.   22   

Off they chugged, Marlon in the middle with Maua one side and a still squeaking and excitable Cico on the other. Mango turned the big steering wheel effortlessly as they swung onto the dirt track road and towards Mama Cha and tea!  23    

Chapter 4 - Cico's chocolate cake  Mama Cha was a large, friendly woman who always seemed to be smiling and never stopped singing in a beautiful melodic voice. She was famous for running the best cafe in Africa as well as her amazing floral dresses which were the size of a small tent.    24    

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The cafe was just as Marlon had remembered it with a grass thatched roof, mud walls painted white and little tables outside, each with a brightly coloured umbrella to keep the sun off "Marlon", Mama Cha trilled as she wrapped her arms round and gave him a big hug almost enveloping him in her dress.    26    

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"You've arrived just in time for Cico's birthday party, he's been excited about it for weeks now and I've been baking all night". And there, sure enough, was  the most enormous chocolate cake with   ribbon around the middle of it and three candles on the top   28    

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"Now Cico, before you blow out the candles and make a wish may I remind you what happened last time you had chocolate cake", Maua said in her sternest voice, which wasn't really very stern. "I ate too much and I turned green and felt poorly", squeaked Cico.    30   

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With that he took in a huge breath, his cheeks puffed out as if they were going to explode and he blew out all the candles in one go. "I wish that we  are going to have the best safari ever!" , and that, of course, is how it turned out to be.   32    

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Chapter 5 - On safari! The next day, just as the sun was rising, Mango's lorry coughed into life and, rattling and bumping over the rough track, the four friends set off on towards the hidden valley and their great adventure.    34   

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The lorry was fully laden with all the things they would need for their trip; an enormous hamper full of goodies from Mama Cha, fruit, water, their tents and last but not least Marlon's magic rucksack perched precariously on top of the luggage.  36   

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But there was something strange, something not quite right....... Marlon couldn't put his finger on it at first and then suddenly it came to him - it was the peace and quiet! And then he realised why - Cico was curled up fast asleep on Maua's lap!   38   

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After several more hours, Marlon noticed the track getting narrower and narrower and the jungle getting thicker and thicker and then suddenly, with a loud screech of brakes, the truck shuddered to a halt.    40   

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They were on the edge of an enormous valley which opened out onto a flat plain that was covered with what looked like tiny dots, although when Marlon looked more closely he could see that the dots were in fact animals, hundreds and thousands of them   42    

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- he had never seen so many. At the end of the valley there was a lake and beyond that a volcano with   puffs of white smoke coming out of the top of it that looked like clouds.   44    

"Everyone strapped in?", asked Mango -" then hang on tight we're off!" and with that he let off the brake and the faithful old lorry careered off down the side of the valley screeching round the corners on two wheels and bumping and lurching over the holes in the road.  45    

Have you ever been on a fairground ride - yes? Well imagine the biggest and most scary ride you've ever been on, multiply it by a hundred and that's what the trip down the valley was like!  46    

Marlon, Maua and Cico let out a loud scream while Mango just grinned - he knew his lorry would get them down the valley safely! And of course that is how it was - before they knew it the ground levelled out and they headed   towards the beautiful blue lake and  their home for the next few days  47    

Chapter 6 - The boys go fishing   You know what they say, "many hands make light work", and sure enough they soon had the camp looking just as they wanted it, with the tents pitched under the trees on the water's edge surrounding the camp fire which Mama   Cha was starting to light.  48    

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"Come on Marlon, " said Mango, "I promised I would take you fishing; let's   catch some fish for supper. "Me too, me  too", squeaked Cico. "Now Cico, may I just remind you what happened last time Mango took you fishing", Maua said gently.    50    

"Yes I was told not to fidget and to keep quiet so I wouldn't frighten the fish away and then I sort of slipped in". Before long the three of them had prepared the rods and were standing on the banks of the lake casting their lines into the beautiful crystal clear water.   51    

"You know Marlon, the best thing about fishing is the wonderful peace and quiet and tranquility, which gives you a chance to think", said Mango. With that there was a high pitched squeak and a loud splash as Cico lost his balance and fell head first into the cool waters of the lake.   52    

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"Hmm I think the only thing we will be catching today is Cico", said Mango in a weary voice as he fished out Cico by his tail. Mango and Marlon led the way back to the camp with a still bedraggled and dripping Cico following behind. Not a word was said but Mango and Maua exchanged knowing glances as she held out a towel to Cico.   54    

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"No fish today", trilled Mama Cha with a broad grin on her face, " just as well I brought plenty of other goodies that we can eat", and before long she and and a now dry Cico were stirring the enormous iron pot from which delicious smells were emanating.   56    

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After a sumptuous meal of rice, beans, lentils and vegetables washed down with coconut milk and a pudding of Mama Cha's special banana cup cakes the friends sat round the fire talking under the stars of a beautiful African night.    58    

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Even little Cico had been allowed to stay up late although try as he might he just couldn't keep his eyes open and was soon curled up on Maua' s lap fast asleep purring like a contented cat.''Come on, I think it's time we all turned in '', said Mango '' we've got a busy day tomorrow."  60    

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Chapter 7 - The balloon   When Marlon woke to another glorious African morning the camp was already a hive of activity; Mama Cha, with Maua's help, was stirring an enormous pot of porridge for breakfast and Mango was manoeuvring a huge box down from the back of the lorry.  62    

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Cico had an enormous butterfly net which was bigger than himself and he was, unsuccessfully, trying to catch the large, multicoloured butterflies that flitted around the camp.   64    

"Cico, shouldn't the butterflies    be allowed to be free too!", exclaimed Marlon.  65    

"Don't worry", said Mango "the only thing he'll be catching is himself", and sure enough with a huge swoosh and swirl of the net Cico entangled himself in the fine mesh and landed in a crumpled heap on the ground!   66    

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"Whatever is in that box?", asked Marlon "it's enormous, no wonder we had so much trouble fitting all the luggage in". "Just you wait, it's a surprise", and with that Mango levered off the top of the box with a crowbar and inside was a gigantic hot air ballon with a huge wicker basket and four enormous silver gas canisters. 68    

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Marlon couldn't believe it , he had always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon and now he was finally going to get the chance and what a place to experience his first flight! They laid out the enormous balloon on the ground, Mango lit the gas canisters and the balloon gradually began to fill with helium.  70   

As it got bigger and bigger the colours became more apparent there were blues, reds, greens and   yellows - in fact most of the colours  of the rainbow. Marlon had never seen such a splendid sight.   71    

It was decided that Mama Cha would stay behind and look after the camp while the others went on their flight.    72    

They tried to persuade her to go but secretly Mama Cha was quite relieved to be staying behind - she didn't like heights and even felt dizzy standing on the little step in her pantry!  73    

Chapter 8 - The flight  The friends climbed into the wicker basket and when they were all safely in Mango slipped the ropes holding the balloon down and then, as if by magic, it gently began to rise just just clipping the top of the trees .   74    

Mama Cha was waving them off (still glad that her feet were safely on the ground ) and soon she and the camp were specks in the distance. They glided across the lake barely 30 feet above the water which was carpeted with a beautiful pink colour.    75    

"I wonder why the lake has turned pink ",    thought Marlon and then, as if to answer his question, a thousand flamingos rose from the surface of the lake and flew past the balloon as if they were one. It was one of the most spectacular sights that the friends had ever seen.  76    

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Marlon started to count all the different types of animals he could see - lions, giraffes, wildebeest, leopards, cheetahs and the black and white zebras - this was like being in their own private zoo only a million times better.    78    

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The best thing was that, even though they were only a few feet above the animals, they didn't startle them because the balloon made no noise at all - even little Cico was quiet with his mouth wide open taking in the amazing spectacle.  80    

Soon they were approaching the   volcano which still had white smoke  puffing out of the the top of it.  81    

They looked like they were going to run right into the side of it, but just at that moment Mango gave the burners a little burst of gas and the balloon glided effortlessly up the side of the volcano.   82    

Before they knew it, they were looking down into the crater and the burning lava which was shining brightly with red,orange and white sparks flying from it - what a sight, what an experience!    83    

Marlon was clicking away with his camera,  just imagine the show he would be able to put on for his friends when he returned home.  84    

As quickly as they had got to the top, they began their descent as Mango swung the balloon  back towards the camp using the  wind shifts and the controls of the balloon with great expertise.   85    

Mama Cha became larger and larger as they approached and they could see that she had her hands covering her eyes and was peeking through. She needn't have worried though Mango gently bought the balloon down just a few feet from her and the flight was over.  86    

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Chapter 9 - The homecoming As they friends drove back to the airport they were quiet (even Cico) and they were lost in their thoughts of the amazing African Safari and the wonderful time they had together. Marlon was sad to be saying goodbye to his friends but somehow he knew that he would be seeing them again very soon!  88    

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It was always nice to get home after an adventure but as Marlon put his rucksack neatly away under his bed he fished out his large globe of the world   and spun it round. The countries flashed before him and he thought .... I wonder where to next as his hand landed on .......... France.   90    

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"Thank you" said Marlon :-)   "See you very soon on the next journey to ......?......  France  Au revoir xxx "   www.marlonthemotivator.com   

 

