The Wooden Puzzle
by Aaron Aaronsen
The Saturday morning sun shone through Monti J. Monti’s window, casting golden light on the floor. Monti was sitting cross-legged on his bed, carefully assembling a new wooden puzzle he’d received as an early holiday gift from his grandparents. The pieces fit together to form a small mountain scene, complete with tiny painted goats and trees. It was Monti’s new favorite thing.
Just as he was finishing the edges, there was a knock at the door.
“Hey, Monti!” Leo called from the hallway. “Want to play outside?”
Monti hesitated. He knew Leo would want to see the puzzle, and maybe even ask to play with it. But Monti didn’t feel like sharing—not yet. It was brand new, and he wanted to enjoy it all by himself for a little while longer.
He quickly slid the puzzle under his bed. “Uh, I can’t right now, Leo!” Monti called back. “I’m, um, not feeling well.”
There was a pause. “Oh,” Leo said, sounding disappointed. “Okay. I hope you feel better soon.”
Monti felt a little guilty as he heard Leo’s footsteps fading down the stairs, but he shook it off and returned to his puzzle.
The rest of the morning didn’t go as Monti had hoped. He couldn’t concentrate on the puzzle. Every time he looked at the tiny goats, he remembered Leo’s voice, and a small, uncomfortable knot tightened in his chest. By lunchtime, the knot had grown so big that Monti could barely enjoy the warm tomato soup his mom had made.
“What’s wrong, Monti?” his mom asked, noticing his furrowed brow.
Monti pushed his spoon around the bowl. “It’s nothing,” he mumbled.
His mom didn’t press him, but she gave him a knowing look. “Sometimes, when we do something we know isn’t right, it can feel like a heavy backpack we’re carrying around. It helps to set it down by telling the truth.”
Monti thought about that as he finished his soup. He didn’t want to carry the heavy backpack anymore.
That afternoon, Monti found Leo in the park, sitting on a bench and flipping through a small notebook he always carried.
“Hey, Leo,” Monti said, shuffling his boots in the snow.
Leo looked up, his face lighting up. “Oh, hey, Monti! Are you feeling better?”
Monti bit his lip, then took a deep breath. “Actually, I wasn’t really sick this morning. I lied because… well, I didn’t want to share my new puzzle with you. I’m sorry, Leo. That wasn’t fair.”
Leo blinked in surprise, then looked down at his notebook. “Wow. Thanks for telling me,” he said quietly. “I have to tell you something too.”
Monti frowned, tilting his head. “What is it?”
Leo hesitated, then held up the notebook. “Remember when I said this was my ‘adventure journal’ where I write about all the cool things I’ve done? Well, that wasn’t true. I’ve never really written about any adventures. I just doodle in here because I don’t know what to write.”
Monti stared at the notebook, then burst into laughter—not to make fun of Leo, but because he suddenly felt so much lighter. “Leo, that’s okay! Your doodles are awesome. I’ve seen them! And anyway, who needs an adventure journal when we have real adventures all the time?”
Leo grinned, relief spreading across his face. “You’re right. And thanks for not being mad about it.”
Monti smiled. “I’m not mad. It feels so much better to just be honest, doesn’t it?”
Leo nodded. “Yeah. It’s like taking off a heavy coat when you come inside from the snow.”
Monti thought about his mom’s advice and realized how true it was. The heavy backpack he’d been carrying all morning was gone. “Hey, do you want to come over and see the puzzle? We can put it together together.”
Leo’s face lit up. “Really? That sounds great!”
Back at Monti’s house, the two boys worked on the puzzle, laughing as they tried to figure out where the tiny pieces fit. When they finished, they admired the little mountain scene they’d created.
“This is amazing,” Leo said. “Thanks for sharing it with me, Monti.”
Monti nodded, feeling happier than he had all day. “Thanks for understanding. I guess we both learned something about being honest today.”
Leo smiled. “Yeah. And it turns out, the truth really does feel better.”
As they cleaned up, Monti looked out the window at the setting sun. The snowy mountains in the distance seemed to glow in the golden light, and he felt a warmth inside that had nothing to do with the fire crackling in the fireplace. Telling the truth wasn’t always easy, but it made everything – friendships, puzzles, and even snowy Saturdays – so much better.
Welcome to the Zaubertales Advent Calendar 2024. This Christmas season, we are sharing the magical world of Monti J. Monti, our curious and courageous little hero. Each day in December brings a new short story filled with heartwarming adventures, meaningful lessons, and a touch of festive magic.
Our series is more than a collection of stories. It is an opportunity and invitation to join us in shaping Monti’s journey. As the stories unfold, we encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas. What challenges should Monti face next? What should Monti’s world look like? What inspires you about his character? Together, we will create a hero who reflects the creativity and kindness of the Zaubertales community.
Zaubertales is dedicated to crafting stories that bring joy and learning to children and families. Through Monti’s adventures, we inspire laughter, spark meaningful conversations, and nurture imagination. Whether you read these stories during quiet evenings or share them as a family, they are designed to add wonder and delight to this special time of year.
We are thrilled to bring you this interactive storytelling experience. Let’s make this December a memorable celebration of joy, discovery, and the true spirit of Christmas.
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