Theo and the Monster Dad

Once upon a time, in a tiny little village, there lived a boy named Theo. Theo’s mom was a regular human, but his dad? His dad was a big, furry monster. Now, Theo’s dad was as kind as could be, but he always worried that his monster looks might scare folks. So, he hardly ever took Theo out to play. Instead, Theo stayed home, listening to his dad’s stories or gazing out the window, watching other kids romp around the fields with their dads.

At school, Theo’s classmates were always chattering about the fun they had with their fathers—fishing by the river, climbing hills, all sorts of adventures. Theo listened, feeling a mix of envy and a tiny pang of sadness. How he wished his dad could take him exploring like that!

One day, Theo’s school announced a big Sports Day, and they invited all the parents to join in. Theo raced home, bursting with excitement. “My friends said their dads are coming to Sports Day! Dad, will you come too? I really want to do it with you!” he pleaded. His dad hesitated, glancing at Theo’s hopeful eyes. He didn’t want to let his little boy down. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, I’ll go,” he said.

Determined to fit in, Dad hurried to a mysterious shop at the edge of the village and bought a bottle of magic potion. The shopkeeper warned him, “This will turn you into a human for one day only. But be careful—if you sneeze, the magic wears off, and you’ll turn back into a monster!” Dad nodded, thinking, I’ll just be extra careful.

On Sports Day, Dad gulped down the potion and—poof!—transformed into a tall, handsome human. He put on a tracksuit, took Theo’s hand, and walked into the school. Theo was over the moon, tugging Dad around to show him off. “This is my dad!” he beamed. His classmates gushed, “Wow, Theo, your dad’s so cool!”

The games began, and Theo and Dad signed up for the parent-child relay race. They lined up at the starting line, ready to dash to the finish. Halfway through, a wild gust of wind whipped across the field, kicking up dust that stung everyone’s eyes. Dad’s nose twitched, and then—“ACHOO!” A giant sneeze echoed, and just like that, the magic vanished. Dad turned back into his furry monster self, right in front of everyone. The crowd froze.

“A monster! Theo’s dad is a monster!” the kids shouted. Some parents even pulled their children back, wide-eyed. Dad hung his head, feeling awful. Theo must be so embarrassed, he thought.

But then—CRACK! A wooden plank from the bleachers snapped loose in the wind, teetering above a group of kids below. It was about to crash down when Dad leaped forward in a flash, using his strong monster body to shield them. THUD! The plank slammed onto his back, but the kids underneath were safe. Dad grunted, catching his breath as he stood up. Everyone stared, stunned.

A little girl piped up, “He saved us!”

A boy chimed in, “Theo’s dad is a hero!”

Before long, the kids rushed over, clapping and cheering around Dad. Theo stood nearby, his eyes sparkling with pride.

The principal stepped forward, smiling. “Human or monster, anyone with love and courage is welcome to join our games. Let’s keep the fun going!” So, Dad and Theo returned to the race. This time, Dad didn’t hide his monster form. He ran with big, proud strides, Theo right beside him. Together, they crossed the finish line—first place! The crowd erupted in applause.

From that day on, Theo’s dad stopped worrying about scaring anyone. He took Theo out all the time—climbing hills, fishing in the creek, even building a giant treehouse in the village. Theo’s friends loved hanging out with Monster Dad too. They’d learned that even though he looked different, he had the kindest heart of all.