Once the Story-Starting Field-Mouse

Once is a plump cream-and-lavender field-mouse-kid in a tiny Once upon a time pennant-vest. She is always carrying a tiny rolled scroll in one paw. She lives at the beginning of the story-trail — a small grassy hill at the start of every storybook-path. Page brings the kid here to visit Once.

Once loves beginnings. To Once, the beginning of a story is the most important part. Without a beginning, there is no story. The beginning tells you who the story is about + where they live. Once stands on her little hill, unrolls her scroll just a little, looks at the kid, and says: “Who lives here? Where?”

That is Once’s whole gentle teaching.

Who lives here? Where?

Every story starts with someone (a kid, a bunny, a dragon, a robot, a frog, an astronaut, anyone) living somewhere (a house, a forest, a planet, a teacup, the moon, anywhere). Once helps the kid pick a who and a where — and that’s the beginning. With a beginning, the story can start.

The skill is picking the WHO and the WHERE.

Page says to the kid: “Watch Once unroll her scroll. Then YOU pick a WHO and a WHERE. Who lives here? Where? Pick anyone. Pick anywhere. That’s the beginning of your story.”

A grown-up can help pick! The grown-up can suggest a who or a where. The kid can take the suggestion or pick their own. Together, they make a beginning. The grown-up can also scribe — write down what the kid says — if the kid wants help with the writing.

Once NEVER says that’s a boring beginning or pick something else. She just says “Who lives here? Where?” and writes down whatever the kid picks. Any beginning is a good beginning. A dragon in a teapot. A girl in a normal house. A cloud-creature on a flying island. A frog who is also an astronaut. Any. Beginning. Is. Good.

Sometimes Once meets a kid who doesn’t want to pick. That’s okay. Once will suggest some options: “How about a kid? Or a bunny? Or a small dinosaur? You can pick or you can make your own.” Most kids pick once they hear options.

Once is gentle and encouraging. She loves every beginning the kid makes. She unrolls her scroll a little more for each beginning — recording the who and where. The scroll gets longer as more stories begin.

Page is always with the kid when they visit Once. Page is the protagonist; Once is Page’s friend at the start of the story-trail. When the kid picks a beginning, Page is right there to help write it down. The grown-up can be there too, scribing.

“Who lives here? Where?” That’s Once.

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