Calamity Kate and the Whirlwind of Feelings
by

Thomas

A story about Big feelings
for your 2nd Grader.

Calamity Kate lived in a tiny cowboy town under a sunny, blue sky. She loved the dusty, golden fields and felt free when she rode her horse, Thunder. Every morning, she galloped past towering cacti, her heart pumping with excitement and joy.

One bright day, Calamity Kate woke up to find Thunder gone. Her eyes filled with worry, and she hurried to find her parents. They stood next to the old corral, looking just as surprised.

"Ma, Pa, where could Thunder be?" asked Calamity Kate, her voice shaking a little. She felt a tight knot in her tummy, like a lasso spinning inside her. Her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and said, "Feelings can be strong. Let’s take a deep breath and think together."

Calamity Kate traced a horseshoe on the ground, remembering how Thunder loved to trot around with it. She frowned, wishing the wind would bring Thunder back. She knew she had to search far beyond the dusty corral.

Her father reached for her hand and said, "We’ll help you, Kate, but you will lead the way." Determined, Calamity Kate put on her boots and tipped her hat. Together, they rode out of town, scanning every rock and patch of brush for Thunder’s hoofprints.

As they followed faint tracks, Calamity Kate felt her big feelings rise like a storm cloud in her chest. "I’m scared Thunder is hurt," she whispered. Her parents reminded her to take a slow breath and focus on one clue at a time.

Soon, they found a broken fence near a steep hillside. Calamity Kate gasped, thinking Thunder might have slipped away through it. She felt her heart pound, but she remembered to stay calm and keep looking.

A silver water canteen lay half-buried in the sand, glinting under the sun. The sight reminded Calamity Kate of all their long rides in the heat, always drinking water to stay strong. She hoped Thunder was safe and not too far away.