Kyle and his parents used to live on the other side of Breathing Land, in a cozy eucalyptus forest, surrounded by their big koala family. For generations, Kyle's ancestors had grown up in this peaceful woodland, where the tall eucalyptus trees were both their home and their favorite snack. But as time went by, the weather became hotter and hotter, and the eucalyptus trees started to wither. With fewer and fewer leaves to eat, the koalas had to leave their beloved home and go on a big journey to find new places to live. That’s how Kyle became the very first koala without a eucalyptus tree to call his own.
Even though Kyle was a bit different from the other koalas, with his own special taste for different foods, he was a bright, cheerful little koala. He really enjoyed munching on apples, red berries, and acorns, but deep down, he always dreamed of having his own eucalyptus tree. Every night, as he drifted off to sleep, Kyle would imagine himself snuggled up on a thick eucalyptus branch, lazily nibbling on leaves while soaking up the warm sunshine.
Kyle and his parents moved to Breathing Village, where they quickly made lots of new friends. Kyle had a happy life, filled with fun and laughter. But there was one thing missing—the forest around the village didn’t have any eucalyptus trees. So, Kyle kept his dream of having his own eucalyptus tree tucked away in his heart.
One day, Kyle’s dad asked him to deliver some jam to Bunny’s grandma, who lived in a little tree hollow far away. As Kyle made his way through the forest, he got a bit lost. He walked and walked until suddenly, he saw a tree that looked different from all the others—it was a eucalyptus tree, just like the ones from his childhood! The tree was big and full, just like the one in his dreams. Kyle’s heart was filled with excitement, but he knew Bunny’s grandma was waiting for her jam, so he decided to finish his errand first. He carefully memorized the tree’s location and planned to come back on a sunny morning to enjoy his very own eucalyptus tree.
The first time Kyle set out to visit the tree, he was halfway there when Hugo called out to him. Hugo couldn’t find the little bird that helped him catch bugs, so Kyle decided to help him search. They looked and looked, and finally found the little bird, who had eaten too many berries and fallen asleep in the bushes. By the time they found the bird, the sun was already setting, and Kyle’s plan was once again put on hold.
A few days later, Kyle tried again, but this time, he ran into Bunny on the way. Bunny was trying to build a fence but was too small to carry the heavy wood. So, Kyle helped Bunny carry the wood and even helped build the fence. But by the time they finished, the day had turned to night once more.
A few more days passed, and Kyle set out early in the morning, determined to find his tree. This time, he didn’t run into anyone and was so close to seeing the tall eucalyptus branches. But just then, Bella called out to him from above. Bella needed to move some berries from a tree hollow before it started raining, but she had forgotten which tree she had hidden them in. Kyle, being so in tune with trees, decided to help her search. Even though he missed his eucalyptus tree, Kyle was a kind-hearted koala who always put his friends first.
By the time they found the berries, it was dark again. That night, a big thunderstorm rolled in, with lightning flashing across the sky. Kyle slept peacefully through the storm, thinking to himself that tomorrow would surely be the day he’d find his eucalyptus tree. But when he finally returned to the spot the next day, he found that the tree had been struck by lightning and was now all charred and black. Kyle was so sad and disappointed that he couldn’t help but cry under the tree.
Ollie the owl, who was flying by, saw Kyle and asked him why he was crying. Kyle didn’t want to worry his friends, so he said he just felt a little sad. But Ollie, who cared very much about Kyle, gathered all the Breathing Pals together to talk about what might be bothering him. Ted the bear guessed that Kyle might be sad because he always shared his apples with him at lunchtime and now didn’t have any apples left to eat. Benny the ball thought that maybe Kyle was upset because he spent so much time teaching him how to climb trees after school that he didn’t have time to watch his favorite cartoons.
Wise Ollie shook his head and said, “No, you’re both wrong. I noticed that this tree, the one that got struck by lightning, was a eucalyptus tree! Kyle almost had a eucalyptus tree of his own, but he never got the chance to find it because he was always helping us.” The friends all realized what had been going on—Kyle had been trying to find his eucalyptus tree all along!
Just then, Penny the penguin noticed something. Hidden beneath the charred eucalyptus tree was a tiny little sprout! Kyle had been so sad before that he hadn’t noticed it. So, the friends carefully dug up the little sprout and planted it in a flower pot. They carried the pot to where Kyle was still feeling down, blindfolded him, and said, “We’ve got a surprise for you!”
Even though Kyle was still a bit sad, he closed his eyes to appreciate the thoughtfulness of his friends. After a bumpy ride on Hugo’s back, they finally arrived in a green meadow. When Kyle opened his eyes, he saw a tiny eucalyptus sapling gently swaying in the breeze.
Kyle’s eyes lit up with joy. “How did you know I’ve always wanted a eucalyptus tree of my own?” he asked. Benny rolled over and said, “Because we’re friends, of course!” Bella added, “True friends always know how you feel, care about you, and want you to be happy.”
Even though the eucalyptus tree was still small, that night, Kyle had the sweetest dream. He dreamed of lying on a strong eucalyptus branch, basking in the warm sunlight, his heart filled with peace and happiness. “Everything will be okay,” he whispered in his sleep.