Once upon a time, in Africa, lived a giraffe named Jeffery. Now, this isn't the normal kind of giraffe you're thinking of. This was long ago when giraffes had short necks. You may be wondering how it could be possible for their necks to magically get so long. Well, I am going to tell you exactly how it happened.
This giraffe, Jeffery, dad a best friend. His best friend just happened to be a chimpanzee named Charles. Although Charles was indeed a chimpanzee, he was quite afraid of heights. While all the other primates swung through the trees, Charles remained on the ground. Because of his fear, Charles was shunned by all of the other chimpanzees. This is where Jeffery comes into the picture.
Jeffery and Charles would spend their days prowling through Africa. One day, as they were walking, the chimpanzees began to laugh at Charles because he was, as usual, staying on the ground with Jeffery instead of playing high in the treetops like a normal chimpanzee.
"Charles, I think it's time to face your fear," said Jeffery, "You've missed out on all the fun of climbing through the trees. You can't stay on the ground forever."
"You're right," said Charles, "I think I'm ready to climb. What about this tree here?"
So that was that and Charles began to climb.
"Wait Charles! Stop! That tree is a little too tall for your first time climbing. Stop!" But Charles paid no attention to Jeffery, and kept going. He climbed so fast that before he knew it, he was at the very top of one of the tallest trees . . .
"I did it!" Charles shouted, looking down at Jeffery. Everyone knows if you're afraid of heights, the number one rule is: Don't look down! But Charles had obviously forgotten this rule. Right at that moment he realized how high up he was and started to panic.
Jeffery tried to coax him down but he was scared stiff. "Don't worry Charles," shouted Jeffery. "We'll get you down from there somehow."
Jeffery found all of the tallest animals in Africa but nobody could reach him. "If only I was a little bit taller," thought Jeffery.
He began to walk as he tried to think of a way to get Charles out of that tree. Nothing he thought of would possibly work. He soon came to a small hut and went inside. Inside, he found a scientific looking guy mixing chemicals together. "How may I help you?" he asked.
"Who are you?" Jeffery wondered aloud.
"Why, I am a wizard. I have potions for just about everything you could imagine. Now, I assume you have a problem?"
"Well, actually, yes. My friend is stuck in a tree and none of us animals are tall enough to help him down. Can you make me taller?"
"Yes, of course, I have just the thing for you . . . now where is that growing potion . . ."
Jeffery looked around. The room was a jungle of potions. They looked and looked. "Oh, there it is!" the wizard finally said. He reached for the potion but accidentally bumped it and it spilled everywhere.
"Oh no!" Jeffery cried out, "Now I'll never be able to save Charles."
"I'm so sorry . . . but wait! I think I might have something else for you . . . aha! Yes, here you go. Just drink this and your neck will grow very long, long enough to reach the tops of the highest trees."
"I guess this will have to do. Anything to save Charles." And Jeffery was on his way.
"I'm here to save you, Charles!" Jeffery yelled, "I've got a potion that will make my neck grow!"
He quickly drank the potion and, sure enough, his neck grew and grew until it was tall enough for Charles to hop on to his neck and get safely to the ground.
All the animals marveled at Jeffery's new neck, as tall as a tree. He loved his new neck, and ever since then, giraffes have been born with long necks, just like Jeffery's.
