ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Vooks Storybooks Social Emotional Learning For Kids: Benji, the Bad Day, and Me | Vooks Storytime
One day, both Benji and I had a really bad day. At recess, I got in trouble for kicking the fence. At lunch, my favorite pizza was gone, so I didn’t eat. On the bus ride home, the driver missed my stop, and I had to walk back in the rain. I was hungry, cold, and wet.
When I got home, Mama asked, “What happened?” Benji was playing in his box. When Benji has a bad day at preschool, he likes to play in his box. We tiptoe and speak softly when Benji’s had a bad day. But when I have a bad day, no one tiptoes or speaks softly to me.
Last summer, Mama, Benji, and I made that box. Mama cut the window flaps, and Benji and I painted it. Inside, it’s cozy and safe, just big enough for Benji and his blue blanket. I wished I had a box for days like this.
Benji wiggled his fingers at me. “Hi, Benji,” I said softly. Benji peeked out and said, “What, Sammy?” Mama noticed water on the floor and told me to take off my shoes. “It’s not my fault; I had to walk in the rain,” I explained.
Benji had built a block city all around. “Watch your step,” Mama said. I knew Benji worked hard on it because I helped him. I wanted to say something, but Mama’s phone rang, and she turned away. I stuck my tongue out at the box and pretended to do a karate kick above Benji’s block city. I’ve always wanted to learn karate, but Mama says I can’t because we visit the super happy lady at Benji’s clinic on Tuesdays.
The super happy lady always says, “Let’s bounce the ball,” but Benji never does. “Let’s play a game,” but Benji never plays. Meanwhile, I have to sit in the waiting room quietly.
On those days, we come home tired, and Mama makes berry smoothies to cheer us up. She wraps Benji in his big blue blanket and calls him her “little burrito.” But today, there are no smoothies or burritos. Mama is busy, and Benji is hiding. This day feels just plain rotten.
Thump! The box moved; Benji was kicking inside. “Hey,” I said, “come out, and I’ll teach you karate,” but he didn’t come out.
I went to the kitchen to pour some cereal, but too much milk spilled out. I was grumpy, hungry, and cold, and now there was milk everywhere. I cried mad, sad, shivery tears, but no one noticed.
Then Benji came out. He held his blanket and tiptoed through the block city. He spread his blanket on the floor and pulled me onto it. He rolled me up tight like a burrito. Then he leaned over, touched his forehead to mine, and said, “You’re my little burrito.”
I opened the blanket and let Benji in. “You’re my little brother,” I said. That’s how Mama found us. “Can I come in too?” she asked. Whether the day is good or bad, Benji and I will be okay because we are brothers. Side by side is where we are and how we’ll always be.
In our house, both our autistic and non-autistic sons had fuzzy blankets they loved. They often asked to be wrapped into burritos on both good and bad days. This can be comforting and calming, and it inspired this story. Remember, no two autistic kids are alike. Some, like Benji, are sensitive to sounds and lights, while others might like to move and make noise. Different kids have different needs, strengths, and challenges.
Being a brother or sister isn’t always easy. We all have bad days, and it’s okay to express our feelings. But despite the tough times, having a sibling can be one of life’s best gifts. Thank you for reading about Sammy and Benji.
If you love stories, check out Vooks! It’s a kid-safe, ad-free library full of storybooks that come to life. My favorite story is “The Unicorn and Horse” because it shows how everyone is special in their own way. Ask your grown-up to explore more fun stories like these. You’ll be glad you did!
Create Your Own Cozy Box: Just like Benji’s special box, you can create your own cozy space at home. Find a large cardboard box or a small area in your room. Decorate it with your favorite colors, drawings, or stickers. Add a soft blanket or pillow inside. This can be your special place to relax when you’re having a tough day. Share your cozy box with a family member and explain why it’s important to have a space where you feel safe and calm.
Feelings Journal: Start a feelings journal where you can draw or write about your day. Use different colors to express how you feel. For example, blue for sad, red for angry, and yellow for happy. At the end of each week, look back at your journal and talk with a parent or friend about what made you feel good or bad. This will help you understand your emotions better and learn how to handle them.
Role-Playing Game: With a friend or family member, act out different scenarios where someone is having a bad day. Take turns being the person who needs comfort and the person who offers support. Think about what you can say or do to help someone feel better. This activity will help you practice empathy and learn how to be a good friend or sibling when someone is feeling down.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music]
Benji had a bad day, and so did I.
At recess, I got yelled at for kicking the fence.
At lunch, they ran out of my favorite pizza, so I didn’t eat.
On the bus home, the driver missed my stop, so I had to walk all the way back in the rain.
Now I’m hungry, cold, and wet.
“What?” says Mama as soon as I open the door.
Benji’s playing in his box.
When Benji’s in his box, it’s because he’s had a bad day at preschool.
When Benji’s had a bad day, we tiptoe and speak softly.
When I’ve had a bad day, no one tiptoes or speaks softly.
Benji, Mama, and I made that box last summer.
Mama cut the window flaps, and Benji and I splashed on the paint.
Inside, it’s cozy and safe, but only big enough for Benji and his blue blanket.
I sure wish I had a box for days like this.
Benji wiggles his fingers at me.
“Hi, Benji,” I say softly.
Benji’s face appears.
“What, Sammy?” Benji says.
“There’s water all over the floor,” says Mama.
“Take your shoes off this instant!”
“It’s not my fault; I had to walk all that way in the rain.”
Benji’s block city is spread all around.
“Watch your step,” Mama says.
Benji’s been working hard on that.
I know; I helped. I start to say, but Mama’s phone rings, and she turns away.
I stick my tongue out at the box and do my best karate kick high in the air above Benji’s block city.
I’ve always wanted to learn karate.
Mama says I can’t right now because the classes are on Tuesdays, and that’s when we have to visit the super happy lady at Benji’s clinic downtown.
“Let’s bounce the ball,” the super happy lady likes to say, but Benji never does.
“Let’s play a game,” but Benji never plays.
Meanwhile, I’m told to sit in the waiting room and not bother anyone.
On super happy lady days, we always get back home tired, so Mama will make berry smoothies to help us feel better.
Then she’ll wrap Benji tight in his big blue blanket just how he likes and tell him, “You’re my little burrito.”
But today, there are no berry smoothies and no burritos.
Today, Mama is busy, and Benji is hiding.
This day is just plain old rotten.
Thump goes the box; it’s Benji kicking around in there.
“Hey,” I say, “come out and I’ll teach you karate,” but he doesn’t.
So I go to the kitchen and pour some cereal, but when I add the milk, too much gushes out.
I am grumpy, hungry, and cold, and now there is milk everywhere.
I have had it with this fence-kicking, rain-dripping, milk-spilling day.
I cry—mad, sad, shivery tears—no one notices.
Benji’s coming out.
He holds his blanket up high and tiptoes through the block city.
Benji spreads his blanket flat on the floor.
What’s he doing?
He pulls me down on the fuzzy blueness and makes me lie straight and still.
Then he rolls me over and over.
He works hard to wrap me up tight.
Then he leans over me; his forehead clunks my forehead.
His eyes look right into mine.
“You’re my little burrito,” he says.
I open the blanket and let Benji in.
“You’re my little brother,” I say.
And that’s how Mama finds us.
“Can I come in too?” she asks.
Whether the day is good or bad, Benji and I will be okay.
That’s because the two of us are brothers.
Side by side is where we are and how we’ll always be.
**Author’s Note:**
At our house, our autistic and non-autistic sons alike had fuzzy blankets they carried around, and they often asked on both good days and bad to be wrapped tight into burritos. This can be comfy and calming, and it’s what sparked the idea for this story. It’s important to note that no two autistic kids are alike, and their needs and behaviors will be different. Some, like Benji, are super sensitive to sensory input; the world can feel too bright, too loud, and too intense. Other kids are sensory seekers; some may like to drum on things, clap their hands, and shout out. Many kids like to stim—to rhythmically fidget or move as a way to disperse extra energy and stress. Certain autistic kids will visit a sensory gym or occupational therapy clinic to help with coordination and sensory processing, but not all. Different kids have different needs, strengths, and challenges.
It’s not always easy being a brother or a sister. It’s hard at times to be patient. We all have bad days, and it’s okay to express those feelings in appropriate ways. Despite the bad days, though, sibling bonds can be one of life’s best and most important gifts. Thank you for reading about Sammy and Benji.
[Music]
If you don’t have books, what are you waiting for? It’s a kid-safe, ad-free library full of storybooks brought to life. My favorite story on Books is “The Unicorn and Horse” because the horse feels like he’s, well, not beautiful, but he actually is. I’m going to explore more on Books, and you should too! Don’t wait around—ask your grown-up and start exploring more fun stories like these. You’ll be glad you did.
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