2 same breakfast In fact Alana was bored a lot She was bored of the PBJ sandwiches her mom made for lunch and she was bored of homework The only time Alana wasn’t bored was when she played video games Alana’s parents set a timer when she logged onto games and when the buzzer went off so did the screens Alana always begged for extra time but her parents never agreed to it It’s so much fun and it’s the only time I’m not bored she pleaded Pick up a book her mother said as she shut down whatever electronic device Alana was using I always read said Alana This was true she was an avid reader but she also liked creating her own worlds and meeting new people in the games which she couldn’t do in books Yes she did write her own stories but she loved creating new worlds in video games She tried to explain this to her parents but they didn’t understand One day while watching TV Alana saw an ad for a very unique island getaway where a kid could be transported transported through their TV to their very own island She was excited This sounded like a dream The ad promised promised that participants would be able to develop this island all by themselves They could plan the community community pick their own fruit fish and go on many adventures adventures Alana wanted to sign up right away She called her mother over to the screen Mom Look at this island adventure She stood by the TV screen and pointed to the ad she had paused with the remote control She pressed play and watched Welcome to Furtopia
Every Day is the Same 3 the commercial alongside her mother The commercial showed a little girl with red pigtails living in a small wooden cottage on a lush green island filled with red and purple flowers She looked to be socializing with a chatty rabbit I need to do this Mom Alana declared It looks like so much fun I can build my own island Let me do some research her mom responded which was what she said when she was avoiding making a decision Her mom said that a lot and Alana believed her mom hoped Alana would either forget or change her mind before her mom had to make a decision Let’s research it together Alana suggested Okay later Her mother got up and walked toward the kitchen Why can’t we research it now Alana questioned Let’s do it another time Don’t you remember what it’s like to be a kid You don’t get to make any decisions If I go on this island adventure I can have an island that’s all my own I can do something I’ve never done before and that is exciting Alana’s mother paused Okay Really Alana’s mother watched the ad a few times and pulled out her personal checklist of questions that she used when assessing if a video game was appropriate
4 Violent No Dangerous No Creative Yes Teaches independence and strengthens motor skills Yes This is an educational game Alana’s mom said Does that mean we get bonus points on your quiz Alana’s mother laughed It means I’m allowing you to take this island adventure Her mother paused If you add making your bed each morning to your list of chores Can I start it now It’s bedtime her mother reminded her You can go tomorrow Can we watch the ad one more time she asked her mother Sure They sat together on the plush blue couch and watched a racoon tell them about the sorts of adventures adventures one might have on their own island There would be new friends to meet fishing tournaments buried treasure to be unearthed and balloons that flew through the sky carrying presents Alana wanted to watch the commercial again but her mother said it was time to go to sleep Alana raced into her bedroom The sooner she crawled into bed the sooner it would be morning and she could start her island adventure She imagined the first thing she would do when she arrived on her island She would jump into the water and go for a swim She’d then eat all the fruit she could find on the luscious trees that filled the island She also came up with a bunch of names for her island Welcome to Furtopia
Every Day is the Same 5 After she rattled off a bunch of potential names from Newfoundia to Fruitland her mother walked into her room You need to go to sleep she said softly I’m sorry I’m just so excited for my island adventure adventure I was trying to think of a name for the island Alana clung to her stuffed teddy bear Furry that she’d had since she was little She didn’t remember naming the teddy bear because she was only a toddler at the time She loved Furry the bear As her mother closed Alana’s bedroom door and wished her a good night Alana came up with the perfect name for her island Furtopia Although she couldn’t bring her beloved stuffed animal on the trip she’d think of him every time she said the name of the island The minute the sun shone through Alana’s window she jumped out of bed and raced to the living room where she turned on the TV and logged on to her island adventure Within seconds she was transported out of her living living room and standing in front of a ticket counter at an airport where two adorable wide-eyed raccoons with pink ears stood behind the counter The raccoons who wore button down shirts emblazoned with the island adventure logo introduced themselves I’m Tick I’m Tock We’re glad you signed up for this adventure said Tick and then he walked her to the gate where the plane was located As she approached the plane’s entrance her heart started to beat rapidly
