Bogga the Bug

Bogga the Bug is a fictional character who came into being when the kids and I were working on a book-writing project. We needed a theme for our books, something the kids would find interesting. I suggested we all write stories about bugs. I titled mine “Bogga the Bog Bug.” In my story, a dragonfly named Bogga woke up in the morning, flew into the swamp, landed on a stick, smiled, and then went home. The kids must have loved the name Bogga, because they both used it, too. But, as you will see, their Boggas are different. Marshall’s is a firefly. Livia’s is most likely a ladybug. Neither is a bog dweller.

Marshall’s Bogga Story: “Bogga was sleeping. Some lava was in his house. He woke up. He rushed through his house. He saw a mountain. Then he turned on his glow. Then he raced to a volcano. Then he fell in by accident. He was inside the hot lava! He saw some hot lava. He was dead because he jumped in it. Bogga came back to life with Marshall’s help. Bogga went to bed. Bogga’s babies came home because of their big journey. And two of them were named Marshall and Livia.”

My favorite thing about this story is how Marshall changed it. It originally ended with Bogga’s death. When I mentioned that I like happy endings, Marshall decided to extend the story. He brought Bogga back to life, making the bug “un-die,” as he put it.

Livia’s Original Bog Bug Story: “Bogga was climbing up a mountain. She was climbing the lava mountain. And she got lava on her. Bogga climbed the mountain again. Then Bogga fell in the volcano. Then Bogga got more lava on her. She got rescued by Livia. Then she fell down in the whirlpool.”

My husband says the great thing about these Bogga stories is that the the kids regard them as light-hearted adventures, as if lava is not dangerous and falling into it is just a silly thing that Bogga does. He loves seeing how happy they are when he reads their stories back to them.

Livia has already written two sequels to her Bogga story. A third one is on the way. With Christmas coming up, it seems fitting to share the one called “Bogga’s First Christmas.”

Bogga’s First Christmas: “Bogga was at her house. She wanted to go out of her house to play in the snow. Bogga told her mom and dad, `It’s almost Christmas!’ Mom cooked earthworms. Daddy cooked earthworm eggs. Then they ate turkey for winter.”

Long live Bogga!

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