By Bill Conley
Moral of the Story:
A loving heart, helping hands, and a good attitude can fix almost anything.
Dads who serve with joy are the true heroes of the home.
When you use your gifts to help others, everyone wins.
And the best gift of all is being loved by your family.
In the cheerful town of Tinkerwood
Hollow, where porches creaked with charm and laughter echoed from every
treehouse, lived a raccoon named Ryan.
But not just any raccoon.
Ryan the Raccoon was known far and
wide as the best handyman in the forest.
If something squeaked, he tightened
it. If something cracked, he patched it. If something blinked, buzzed, wobbled,
or leaked, Ryan could fix it better than new.
But more impressive than his toolbox
was his heart.
Ryan was an incredible father to Isla,
who was 11 and thoughtful beyond her years, and Poppy, who was 9 and
full of fun and energy. He was also a devoted husband to his kind and clever
wife, Christina.
He made lunches with notes that said
“I love you,” fixed broken toys before bedtime, and tucked his girls in with
stories, hugs, and a flashlight in case of “shadow monsters.”
One morning in early July, the town
square buzzed with excitement.
A huge banner stretched between two
tall trees:
🛠️ THE GREAT TINKERWOOD HANDYMAN CONTEST – JULY 14 🛠️
Build it. Fix it. Invent it. Prove you're the best handyman around!
“Dad! That’s your birthday!” Isla
shouted, bursting into the kitchen with the flyer.
“And it’s a contest just for
handymen like you!” Poppy added, bouncing.
Ryan chuckled, wiping his paws with
a cloth. “A handyman contest on my birthday, huh? That sounds like fun.”
Christina smiled. “You don’t need a
trophy to prove you’re the best. But if you ask me, you’d win it in a
heartbeat.”
Ryan winked. “Then let’s do it.
It’ll be a birthday to remember.”
July 14th arrived with sunshine and celebration.
The town square was transformed into
a festival of tools, stations, and cheering animals. Hammers clinked. Saws
buzzed. Judges stood ready with clipboards.
Ryan laced up his work boots,
tightened his belt, and high-fived Isla and Poppy.
The announcer called, “Today’s
contest has three handyman challenges:
1. Build a birdhouse.
2. Repair a broken wagon.
3. Create a new invention from mystery items!
And the final twist—each handyman
must choose helpers for the last round.”
Isla and Poppy squealed.
“Us, Dad! Pick us!”
“I wouldn’t want anyone else,” Ryan
said proudly.
Round One: The Birdhouse Build
Ryan’s saw moved like butter through
pinewood. Isla handed him nails and paint, and in ten minutes, they had a
birdhouse with a miniature porch, flower box, and a welcome mat that said,
“Tweet Sweet Home.”
The crowd clapped. The judge smiled.
Round Two: The Wagon Repair
The next challenge was a beat-up red
wagon missing a wheel.
Poppy steadied the frame while Ryan
fitted a new wheel, reinforced the base, and polished the handle. Then he
painted lightning bolts down the side.
“Whoa!” gasped the judge as the
wagon zoomed across the testing ramp. “Better than new!”
Round Three: The Mystery Invention
Each contestant received a box of
surprise items: a fan, a garden hose, three wooden planks, and a crate of
mismatched parts.
Ryan tapped his chin. “Let’s build a
backyard cooling station!”
Isla and Poppy cheered.
They worked like a dream team.
Poppy built the base. Isla cut the
hose. Ryan rigged the fan and added mist nozzles.
When they flipped the switch—FWHOOSH!—a
fine mist sprayed out while the fan spun cool air across the bench.
The audience rushed to sit
down and cool off.
Even the judges took turns.
As the final round ended, the
announcer returned to the stage.
“We’ve seen amazing handiwork
today,” he said, “but one handyman stood out for his skills, kindness, and
teamwork with his family.”
The crowd leaned in.
“The winner of the Great
Tinkerwood Handyman Contest is… Ryan the Raccoon!”
The forest erupted in applause.
Ryan smiled wide as Isla and Poppy
jumped into his arms.
But then the announcer raised his
paw again.
“And since today is a special day…”
The crowd began to sing—
“🎵 Happy birthday to you… 🎵
🎵 Happy birthday to you… 🎵
🎵 Happy birthday, dear Ryan… 🎵
🎵 Happy birthday to you! 🎵”
Ryan’s eyes welled with tears.
Christina came forward with a giant
chocolate cake topped with a tiny hammer made of sugar and a candle shaped like
a tape measure.
“You’ve always been our winner,” she
whispered.
That evening, with his trophy by his
chair and cake crumbs on his shirt, Ryan sat beneath the twinkle lights on the
porch, arms around his girls.
“You didn’t just win today, Dad,”
Isla said.
“You inspired everyone,” added
Poppy.
Ryan grinned. “I just did what I
love. Fixing things… and being with all of you.”
Christina leaned on his shoulder.
“You’re not just the best handyman in town, Ryan. You’re the best man, period.”
And in that quiet moment, under the
stars, Ryan felt the greatest joy of all.
Not from winning a contest.
But from being a father, a husband,
and a hero at home.
Poem:
He fixed with love, he worked with cheer,
A birthday, Dad, the town holds dear.
With clever paws and a heart so wide,
He built a life filled with love and pride.
About the Author
Bill Conley is a dedicated storyteller, life coach, and faith-filled guide
whose heartfelt children’s stories have brought smiles and timeless lessons to
families everywhere. As the author of hundreds of moral-rich tales, Bill
believes in planting seeds of kindness, gratitude, responsibility, and faith in
the hearts of children while they’re young. His signature style weaves simple
yet powerful truths into colorful adventures with animal heroes, each story
crafted to teach values that last a lifetime.
Bill’s passion for writing comes from his own
journey, years of experience as a father, grandfather, mentor, and devoted
husband. He understands that children need stories that do more than entertain;
they need stories that shape character, spark imagination, and open
conversations between parents and kids.
Whether he’s writing about a brave little
beaver, a wise turtle, a fast cheetah, or a gentle cloud that forgets how to
rain, Bill pours his love for faith, family, and old-fashioned values into
every word. He knows that small lessons today become big strengths tomorrow.
In addition to his books, Bill is a certified
life coach who has helped countless people build stronger relationships, grow
in faith, and navigate life’s storms with confidence and hope. His words
encourage children and grown-ups alike to be kind, stay positive, honor
commitments, and always believe they are enough.
When he’s not writing, Bill enjoys spending
time with his three daughters and two grandchildren, sharing laughter and
lessons across generations. He also finds joy in serving his church and
community, living out the very values he writes about so passionately.
Bill Conley’s greatest hope is that every
story will help families build warm memories together—reading aloud, asking
questions, and inspiring children to grow into caring, courageous, and
thoughtful adults.
He invites you to keep reading, keep talking,
and keep believing that the smallest good things we do can change the world for
the better.
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