The Word Scandal of 2019

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The news about a mishap involving the 2019 Smyths Toys Superstores Xmas Advert gets Oscar pretty bummed out, until Grandpa Sid soon comes to the rescue.

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'Based on the news stories concerning the 2019 Smyths Toys Superstores Xmas advert's 'word scandal'.

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4th November, 2019.

The day the Smyths Toys Superstores Christmas advert for 2019 came out.

Oscar had just finished shooting the advert, and now, he was watching it with his parents.

"Impressive advert, son," Susanne, Oscar's mother said, once the advert was finished.

"Yes," Oscar dad, Oliver, said, "you've certainly made a great Christmas advert for the Smyths Toys Superstores Company."

In fact, Oscar's friends, Anika, Charlie, Isabella, and Zac, all heard about the advert, and they were talking endlessly about it, in the playground at school, at the skatepark, and when they were walking to and from school.

Even the teachers at Oscar's school soon were talking about the impressive advert, including Mr. Fin, the maths teacher, Mr Thirtle, the PE teacher, and even Mrs Squan, the History teacher.

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However, by next Monday, the 11th of November, the news began to circulate that Oscar had said a very unacceptable word in the 2019 Smyths Xmas advert.

"I can't believe the news would say such shocking things about our son like that." Oliver said in annoyance.

"Exactly," Susanne said, "Our son would never say such awful, inappropriate and vulgar words. Never."

Unfortunately, Oscar took the blow to what the news said about his 'swear word incident' the hardest. He tried his best to cover it up, and try to ignore it.

But it only got worse at school; for Bertha, the school bully, started to tease and taunt Oscar, calling him 'the Inappropriate Word Boy', and that hurt Oscar, inside and out.

On Tuesday, at the game in the after-school football club, Oscar tried his best to focus, but, he just couldn't get Bertha's hurtful name-calling outta his head, and ended up missing the penalty shots thrice.

At the end, Mr Thirtle, who was also in charge of the after-school football club, came to talk to Oscar, as did his friends.

"What's wrong, Oscar?" he asked. "You're usually quite good at football."

Oscar explained everything to his teacher and his friends; about the news about the Xmas advert, and how everyone believed he used a swear word, when he hadn't, and about Bertha's name-calling.

"Don't worry, Oscar," Mr Thirtle said, "I'll be sure to have a word with Bertha about her name-calling. But what you need to do is get advice from someone wise and smart who always sticks up for what's right."

Oscar wasn't so sure. "What if Bertha finds out?" he began.

"Don't you worry." Mr Thirtle said. "She'll never know how I found out."

"And," he added, "the only way you'll feel better about this whole misunderstanding is if you tell someone who understands the truth."

Anika, Isabelle, Charlie, and Zac all agreed that Oscar should tell someone wise about his problem - it was the best thing to do.

Oscar felt better, and he decided to tell someone wise straight away. And, better yet, he knew exactly who to tell.

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When he came home, Oscar went up to the living quarters of his Grandpa Sidmouth, his grandfather, or Sid, as he liked to be called.

Grandpa Sid was asleep in his living quarters. Oscar went into his room.

"Grandpa?" Oscar said, which woke his grandpa up.

"Oscar?" Sid asked, sitting up on his bed. "What's up?

"Well," Oscar said, "You know the Xmas advert I did last Monday?"

"Yes," Sid said, "I do. I know, cause I saw it."

"Well," Oscar said, "I don't know if you've heard the news or not, but..."

And, like when he explained everything to his PE Teacher and his friends, he told his grandpa everything about the news about the Xmas advert, and how everyone believed he used a swear word, when he hadn't.

"I guess you also heard the news comments on the internet." Oscar said.

"Yes, yes I did." Sid said. "Those people who make the news certainly know how to mess with the truth."

"Well, any ideas on what I can do to stop feeling so bummed out?" Oscar asked his grandpa.

"It's pretty simple." Sid said to his grandson, "Just ignore the bad comments. Ignore what they say about you. You're a brilliant person for the Smyths Toys Superstore adverts. Don't let anyone tell you different."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Oscar said, giving his grandpa a hug.

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The next day, Oscar felt much better, now that he knew to ignore all the news about the so-called 'swear word incident', and Bertha the Bully's name-calling, and he did well in his Maths and Chemistry lessons too.

And that evening, after school, the Smyths 2019 Xmas advert played again, only this time, the verse that contained the 'unacceptable word' was taken out.

Sure, the advert was shorter, but the audience around the world were impressed by it.

Oscar and his friends and family were impressed, too.

Grandpa Sid, of course, was the most impressed of all - especially with Oscar sticking up for himself. 

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