Be Yourself
by Breneshia Thomas
One sunny afternoon Sallie the Salamander was out playing by herself. She also talked to herself because no one else would. Sallie thought to herself, "Maybe I don’t have any friends because I’m weird and I have an over active imagination."
Fred the Frog and the other animals talked about Sallie. Fred said, "She would never be cool enough to hang out with us." Sallie overheard what Fred said and walked away crying. She never told anyone.
Sallie thought to herself, "I think I might make a few changes so I can fit in with the other cool animals."
The next day, she walked up with Susan the Snake and the whole cool crowd started whispering. The cool animals started thinking, "What is she doing over here with us?"
Sallie then started gossiping about the others. But she took it to the extreme and started gossiping about the animals that took her in as a friend. The cool crowd didn’t even want to hang out with her anymore.
Sallie thought, "I don’t understand…," Sallie returned home with a heavy heart.
Sallie’s mother asked, "Why did you change?"
"Because I wanted to be accepted," Sallie explained.
Her mother said, "Be yourself because the people you changed for won’t always be your friends in the end. If they don’t like you for who you are, then they’re not really your friends."
Sallie went to her room and thought about what would be the right thing to do.
The next day, Sallie went up to the cool crowd and they asked, "What are you doing over here? This is not where you belong."
Sallie then replied, "I’m sorry for everything, but I just wanted to fit in with you guys and to have cool friends like yourselves."
"Well, we’re sorry about talking about you behind your back," said Fred the Frog.
"Yessss," hissed Susan the Snake. "When we heard you gossiping about us, we all realized how hurtful it was."
"That’s when we decided we should accept and appreciate one another," added Fred.
"We’re sorry for talking about you behind your back," apologized Susan.
"Just BE YOURSELF," said Fred," and we’ll all be friends!"
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Don’t try to be someone you’re not, just be yourself.
Double Trouble!
by Chris Douglas
Once upon a time there were twin bunnies named Skip and Spot. Their class was going on a field trip to the Amazon Rain Forest to follow trails and do research on forests. They both asked their parents permission to go.
"Mom, Dad, can we please, please go on the field trip? Spot begged.
"We’ll do whatever you say!" Skip added.
"You have to promise to follow everything your teacher tells you," ordered their father.
"We promise!" they said in unison.
Their parents signed the permission slips. That night, Skip and Spot couldn’t sleep because they were so excited about the field trip. Usually they woke up late, but on this day, they were up bright and early.
When they arrived at school, the teacher said, "Everyone listen carefully. When we get to the rain forest, please stay in a line. There are dangerous parts of the rain forest, so it’s important for you to stay on the path."
Skip whispered to Spot, "Would you rather follow them and listen to the teacher, or go on an adventure with me?"
"I’m with you!" replied Spot.
So Spot and Skip left the path and went off on their own. After running around, playing hide and seek, and pretending to be wild lions, the twins decided to return to the bus. "Well," said Skip, "it’s probably time to get back. Let’s run and see if we can beat the class back to the bus."
They were skipping and singing when suddenly, Skip fell in a hole and Spot tumbled in right behind him. Spot said to his brother, "You’re stronger than me, so you have to get out first. Climb up on my shoulders and jump out and pull me out."
"Oh man," said Spot, "we are in so much trouble! We’re all muddy and smelly. The teacher is going to be soooo mad."
"Hey, don’t worry, I have a terrific plan. Grab some of those huge green leaves and wipe off the mud. No one will ever know," said Skip.
After rubbing the mud off, Skip and Spot quickly ran back to the bus area. Not far away, the class was returning with their teacher. "I thought I told you two to stay in line and on the path," the teacher said sternly.
As the teacher was speaking, Skip and Spot were scratching themselves. It felt like every inch on them was itching.
"Why are you scratching like that?" asked the teacher.
"We don’t know. We fell in some mud and used those big green leaves to wipe off the mud."
The teacher exclaimed, "Oh no! You used the leaves that make you itch if you touch them! I think you’ve learned your lesson about following the rules."
"Yes, teacher," replied Spot and Skip. They were so embarrassed. And they scratched and scratched the whole bus ride home.
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There are always consequences for our actions.
The Everlasting Love
by Ayla Medrano, Amanda Walker, Brittany Yarholar
The panther couple had been married for many years. The two lived on top of a hill in the jungle. One day, an enemy panther attacked Jack for his food and left him with a hurt leg.
"Jack what happened to you? Are you alright?" asked Jill.
"I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, but I don’t have any food for us. You know that mean panther, Michael? Well, he stole the food I was bringing home for us, and I ended up hurting my leg. Just let me rest up and I’ll go back out and find us lunch," replied Jack.
A few hours later Jack tried to get up and go search for food. He stood up, but quickly fell to the ground.
"Jack there is no way you can make it out there. Let me go and find food for us," Jill said.
"You can’t! You have never hunted before in your life. I don’t want something to happen to you. If someone tried to steal the food from you, I’m not sure that you would know how to fight for it. I don’t know what I would do without you," he replied.
"I’ve watched you go out and get the food, it doesn’t seem that hard. I’ll be able to protect myself if anyone tries to hurt me. You just rest and I’ll be back in a little bit with something for us to eat," she insisted, as she ran out the door.
Jill was nervous and scared. She had never been out in the jungle by herself or hunted for food. She wasn’t sure she could take care of herself. Yet, she saw the pain her husband was in, and knew it was up to her to provide for the two of them.
"I don’t know how I’m going to do this. There is no possible way Jack could do it. It’s up to me to take care of him," she thought to herself.
After searching for food she finally spotted a deer off in the distance. She slowly crept up to where the animal was, trying to make as little noise as possible. Then quickly pounced on the deer and killed it. Her search for food was successful.
"Wow, I can’t believe how easy that was," she said to herself.
Little did she know another panther had been watching her all along, and waiting to steal the deer. The other panther attacked Jill, but she fought back. She kept thinking of her husband and how she must do this for him. Finally, she won, and the other panther ran off frightened. She began her journey back to her home.
"Jack! Jack! Jack," she yelled. "I did it! I got us food and another panther even tried to steal it from me," she said enthusiastically.
"I’m so proud of you honey. Thank you for taking care of me. I’m just glad you got back safe" he said.
The two enjoyed their dinner together for which Jill had so courageously fought.
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Caring for others is a labor of love.
Sam the Lion Finds Love
by D.J. Henry
One day a Lion named Sam ended his search for a girlfriend. He met a Red Panda named Brookelyn. She was a beautiful Red Panda who liked Sam the Lion. They went on walks through the jungle almost every day. Four months passed by and the relationship between the two started to crumble.
Sam the Lion began to argue with Brookelyn the Red Panda. Two weeks later they broke up.
Both Sam and Brookelyn missed each other terribly. They kept trying to begin again, but it always ended up with hurt feelings.
Finally, Brookelyn the Red Panda got tired of it and said to Sam "I’m tired of being hurt over and over again. If you love me you will let me go."
Sam the Lion was sad. "You’re right," said Sam. "This isn’t a relationship. If you come back to me, then it was meant to be; If you don’t then it wasn’t."
Weeks went by and all Sam the Lion could think about was getting Brookelyn the Red Panda back. Sam the Lion went to one of his buddies, Henry the Raccoon, and asked him for advice.
"Henry," said Sam the Lion, "I miss Brookelyn something awful! But I don’t know how to tell her how I feel."
"Maybe you should write her a note and tell her how you feel," advised Henry the Raccoon.
"Thanks buddy, that’s just what I’ll do," said Sam the Lion. So Sam the Lion sat down and wrote Brookelyn the Red Panda a letter. It took him almost two hours to finish the note. As he was bringing her the note, he saw someone in the distance. It was Brookelyn the Red Panda.
"Hi, where are you going, what’s in your hand?" asked Sam the Lion.
"Hey, I was on my way to your house to drop off this note I wrote you Sam," Brookelyn the Red Panda said.
"I’ve been thinking about you," commented Sam the Lion.
"And I’ve been thinking about you too," said Brookelyn the Red Panda. She gave him the note and said, "Please read this note." Sam the Lion opened it slowly. The note said "Sam I miss you, let’s be one again." Sam smiled with happiness.
"You know Brookelyn, it’s okay if you want your mom to come over; we’ll all go out to dinner."
Brookelyn the Red Panda laughed and gave Sam the Lion a big Panda Bear hug. She said, "See, as bad as it was not being together, it made our hearts stronger." They hugged and kissed and walk happily into the sunset.
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Love grows stronger when you listen.
Eddy the Eagle Bets It All
by Jasmine Farris
It was the day of the Annual Jungle Cat Race, and Eddy Eagle was eagerly rushing to partake in the festivities. Every year, Eddy gathered all the money he had earned for the month and went straight to the betting booth. Luck has been on his side for the past five years in a row. He always won double the amount of money he waged.
While Eddy was standing in line, patiently waiting to place his bet on his best pal Chester Cheetah, King Cobra, infamously known for his cheating ways, tapped him on the shoulder.
"Looks like it’s my lucky day, know what I mean chum?" asked King while nudging Eddy in his arm.
Eddy rubbed his arm giving King a sort of half smile.
"So, um…you going to place a bet I see."
"Yeah, I’m placing my money on my old pal, Chester Cheetah." said Eddy with a huge grin.
"I know you’re not betting your money on that loser?" asked King, more like an insult than a question.
"He’s not a loser! He’s my best pal and I have complete faith in him winning!" exclaimed Eddy.
"Whoa, bring it down a notch buddy! I’m just trying to help make you a little dough," stated King lowering his voice and leaning into Eddy’s ear. "I know this guy who told me that he set it up to where Patty Panther is going to win this year. That’s who you need to place your bet on and then you’ll win for sure!"
"I don’t know, King. Chester is my friend and I did say I was going to place my bet on him."
"Okay, do what you want, but I’m telling you that Patty is going to win."
At last, it was Eddy’s turn to place his bet. He pondered for a slight second about what he would do. Finally, he turned to the Gorilla taking the bets and confidently said, "I want to place all my money on Patty Panther!"
After betting, Eddy strolled to his seat in the stands and waited for the race to start. He looked down at the racers and was slightly uncomfortable when Chester waved at him, but he politely waved back. He looked down a couple of seats and saw King, who immediately gave him a thumbs up, which made Eddy regain all his coolness. When the race began everything was perfect. Patty was way ahead of all the other competitors, but Chester was only a few strides behind her. Everything was looking good until Patty caught a cramp in her hind legs. She tried to keep going, only a few feet away from the finish line, but stopped because the pain was so unbearable. Chester won the race and Eddy lost all his money.
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Cheaters never win!
The Only Duck in the Jungle
by Lyndsi Rodriguez
There once was a duck named Thomas. Thomas was a very lonely duck.
He wanted so desperately for a friend. But nobody would even talk to him.
"One friend isn’t too much to ask for, right?"
Every day, Thomas would just wander around the jungle, looking for someone to talk to. He had almost given up when he saw something out of the corner of his eye! It was Rocky the Rhino! Thomas, overjoyed, ran as fast as he could over to where Rocky was standing. Thomas had the biggest smile you could imagine!
But his smile was quickly turned upside down when Rocky sharply turned around and said, "Go away, Thomas! Nobody wants you here! You’re just a duck, we are Rhinos! We are big, you are small. You just don’t fit in," snarled Rocky.
Thomas turned around with his head hung in shame, and he headed off.
Thomas was even more depressed. He looked around and saw other animals laughing and playing. Thomas was so distraught, the only thing he could think to do was go and sit by the water and think. When he got to the river, he plopped down on the bank and started sobbing quietly. His tears were interrupted when he felt someone tap his wing. He turned around and could barely believe what his eyes were looking at!
"What’s wrong, Thomas? We all heard you crying," said Ira Inchworm.
"Ya, Thomas, what’s the big idea?" said Betty the Blackbird.
Thomas wiped his tears and began to speak.
"I have no friends, no one likes me. I don’t fit in because I am a duck and I live in the jungle."
"That’s why we all became friends. No one would be friends with us in school. Every day, wherever we went, we were alone. Finally, Ira Inchworm got up the guts to ask me if he could sit with me at lunch. When we were eating, we came up with a great idea. We figured we weren’t the only lonely animals at school, so we went around and found everyone else and invited them to lunch with us. So, we would like to be your friends. It would mean the world to us," said Billy the Toad.
"Oh, you really mean it? That would mean the world to me, too! I have
friends! How wonderful!" shouted Thomas.
And they all were best friends for the rest of their lives.
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Friends come in all shapes and sizes.