Free That's What Friends Are For by Patrick Lewis, Christopher Denise Page A

days,” said the rhino. “Ever since I lost my horn.”

    â€œMaybe if you stand back up and stretch, you will feel better.”
    â€œNo, I am too sad,” said Rocko.
    â€œWill you please try?” asked Tugg.
    â€œAll right,” sighed Rocko.
    Rocko stood up on his four legs. He stretched. He looked to the right. He looked to the left. Then he looked at where he had been sitting. There was his horn. He had been sitting on it the whole time.

    â€œSometimes the answer is as plain as the nose on your face,” said Tugg. “And sometimes your horn is right under your nose.”

Good Neighbor Day

    The day was almost done in Sidekick Thicket, and Tugg and Teeny had just finished giving their house a new coat of paint.
    â€œGuess what tomorrow is, Teeny,” said Tugg.
    â€œThe weekend, thank goodness,” said the monkey. “I am pooped.”
    â€œNo, not that. Tomorrow is Good Neighbor Day.”
    â€œWhat is that?” asked Teeny.
    â€œWell, to show that we are good neighbors,” said Tugg, “we will invite all of our friends over for a picnic. Everyone brings a favorite dish. It’s called a potluck.”
    â€œThen we have finished painting just in time,” said Teeny, smiling.

    â€œOne more thing, Teeny,” said Tugg. “Please paint the picnic table bench but be quick about it. I’ll go tell all our friends while you are finishing up.”
    But Teeny thought to herself,
Sometimes monkeys just need to rest
.
    So she took out her notepad and began to write a poem— “Housepainting = Hard Work.”

    Then she practiced playing a song on her music stick— “Ooga-Chaca-Ooga-Ooga-Ooga-Chaca.”

    Next she painted a picture on her easel—
A Rose for a Gorilla
.
    So it was quite late by the time Teeny finally got around to painting the picnic bench.

    The next day friends from all over the jungle arrived for the potluck.
    Flap the Elephant said, “Love the new paint job, Tugg. Your house sparkles!”
    â€œYes, it does, and what a beautiful shade of violet,” said Violet.
    â€œThank you,” said Tugg and Teeny.
    Everything looked and smelled so tasty.
    â€œHappy Good Neighbor Day to one and all!” Tugg said. “Let the potluck begin!”
    And so it did.
    But after they had eaten, and the guests got up to leave, Teeny nearly fainted. Everyone had a big violet stripe on his or her bottom!

    â€œOh no!” Teeny whispered. “Look, Tugg! The paint on the bench did not dry.”
    What a mess!
Tugg thought.

    Thinking quickly, Tugg said, “Dear friends, we wanted this to be a day to remember. So Teeny and I decided to give each of you a special gift. Please look behind you. It is your very own tattoo.”
    The animals stared at each others’ backsides in silence. Then …
    Rory Lion roared, “
Grooovy!
”
    Tina Hyena laughed, “
Sweeeet!
”
    And everyone hooted and hollered all the way home.

    Later that night, when the guests were gone, Teeny said, “I waited too long to paint the picnic bench, didn’t I, Tuggboat?”
    â€œYes, you did, Monkeyface,” said Tugg, “but everyone had fun at the picnic, and thanks to you, they went home with a pretty painting that they will enjoy for a very long time.”