What is a true friend? by Cardinal

“What is a true friend?” I asked my mother one evening. 

She looked at me and smiled, and then she said, “Someone who makes you better than you are alone.”

“But what if you can’t be better?”

“That is impossible my dear, now off to bed.” I sighed, a little bit unhappy with my answer.

The next day, I went to school, and during recess asked my best friend what a true friend is. She looked at me, and then smiled.

“Why, the perfect example would be you and me.” I thought about that and smiled. I thought that was a decent answer.

While our friendship wasn't perfect, we still were good friends. Occasionally, we would fight about something, but we would always make up, and laugh about it afterwards. 

That evening, I thought about something. Is a true friend somebody who is always there for you? Or somebody who makes you better than you are alone? Or somebody who cares?

Suddenly, for who knows why, I laughed. All friends should care, and always be there for you. You are always better with friends than you are alone, so that still leaves one question.

Why shouldn't all your friends be true friends?

Friends by Hummingbird

The Sky is foggy

The Sun is no more
Its Raining right now
and its Kind of a Bore.
But friends fixed it up
By dancing in the rain
and dragged me outside
To start a new game.

Paper Duck by Little Blue Bird

The Weak Branch by Swift

Me and my cousin, Ronny, were climbing the old maple tree.
Mama had dressed us up for church.
My older sister, Nikki, sat on the grass, making a daisy-wreath.
"Ya know you shouldn't be climbing in your nice clothes," she said.
I stuck my tongue out at her, but she wasn't looking.
"We know what we're doin'," Ronny said. "Right, Anthony?" He smiled at me, his recently combed hair already had leaves in it.
I heard mama call for us from the house.
"Come on!" said Nikki. "Get down, we have to go!"
"Make us!" Ronny taunted, and we climbed higher.
"Fine! I will!" seethed Nikki, with one hand she held her fancy skirts out of the way, and the other grabbed a branch. She swung up into the tree and was making her way toward us.
My eyes widened. I looked at Ronny. "We're dead." There was no-where left to climb.
We clung to the trunk, prepared to go down fighting.
She got to us, at the top of the tree, she reached a hand out to grab my shirt collar. "Got you, Anthony!"
Her shoes, her fancy shoes weren't made for climbing, and suddenly, she slipped.
She tried to gasp, but her shriek swept it away.
The sound ended when she hit the ground.
"NIKKI!" I leaned way out to see if she was okay.
Snap!
The tree-limb broke.
And suddenly I was somersaulting downward, and with a thud my upper-back hit the earth, the air was knocked from my lungs.
I lay on the ground, gasping, while Ronny screamed "AUNT DONNA! AUNT DONNA!" in a panic.
Mama came running to the tree. She was dressed nice for church.
"Dear lord!" she exclaimed in a stressed tone. "I leave you alone for ten minutes and you go and try killing yourselves!"
"Wasn't my fault," grumbled Nikki, her face still in the dirt.
"You're alive!" I cried. My back ached tremendously.
"Yes. You all are." said Mama. "And unless you want that to change, you'll be getting in the car, now."
Slightly dirty and grass-stained, we piled into the car, grumbling about aching sides and hungry bellies.
"Don't you ever do that to me again!" said Mama.
Dad started the car. He raised an eyebrow at mama. "So, Darling, how was your morning?"
We had a "cheerful" ride to church that morning, and told dad about my first time falling out of a tree.

Another Case for Chloe by Cardinal

The Midget by Falcon

Mideval by Peacock

Paper Momma Eagle, Her friend Bunny, and Baby Eagle by Little Blue Bird

Mythical Beast by Vulture

Twinkie's Thoughts by Peacock

The Evolution of a Knight By Raven, Magpie, Swift, Falcon, and Vulture

One copied the picture of a knight from a book, then another copied his picture, then another copied that picture. They thought it was fun to see the evolution.

The Corset by Swift

An Adventure In Doodling by Cardinal

I’m bored this cool winter evening

I’m tired of the books I’m reading

So I bring out paper and pencil

And doodle a small icicle

Then I shape the next thing I think

Which happens to be a bottle of ink

After that a kingdom and a king

Covered head to toe with shiny bling

And every king needs a queen

With a princess short and stubby

Definitely not tall and lean

A woman lost deep in the dark woods

She wishes to get out of this fear
Ah, if only she could hear

I continue onward with my plan

A map is made to hold in my hand

Finally I hear the clock

After I finish my poodle

It’s an hour past bedtime already?

Well, it’s sure fun to doodle!

Moving Up by Barn Owl

It was the Middle Ages, a time of knights and castles. Kings often awarded loyal knights and lords with their own pieces of land. That meant lots of castles were being built at any given time. Many workers were needed to build and furnish the castles.

Edward trudged up the stairs of the majestic castle. It was nearly completed. One of the few jobs that were still needed was a carpenter. Edward happened to be very skilled with wood. He also needed a job.

Edward was immediately hired. His first task was to fashion a bed for a servant. His boss, Lucas, did not care much about the quality. It could be practically falling apart and he would just shrug and give the carpenter their next task.   

Edward, on the other hand, did care about the quality. He thought that everyone, from a servant to a king deserved his best work. That is why he spent many hours cutting and fitting pieces together. He was satisfied with his work when he finally finished. He proudly presented the bed to his boss.

Edward was stunned when his boss gave a small gasp and hurried from the room. He was astounded when, several minutes later, he came back with another man. Edward had seen Phillip hurrying around the castle when he first arrived. Phillip was in charge of making the furniture for the king’s bedchamber.  Only the best carpenters were allowed to work under him.

Phillip looked critically at the bed. He inspected every portion of it. After several minutes he began to confer with Lucas. Edward began to feel anxious. If he had messed up too much he could be fired. After several moments, Phillip turned around and looked, right at Edward. He began speaking.

“Hello, Edward, as you most likely know I am Phillip, the man who works to make furniture for the king.  I have rarely seen talent such as yours. Your bed is practically flawless. I would like to know if you would join my team. It is your decision,” Phillip paused, “Of course I understand if you would not like to move up.  There will be a higher pay, but if the king does not like your style, he could fire you, or worse.  Still, I am sure he would be satisfied with your work.”

Edward hesitated for only a moment before answering, “I would like to work for you, but I have one question: what type of furniture would I be making?”

Phillip eased his worries by quickly replying, “I would decide depending on your skills.  You might make many things or you might work only on one or two projects.  Don’t worry, I will not make them too hard for you.”

Edward accepted. Immediately he was taken to meet his fellow workers. Edward liked all of them.  He started working on his first project, a chair. He put everything into it. When it was finished, it was perfect for a king.

From then on, Edward moved up in ranks quickly.  It was all because of his work ethic.

THE END