There once was a boy named Randy.

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Randy’s family was normal. Randy, however, was not quite normal.

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At home, Randy’s brother and sister were mean to him. They blamed him for everything.

3

Randy did not like being home.

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On the playground, the bullies never let Randy have any fun. They always picked on him.

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Randy did not like the playground.

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At school, nobody would sit next to Randy. Everyone told him he smelled bad.

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Randy did not like school.

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He spent a lot of time alone, dreaming of finding a friend.

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“Just one friend,” he would sigh, “Is that so much to ask?”

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Then, one day, he had an idea. “By golly,” he peeped, “I’ll get a pet! Pets make great pals!”

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A loyal pooch perhaps, or a friendly feline! He saw birds and turtles, too! Randy was very excited.

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But the dogs were jerks.

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The cats were rude.

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And the birds and turtles just tried to eat him.

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Randy spent all day at the pet store, but still could not find a friend.

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The world seemed a very lonesome place indeed.

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And then, suddenly, Randy heard a ruckus!

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He hurried toward the noise to see what was afoot.

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When he got closer, he noticed something rustling about in a pile of garbage...it was a skunk! “Say,” Randy thought, “Nobody likes how a skunk smells! Skunks don’t have any friends...”

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Hooray!

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“Excuse me,” said Randy, “How would you like to be my friend?” The skunk was overjoyed! Nobody had ever wanted to be his friend before!

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“I’ll call you ‘Pal’!”, exclaimed Randy. And so it was...

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With Pal by his side, Randy’s brother and sister weren’t mean to him.

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The bullies left him alone.

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And he always had someone to sit next to.

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The world didn’t seem so lonely anymore.

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Randy and Pal remained best friends throughout the years. Together, they smelled so bad that nobody ever bothered them again.

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And that suited them just fine.

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Keith Pakiz © 2011