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Zara the Zebra Find's Her Stripes Again by Ella-Mae B.
Zara the Zebra was usually the happiest animal in the Savanna School. She loved galloping across the tropical grasslands, playing games with her friends, and showing off her shiny black and white stripes. Her friends Leyroy the Lion, Tessa the Tortoise, Myla the Monkey, and Emily the Elephant loved her for her kindness and her bright smile.But one Monday morning, things began to change.As Zara trotted into the playground, a group of animals started whispering and laughing. "Look at Zara! Her stripes look funny today!" said a young giraffe. "Maybe she ran out of paint!" another shouted.The laughter spread like wildfire. Zara's cheeks burned like a volcano. She lowered her head and walked away quietly.During class, she couldn't focus. The words "funny stripes" kept playing in her mind. She tried to tell herself it didn't matter, but the laughter still stung.At lunch, she sat alone under the big acacia tree. "Why are they being so mean?" she whispered to herself.Leyroy the Lion noticed and trudged over. "Zara, why aren't you eating with us?"Zara sighed. "Some of the animals keep teasing me about my stripes. Maybe I should just go and hide".Leyroy's eyes watered up, "You don't need to hide. You just need to remember who you are, brave and kind. Bullies only win when we stop believing in ourselves."Tessa the Tortoise slowly nodded. "My shell is heavy and cracked in places, but it's mine. I wouldn't change it for anything".Emily the Elephant added, "And I have big ears that everyone used to laugh at. But now they help me hear when my friends need me most."Zara smiled, "So, you're saying I should be proud of my stripes?"Myla the Monkey grinned, swinging from a branch. "Of course! Your stripes make you you! And anyone who teases you doesn't see how amazing that is."The next day, when the same animals started laughing again, Zara took a deep breath. Her heart thumped fast, but she stood tall."I love my stripes," she said. "They make me special and I won't let anyone make me feel small for being different."The playground went quiet. Leyroy stood beside her, his golden bushy mane shining in the sun. "Yeah," he roared, "friends help each other up, not push each other down".The bullies looked embarrassed. One of them kicked the ground. "We didn't mean to hurt you, Zara. Sorry."Zara smiled kindly. "Thank you. Maybe next time, we can all play together instead."From that day on, things changed at Savanna School. The teasing stopped, and the animals began to notice how kind and brave Zara truly was. When others were teased, she was the first to speak up, reminding everyone that kindness was the strongest colour of all.At the end of the week, Ms. Gazelle hung a new banner in class:"Be Caring. Be Confident. Be You."Zara looked up at it and smiled. Her stripes had never looked more beautiful.
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The Lighthouse
By Ariel O.
