...is "The Adventures of Rock and Skip: Meet Rock and Skip"

On that day, at that time, Rock and Skip were lying in a bed with their cousins, soaking up the sun.  The bed was full of hundreds of rocks and stones and pebbles – all of them were cousins of Rock and Skip.  The bed’s borders were concrete curbs, some were painted red.  The border-curbs helped keep Rock and Skip and their cousins safe within the bed.  In the center of the bed was a young tree whose branches shaded the bed during the hottest part of the day.  The shade was much appreciated by Rock and Skip and the other rocks and stones and pebbles because their bed was in Arizona, where it gets very, very hot!  Rock and Skip loved their bed!  So did their cousins!

Near the tree in the center of the bed was a small boulder.  The boulder was extra special.  It had a bronze plaque on it.  Boulder was so proud of her plaque!  She often entertained Rock and Skip and their cousins by reciting the words on the plaque.  She would say, “This plaque is dedicated to the wonderful rocks and stones and pebbles in this bed.  Their extraordinary efforts to make this hospital beautiful are much appreciated by staff and visitors.”  Rock and Skip and their cousins would cheer and beam with pride.  On the wonderful day, long, long ago, when Boulder was placed lovingly in the bed, a kind gardener said those words to her.  She repeated them to herself over and over so that she would remember them always.  She was so proud to be in the bed!  She was so proud to carry the plaque dedicated to her friends!

Rock and Skip can also remember the day they were brought to the bed.  It was not long after they were born.  They lived for awhile with their Mom and Dad in the quarry.  All that time, Mom and Dad Stone told them that, some day, they would go to live in a beautiful garden.  They couldn’t wait to show off their rocky splendor!  One day, a shovel lifted them up from the pile to take them to the bed.  Rock and Skip were both happy and sad at the same time.  They were sad to leave their Mom and Dad and grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles at the quarry.  But, they were also happy to go out and make the world a more beautiful place.  They told their Mom and Dad that they loved them.  Rock and Skip’s Mom and Dad said they were very proud of them and loved them too!  Then, they rode with their cousins in the back of a truck for many miles.  When Rock and Skip arrived at the hospital, the kind gardener laid them gently in the bed.  He told them they were very special.  Rock and Skip would remember that day forever!

Later, on the day of sunbathing, a hospital worker was walking near the bed.  He stepped into the bed to share the shade of the young tree.  Rock and Skip and their cousins and Boulder were so excited to have a visitor to the bed.  They all smiled and laughed and moved closer to the worker’s feet.  After a few minutes, the worker began to walk away.  Rock and Skip rolled into the path of the worker’s steps.  How wonderful to provide footing for their visitor!  All of a sudden, the worker’s feet shuffled a bit.  When they did, Rock and Skip were launched into the air.  They flew and were turned over and over in the air.  Oh, how they squealed with delight while in flight!  Then, they landed softly on the pavement next to the bed. 

“Oh!  My!  We’re out of the bed!’ cried Skip.  “Don’t worry, Skip.  We’re near the bed.  The gardener will put us back soon,” said Rock.  Rock was the big brother and was always made sure Skip felt safe.  Skip relaxed, knowing Rock would always look out for him.  He enjoyed the scenery outside of the bed.  Rock looked out on the parking lot and marveled at the big cars.  How enormous their wheels seemed!  Rock and Skip soaked up the afternoon sun.  They oohed and aahed at the giant engines of the passing cars, which they had never seen from this close before.  They passed the time by counting wheels as they waited for the gardener to return for his last rounds of the day.  Little did they know that the gardener was called away to a flower emergency at another bed and wouldn’t be back until the next day. 

...to be continued...