In this lesson we will be thinking about our friendships.

3. In this lesson we will be thinking about our friendships.

4. Digby and Anna are usually inseparable. They go everywhere together.

5. One day Anna made a new friend - a bee named Stripy.

6. Every morning Anna waited for Stripy to come out of his beehive.

7. She followed Stripy into the orchards where there were lots of blossoms to pollinate.

8. One day while Anna and Stripy were playing, Digby got some black and yellow paint, and a huge paintbrush.

9. He tried to paint yellow and black stripes all over himself, and got in a terrible mess!

10. Stripy and Anna just laughed at him, and called him ‘Tiger’.

11. On yet another day, Digby went out amongst the flowers, to cover himself with pollen, just like a bee.

12. He didn’t stop sneezing for hours. Anna and Stripy laughed and laughed, and called him ’Sniffy-Mouse’.

13. The more Digby was left out, the more desperate he became. One day, while he was nibbling a piece of cheese, an idea came into his head.

14. He began creating hexagons in the cheese, just as he had seen in a beehive!

15. Unfortunately it was a sunny day, and the temperature was very high. You can imagine what happened next – the cheese melted – all over Digby!

16. How Anna and Stripy complained of the smell!

17. A few days later Digby came up with his best idea. He would make himself some wings and then he would be able to fly like Stripy!

18. He climbed up the tallest tree he could find to test his new wings.

19. When Stripy saw Digby up in the tree he knew he had to act quickly. He gathered all his friends and told them what to do.

20. Together the bees lifted a net under the branch, and caught Digby as he began to fall.

21. ‘Thank goodness you’re alright!’ cried Anna. ‘I’m so sorry for leaving you out of our games!’

22. ‘That’s O.K.’ said Digby, ‘We all make mistakes. My mum says that it’s part of growing up.’

23. ‘I love you’, said Anna giving him a huge hug. ‘You are my very special mouse!’

24. ‘Perhaps we could all play together’ suggested Digby.

25. ‘Yes let’s!’, said Anna, ‘Aren’t we all lucky to have more than one friend.’

26. Teefa’s Teasers Why was Anna attracted to Stripy as a friend? Why did Digby try to act like a bee? Why did Anna and Stripy laugh at Digby and call him names? What made Anna realise how important Digby was to her, at the end of the story? Can you have more than one best friend?

27. Glossary inseparable - always together pollinate – sprinkle with pollen, fertilise loyal – prepared to stand by your friend or group jealous – angry with someone because they have something you haven’t got.