I have such great memories about meeting each of my special friends. I’m glad I started writing the stories of how I met them in this journal, and I’m glad you’re here to read them! Today I’m going to tell you about how I met Sam Square.
My dad was giving a special talk in Los Angeles he brought the whole family. While he was busy with his talk, we went to Venice Beach to enjoy some sun and fun. I noticed there was what looked like an amazing skate park just next to the beach and I begged my mom to let me check it out. I love the idea of whizzing around on a skateboard or rollerblades, but had never tried it before. Of course, I would need TWO pairs of skates since I have FOUR feet!
I climbed up along one of the outer edges to watch all the cool skaters doing their tricks. The park is pretty amazing, with all kinds of dipsy-doodles to swoosh around in. I was so into watching the skaters I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing. The next thing I knew, I had somehow stepped on a skateboard and went right down over the edge into a big bowl-shaped area with lots of skaters zooming around.
I flew down through the center of it, somehow not running into anyone else, up the other side and then came back the same way only backwards! I was screaming like crazy the whole time because I had no idea how to control where I was going. When I came back up to where I started, I made it up over the lip of the bowl and landed with a thud along the edge.
I was just kind of laying there in shock. It was VERY scary but also totally THRILLING. Then I head a voice next to me say, “Dude, that was totally AWSOME. I’ve never seen a giraffe on a skateboard, let alone a giraffe skating BACKWARDS! You’re pretty rad! But next time, ask me first if you want to borrow one of my boards, okay?”
I turned to see a boy with spikey hair giving me two thumbs up. “Actually,” I said, “That was a total accident. I’ve never even been on a skateboard before!”
“Well, then, looks like you’re a natural! Except for the screaming. I was wondering about that.” Then he introduced himself. “I’m Sam Square. Who’re you?”
“I’m Jeb Giraffe,” I said. “But I don’t think I could do that again if I wanted to. And I’m not even sure if I want to or not!”
“Of course you want to,” Sam said. “Nothing beats the thrill of catching a little air on your board! If you want, I can help teach you some basics.”
“Gee, Sam, that’d be swell,” I said. “Let me just go tell my mom so she won’t be worried.”
“Wow, and I thought I was square! Okay, I’ll be here waiting for you, Jeb!”
We had the best time ever hanging out at the skate park with him teaching me how to ride. At the end of the day I still wasn’t very good, but I was starting to get the hang of it. But the best part was making a new friend!