Cody the Cactus Finds Friendship

Cody was a little cactus. He lived in the sunny desert. Cody had lots of pointy spikes. He wanted to play with the other desert animals, but they were scared.

"Ouch!" cried Rosie the rabbit. "Your spikes are too prickly!"

"I can't hug you, Cody," said Terry the tortoise, hiding in his shell.

Cody felt sad. He wanted a friend. He wished he wasn't so prickly. One sunny morning, a colorful butterfly fluttered by.

"Why are you sad, little cactus?" asked Bella the butterfly.

"I want to play," Cody said. "But my spikes hurt everyone."

Bella smiled. "Being a friend is more than just hugs," she said. "You can be a friend in many ways."

Bella flew around Cody. She danced and twirled. Then, Rosie the rabbit hopped closer. Terry the tortoise peeked out of his shell. They watched Bella dancing around Cody.

"That looks like fun!" said Rosie.

"Can we watch?" asked Terry.

Cody smiled. He felt happy. Bella's wings tickled his spikes. It felt like a gentle hug. Cody realized Bella was right. Friends could be close in many ways. He didn't need to change who he was. Soon, Rosie and Terry were dancing around Cody too. They laughed and played all day. Cody the cactus had found his friends.