cover
In the bright midday at the watering hole, tiny Toby stands on a muddy bank with mouth wide, producing only a squeak. Bruno, larger and dark orange, laughs loudly nearby while Tilly, lavender and gentle, touches Toby’s shoulder.
Toby the baby T-Rex was smaller than other dinosaurs his age. He had emerald scales and tried to practice his roar every morning. But nothing came out except tiny squeaks! The other young dinosaurs gathered around the watering hole. Bruno, a bigger T-Rex with dark orange scales, laughed loudly. "That's not a roar, Toby! That's a mouse sneeze!" His friends giggled. Toby's cheeks turned red. His little friend Tilly, a sweet baby Triceratops with lavender-purple skin, walked over to him. "Don't be sad, Toby," she said gently. "You're still special."
Under the harsh afternoon sun in a dusty clearing, Bruno blocks the best sunlit rock, splashing wet mud onto Toby’s cream belly. Beside him, Tilly stands firm, big eyes shining with loyalty.
Every day, Bruno and his friends played mean tricks on Toby. They blocked him from the best sunny spots. They splashed mud on his cream-colored belly. "Move along, squeaky!" Bruno would say. Toby felt smaller and smaller. One afternoon, Tilly stood beside Toby. "You're my best friend," she said with her big innocent eyes shining. "Bruno is just being mean because he's scared." Toby looked confused. "Scared of what?" he asked. Tilly smiled. "Maybe scared that you'll be bigger than him someday." Toby thought about this. Could it be true?
At dawn beside the lush fern grove, frightened Tilly backs toward a tree as Bruno looms over her. Tiny Toby charges forward, mouth wide in a valley-shaking ROAR, dew sparkles in the cool light.
The next morning, Bruno cornered little Tilly near the fern grove. "Your friend can't protect you, baby Triceratops!" he teased. Tilly looked worried. Toby saw what was happening. His heart beat fast. He remembered Tilly's kind words. His best friend needed him! Something stirred deep in Toby's chest. He felt brave and strong. Toby ran forward on his little legs. He opened his mouth wide. This time, something amazing happened. A tremendous ROAR burst out! It echoed through the whole valley. Bruno's yellow eyes grew huge with surprise and fear!
In the soft late-morning sunlight of the same clearing, Toby stands tall on a grassy mound, face calm but resolute. Opposite him, Bruno droops his tail, eyes apologetic, while Tilly dances in a small hop between them.
Bruno stumbled backward, shocked. His friends scattered and ran away fast. "Whoa! Sorry, Toby!" Bruno stammered. "I didn't know you could roar like that!" Bruno's tail drooped. He looked ashamed. Toby stood tall, even though he was still small. "Being big doesn't make you strong," Toby said firmly. "Being kind does." Tilly cheered and danced happily. Bruno nodded slowly. "You're right. I'm sorry for being mean." From that day on, Bruno stopped bullying. Toby's roar stayed strong. But more importantly, his big heart made him the bravest dinosaur of all.
--:--
--:--
0/4