Speaker 1: Welcome in everyone to Lively Lewis Stories. That's right, We're
Speaker 1: back with even more awesome adventures with Levi and Ivy.
Speaker 1: Set your storytime meter too fun and get ready to
Speaker 1: join the Lively Lewis crew. All you need is your
Speaker 1: imagination and we go. I can't wait. You see, we're
Speaker 1: my story to just gooday. Have you ever wanted to
Speaker 1: get more Lively Lewis in your life, Well we've got
Speaker 1: you covered. Grab an adult and zoom over to livelyleuishop
Speaker 1: dot com or just click on the link in our
Speaker 1: show notes. Enough about that, let's get too Today's super
Speaker 1: Live Ay Lewis Story twenty seven, twenty eight, twenty nine
Speaker 1: thirty counted Levi as he sat on the floor in
Speaker 1: his room, counting a pile of money. Just a little
Speaker 1: bit more and I'll be able to get the new
Speaker 1: Striker Extreme Soccer video game. It was the coolest new
Speaker 1: game that Levi had just had to have, and he
Speaker 1: had been focused on it ever since he saw the
Speaker 1: commercial for it last month. It was said to be
Speaker 1: released at the video game store in town in just
Speaker 1: about a week, and he wanted me the first in
Speaker 1: line to buy it. Levi had come up with a
Speaker 1: plan to do extra chores around the house to earn
Speaker 1: money so he could buy the game himself. He even
Speaker 1: started working at the local animal shelter a few times
Speaker 1: a week after school to earn more money faster. He
Speaker 1: was in charge of feeding dogs, playing with puppies, and
Speaker 1: helping to clean up. Levi loved animals, so it wasn't
Speaker 1: like work at all. He was so happy to do
Speaker 1: it and knew that every afternoon he helped out there
Speaker 1: was a little closer to getting his new Striker Extreme
Speaker 1: Soccer video game. Levi, are you counting your money again,
Speaker 1: asked Ivy as she stood in the doorway of her
Speaker 1: brother's bedroom. It's still going to be thirty dollars no
Speaker 1: matter how many times you count it. I know that, Ivy.
Speaker 1: I'm just really excited about the soccer video game, answered Levi,
Speaker 1: putting his money back in an old shoe box and
Speaker 1: sliding it under his bed. Just think, in another week,
Speaker 1: I'll be playing soccer against some of the greatest players
Speaker 1: around playing soccer or sitting on the couch playing a
Speaker 1: video game. Giggle, Divy. Either way, it will be amazing
Speaker 1: and I can't wait, replied Levi. I just need another thirty,
Speaker 1: and I'll be playing Striker Extreme Soccer all day long.
Speaker 1: All day long, asked Ivy. What about all your chores
Speaker 1: and helping out at the animal shelter. Oh, I won't
Speaker 1: have to do those things anymore, replied Levi, pretending to
Speaker 1: dribble a soccer ball around his room. I'm just doing
Speaker 1: all of this to earn the money to get my
Speaker 1: video game. I really thought you were going to keep
Speaker 1: helping out at the animal shelter, said Ivy, sounding very surprised.
Speaker 1: I thought you really liked it there. I was even
Speaker 1: gonna see if I could help out there because it
Speaker 1: looked like so much fun. It is fun, Ivy, and
Speaker 1: I love it there. But once I get my new
Speaker 1: video game, I'm gonna need lots of time to play
Speaker 1: it so I can really get good at it, answered Levi,
Speaker 1: which means I won't have time for extra chores or
Speaker 1: the animal shelter anymore. Then Levi ran out of his room,
Speaker 1: yelling go as he made his way down the hallway.
Speaker 1: He certainly was excited about the new video, but Ivy
Speaker 1: didn't quite understand it all. If Levi loved working at
Speaker 1: the animal shelter and helping around the house. Why would
Speaker 1: he just stop after he earned the money for his
Speaker 1: new game. Even though Levi I thought that's how it
Speaker 1: would end up, he would soon find out that money
Speaker 1: and cool soccer video games aren't the most important things
Speaker 1: in life. The feeling you get from helping others can
Speaker 1: be even cooler. The next day, Levi I ate a
Speaker 1: quick snack after school before heading off to the animal shelter.
Speaker 1: LEVI do you think I could tag along with you today?
Speaker 1: Asked Ivy. You know how much I love animals. That
Speaker 1: sounds like a great idea, Ivy answered Levi. They're always
Speaker 1: looking for extra help. Levi and Ivy walked down the
Speaker 1: street and arrived at the animal shelter ready to work.
Speaker 1: Levi introduced Ivy to Bonnie. She ran the shelter and
Speaker 1: was the one who told Levi what he would be
Speaker 1: doing each day. Hi, Levi, it's great to see you again.
Speaker 1: Han's so nice to meet you, Ivy, said Bonnie. Good
Speaker 1: to see you too, Bonnie called out Levi as he
Speaker 1: ran off towards the back of the shelter. I'm going
Speaker 1: to get started feeding the big dogs and I'll be
Speaker 1: right back. Thank you, Levi called out Bonnie, and thank
Speaker 1: you Ivy for helping out today. If you'll be doing
Speaker 1: the same work as Levi, I can pay you the
Speaker 1: same as well, which is five dollars. Does that sound good?
Speaker 1: That's okay, Bonnie answered Ivy with a big smile, as
Speaker 1: a little puppy ran up to her and started tugging
Speaker 1: at her pants. I don't need any money. I love
Speaker 1: animals and I'm just here to help wherever I can.
Speaker 1: That's so kind of you, said Bonnie. I'll put your
Speaker 1: money toward our animal shelter remodel fund. How does that sound?
Speaker 1: That sounds great, said Ivy with a confused look on
Speaker 1: her face. But what's an animal shelter remodel fund. That's
Speaker 1: just a fancy way of saying we're raising money to
Speaker 1: make some nice additions to the shelter that will help
Speaker 1: all the animals here, said Bonnie. Yes, definitely put the
Speaker 1: money you would have paid me in there, please, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: Bonnie thanked Ivy again and walked over to where Levi
Speaker 1: was wrestling with a giant bag of dog food. Here,
Speaker 1: let me help you with that, said Bonnie, helping Levi
Speaker 1: to lift the bag and pour some of the food out.
Speaker 1: Into the plastic bowls. Thank you, Bonnie said Levi. You know,
Speaker 1: with a few more chores around my house and a
Speaker 1: few more days helping at the animal shelter, I'll have
Speaker 1: enough money to buy my new video game. I'm so excited.
Speaker 1: That's great, Levi answered Bonnie. I'm really proud of you
Speaker 1: that you're working so hard to earn the money yourself,
Speaker 1: and the more you work here, the more you can
Speaker 1: earn to get other cool things. Actually, I think once
Speaker 1: I earned the money for my video game, I won't
Speaker 1: be coming back to the shelter as often to work,
Speaker 1: said Levi as he placed the food bowls in front
Speaker 1: of some very hungry dogs. Oh, said Bonnie, sounding a
Speaker 1: bit confused. I thought I could count on you to
Speaker 1: be here to help with the big shelter remodel fundraising
Speaker 1: event at the end of the month. I think I'll
Speaker 1: be able to stop by for a bit. But by
Speaker 1: then I'll definitely have my video game and we'll be
Speaker 1: playing that a lot, answered Levi. Now, did you want
Speaker 1: me to feed the small dogs now? Or wait, I
Speaker 1: guess you can feed them now, said Bonnie, a little
Speaker 1: surprised to know that Levi would be leaving in just
Speaker 1: another week or so. She was getting used to having
Speaker 1: him around because he was such a big help. Ivy
Speaker 1: could tell something was wrong when Bonnie's cheery mood changed.
Speaker 1: That's when she suggested that she could fill in for
Speaker 1: Levi after he left. I'd be happy to work for free,
Speaker 1: Ivy told Bonnie. I bet I can even get some
Speaker 1: friends to help out as well. Wow, that would be great,
Speaker 1: said Bonnie. Thank you, Ivy. I can tell that you're
Speaker 1: a very caring person with a good heart. Bonnie then
Speaker 1: gave Ivy a little tour around the animal shelter, telling
Speaker 1: her about some of the things that she would be
Speaker 1: helping with and introducing her to the animals there After
Speaker 1: a couple of hours, Levi and Ivy's mom stopped by
Speaker 1: to pick them up. Thank you, as always for all
Speaker 1: your help, Levi said Bonnie, paining lee by his five dollars.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Bonnie, said Levi as he excitedly put the
Speaker 1: money into his pocket. We're gonna miss you around here
Speaker 1: when you leave next week, Bonnie added. Leave next week,
Speaker 1: asked Levi's mom, sounding a bit confused. But I thought
Speaker 1: you loved working at the animal shelter, Levi, I do mom.
Speaker 1: But I'll have earned all the money I need to
Speaker 1: buy my video game, so I won't need to help
Speaker 1: out here anymore, said Levi. That's not really how it works.
Speaker 1: You won't be playing that soccer video game all the time,
Speaker 1: said his mom. But we can talk more about this
Speaker 1: at home. And thank you, Ivy. It was so great
Speaker 1: to meet you today, said Bonnie with a smile. I'll
Speaker 1: put your five dollars in the animal shelters remodel fun
Speaker 1: just like we talked about. Yes, please, answered Ivy. We'll
Speaker 1: see you tomorrow, and with that, Levi, Ivy and their
Speaker 1: mom headed home. Ivy's mom told her how nice she
Speaker 1: thought it was that Ivy gave her money to the
Speaker 1: animal shelter fundraiser. She was happy that her daughter was
Speaker 1: volunteering her time for such a good cause. Meanwhile, Levi
Speaker 1: was upstairs in his room adding the five dollars he
Speaker 1: made that day to a Striker Extreme Soccer video game fund.
Speaker 1: Once he was done counting up his new total, he
Speaker 1: ran downstairs to ask his mom if there were any
Speaker 1: chores she needed done around the house. Thank you for asking, Levi,
Speaker 1: answered his mom. If you could rake the backyard, that
Speaker 1: would be great. Then when your dad gets home, you
Speaker 1: can help him put all the leaves into bags. I'm
Speaker 1: on it, mom, called out Levi's He started to run
Speaker 1: for the back door. I'll have my new video game
Speaker 1: in no time. You're such a big help around the house,
Speaker 1: said his mom. I am starting a painting project next week,
Speaker 1: and I will really need your help to get the
Speaker 1: room ready. Levi stopped in his tracks and spun around. Sorry, mom,
Speaker 1: but by next week I'll have earned all the money
Speaker 1: I need for my video games, so I won't be
Speaker 1: looking to do extra chores, said Levi. He then grabbed
Speaker 1: his sunglasses off the kitchen counter and walked outside. So
Speaker 1: Levi's quitting the animal shelter and quitting extra chores once
Speaker 1: he gets that video game, thought Levi's mom to herself.
Speaker 1: I'll have to talk with him about that. She walked
Speaker 1: outside with Ivy close behind LEVI. Can you come over here,
Speaker 1: she called? Do you have something else for me to
Speaker 1: do after I'm done raking the leaves, asked Levi as
Speaker 1: he ran over. The sooner I make more money, the
Speaker 1: sooner I'll be playing Striker Extreme Soccer. Yeah about that,
Speaker 1: began his mom. I think it's great that You're choosing
Speaker 1: to work hard to earn money to buy your game yourself,
Speaker 1: but stopping immediately after you've gotten enough money just doesn't
Speaker 1: seem right. You've been a big help around here, and
Speaker 1: I'll be sad to see you stop lending a hand. Also,
Speaker 1: that shelter needs you. Bonnie and those dogs and puppies
Speaker 1: depend on you. Now. Won't it feel strange to not
Speaker 1: help out anymore? Levi looked down at the ground. He
Speaker 1: knew his mom was right. He loved the feeling he
Speaker 1: got from helping out his parents, Bonnie and all those
Speaker 1: dogs and puppies. But how could he have time to
Speaker 1: help out that the shelter, do extra chores and play
Speaker 1: Striker extreme soccer. He was feeling confused about his decision.
Speaker 1: He told his mom he needed some time to think
Speaker 1: about it and went back to raking the leaves. The
Speaker 1: next day, after school, Levi and Ivy headed off to
Speaker 1: the animal shelter. The dogs and the puppies all barked
Speaker 1: happily and jumped around excitedly as Levi walked in. He
Speaker 1: was a friend now, he had gained all of the
Speaker 1: animals trust and they loved seeing him. Wow, I don't
Speaker 1: even think I get that nice of a reaction when
Speaker 1: I walk in, laughed Bonnie. These buddies are really gonna
Speaker 1: miss you when you leave next week. Levi didn't say
Speaker 1: a word. He just looked around at all the dogs
Speaker 1: and puppies as they barked till low. Ivy ran over
Speaker 1: to one of the dogs and gave her a big hug.
Speaker 1: Time to play outside, she said, as Bonnie opened the
Speaker 1: outside door and the dogs ran out into a fenced
Speaker 1: in grassy area. Are you coming with us, I've asked Levi. Yep,
Speaker 1: I'll be out in just a minute, said Levi as
Speaker 1: he looked at the donation box for the animal shelter
Speaker 1: remodel fund. He really did love working at the animal shelter,
Speaker 1: and he loved helping his parents at home. The more
Speaker 1: he thought about what his mom had said and how
Speaker 1: the dogs and puppies relied on him, and how she
Speaker 1: really appreciated all he did at home, he knew what
Speaker 1: he had to do. Until that moment, Levi was only
Speaker 1: thinking about making money, not making others happy. He was
Speaker 1: letting the Striker Extreme Soccer video game make his decisions
Speaker 1: for him, when he should have been letting his heart
Speaker 1: lead the way. Levi helped at the animal shelter that day,
Speaker 1: as he always did. He got his five dollars from
Speaker 1: Bonnie before he left and walked home with his mom
Speaker 1: and Ivy. Then he ran up to his room. I
Speaker 1: bet he's counting his video game money again, said Ivy
Speaker 1: as she sat down to start her homework. And that's okay,
Speaker 1: said Ivy's mom. He's excited about his new video game
Speaker 1: and he's working really hard to get it. I just
Speaker 1: wish he would see that he shouldn't quit the Animal
Speaker 1: shelter after he gets the money for the game. The
Speaker 1: video game may be cool, but it will never be
Speaker 1: as rewarding as helping others. Just then, Levi walked into
Speaker 1: their living room and asked if his mom could please
Speaker 1: take him back to the animal shelter. Why did you
Speaker 1: forget something there, she asked, No, Actually, I have something
Speaker 1: I should have left there a while ago, he said.
Speaker 1: That's when Levi explained to his mom that he wanted
Speaker 1: to donate some of the money from his video game
Speaker 1: fund to the animal shelter remodel fund. I'm going to
Speaker 1: start donating half of the money that Bonnie gives me
Speaker 1: to the animal shelter, Levi began, I love that place,
Speaker 1: and after thinking about what you and Bonnie said, I
Speaker 1: know the right thing to do is to support all
Speaker 1: those dogs and puppies that count on me and the
Speaker 1: great work that Bonnie is doing there. Wow, Levi, that's
Speaker 1: so nice of you, said Ivy, giving her brother a
Speaker 1: big hug. I have to thank you, too, Ivy, said LEVI.
Speaker 1: Seeing you donate your money to the animal shelter was
Speaker 1: really cool. Now I see that I can help others
Speaker 1: and save money to get my video game, even if
Speaker 1: it takes more time to reach my goal. The feeling
Speaker 1: I get from helping at the animal shelter and helping
Speaker 1: around here mom is one that I don't want to lose.
Speaker 1: Levi then told his mom that she didn't need to
Speaker 1: give him anything any more to help out around the house.
Speaker 1: He was happy to do it for free, and even
Speaker 1: after he earned enough money at the animal shelter, he
Speaker 1: decided that he would definitely keep working there. Levi's mom
Speaker 1: could have not been prouder with his decision, and walked
Speaker 1: to Levi and Ivy to the animal's shelter that afternoon.
Speaker 1: Once he arrived, Levi told Bonnie everything he had told
Speaker 1: his mom. She was so excited to hear the news
Speaker 1: and so appreciative of Levi's donation to the animal shelter remodel.
Speaker 1: That day, Levi I learned that doing the right thing
Speaker 1: may make you wait longer to get the new video
Speaker 1: game you want, but in the long run, it's the
Speaker 1: right choice because helping others makes you a winner on
Speaker 1: and off the soccer field. Ivy ran around the house
Speaker 1: carrying a colorful flower clipboard and a marker in her hand.
Speaker 1: She had been working on something all day and everyone
Speaker 1: was pretty sure they knew what it was. My birthday,
Speaker 1: exclaimed Ivy as she jotted down notes on her clipboard.
Speaker 1: Will be the best birthday ever. Levi just sat on
Speaker 1: the couch and watched as his sister drew up a
Speaker 1: plan for what her birthday party would look like, right
Speaker 1: down to the tiniest detail, like where the napkins would
Speaker 1: go and where each friend would sit when they watched
Speaker 1: her open her presence and Lila have to sit right
Speaker 1: up front, said Ivy with a smile. They already requested
Speaker 1: front row seating so they could see all the cool
Speaker 1: stuff I get. Ivy, Don't you think you're going a
Speaker 1: little overboard planning out your party, asked Levi as he
Speaker 1: looked at the book on the couch. Isn't the most
Speaker 1: important thing that all your friends are together, everyone's happy,
Speaker 1: and everyone is having a good time. You don't need
Speaker 1: to plan out every single second. Yes, Levi, you're right,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. And for everyone to be happy and have
Speaker 1: a good time, my party has to go perfectly. That's
Speaker 1: why I'm making these notes, and we'll work with mom
Speaker 1: to make sure this party will be unforgettable. Ivy then
Speaker 1: called her mom to the dining room to discuss all
Speaker 1: of her plans. So I was thinking the pony rids
Speaker 1: could start at noon, and then we could have a
Speaker 1: Bounce House bouncing contest, and then a super size Sundays
Speaker 1: and then presence, and then the concuret can start and
Speaker 1: then But before Ivy could finish her description of the
Speaker 1: greatest birthday party ever, her mom had to stop her. Ivy,
Speaker 1: I know you're super excited about your party, began her mom.
Speaker 1: Super duper excited, smiled Ivy. But we can't have all
Speaker 1: of those things. It's just too much, said her mom.
Speaker 1: Isn't the most important thing that your friends are together?
Speaker 1: Everyone's happy and everyone is having a good time. You
Speaker 1: don't need to plan out every single second you've been
Speaker 1: talking to LEVI, haven't you, replied Ivy in a huff. Fine,
Speaker 1: I guess I can cut out some things. But I
Speaker 1: need to have a diraft here, and we need to
Speaker 1: find a way to make an ice drink in the backyard.
Speaker 1: But Ivy, it's July, said her mom, sounding like she
Speaker 1: was losing her patience. Please don't worry. Your birthday will
Speaker 1: be out of this world, oh, exclaimed Ivy. Good idea, Mom,
Speaker 1: we could have an intergalactic neon glow in the dark
Speaker 1: dance party. Ivy ran off, still holding her clipboard, adding
Speaker 1: to it as she went. The next day at school,
Speaker 1: Ivy was really excited to talk with her friends about
Speaker 1: her party and see if they had any other ideas
Speaker 1: she could add to the list. How about we have
Speaker 1: a water slide, but instead of water, it's slime, suggested Zada.
Speaker 1: I like it, said Ivy, adding it to the list
Speaker 1: on her clipboard. How about a chocolate fountain, suggested Victoria.
Speaker 1: Too small and everyone has one of those at their parties.
Speaker 1: But good thought, replied Ivy. I wasn't finished, said Victoria.
Speaker 1: How about a chocolate fountain the size of a real fountain,
Speaker 1: and we can get marshmallows in it the size of
Speaker 1: bowling balls. I love it, shouted Ivy. The girls continued
Speaker 1: to talk when suddenly Ivy asked where Lila was. I
Speaker 1: didn't see her on the bus, so I guess she's
Speaker 1: out again today, said Zada. Ivy had been so busy
Speaker 1: planning her birthday party that she didn't really notice how
Speaker 1: many days Lila had been absent until she began to
Speaker 1: talk more with her friends. Yeah, Lila hasn't been here
Speaker 1: since last week, said Victoria. She got ready to head
Speaker 1: and side since recess was almost over. But it's Friday,
Speaker 1: said Ivy, stepping out of the party planning bubble. That
Speaker 1: means she's been out all week. Ivy sounded a little concerned,
Speaker 1: and for the first time in a long time, she
Speaker 1: started thinking of something other than her birthday party. Ivy
Speaker 1: ran inside at the end of recess and asked her
Speaker 1: teacher when Lila was coming back and why she'd been
Speaker 1: out of school for so long. Ivy's teacher said she
Speaker 1: couldn't discuss that with her and suggested she reach out
Speaker 1: to her friend. After school, Ivey sat down at her
Speaker 1: desk and couldn't focus on anything else for the rest
Speaker 1: of the day. As soon as she got home, she
Speaker 1: ran right to her mom and told her about Lila.
Speaker 1: She's been absent for a week. Mom, that's not good,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. I hope she's not super sick, but what
Speaker 1: if she is and can't make it to my party
Speaker 1: next week? Ivy, I think we have more important things
Speaker 1: to think about than your party, said Ivy's mom. I'll
Speaker 1: call over to Lilah's house and see what's going on.
Speaker 1: Ivy watches her mom called Lila's mom. They had a
Speaker 1: long conversation, and Ivy's mom kept saying things like let
Speaker 1: us know how we can help and call me any time.
Speaker 1: When she finished on the phone, Ivy's mom told Ivy
Speaker 1: to come sit with her. So I figured out what's
Speaker 1: been going on, began Ivy's mom. Lia's just had surgery
Speaker 1: and it's taking her longer than she thought to get
Speaker 1: back on her feet. Lila's dad has been really busy
Speaker 1: at work and can't stay home to help her during
Speaker 1: the day, so Lila's been helping out. That's why she
Speaker 1: hasn't been at school. Oh no, replied Ivy. I'm really
Speaker 1: sorry to hear that. Imagine all the class work and
Speaker 1: homeworks she'll have to make up from this week. Actually,
Speaker 1: Lila's all caught up, said Ivy's mom. Her mom called
Speaker 1: your teacher at the beginning of the week, and she's
Speaker 1: been sending all her work home for Lila to complete.
Speaker 1: I wish I had known I could have helped her out.
Speaker 1: The new math lesson we just started is kind of confusing,
Speaker 1: said Ivy. Well, I think the reason you didn't know
Speaker 1: is because you didn't reach out to Lila after she
Speaker 1: had been out for a couple of days, started her mom.
Speaker 1: I think the only thing you were thinking about was
Speaker 1: your birthday party. I guess you're right, said Ivy. And
Speaker 1: speaking of my party, did Lila's mom say she could
Speaker 1: still come? I'm sure Lila won't want to miss the
Speaker 1: giant chocolate fountain that was a new suggestion by Victoria today.
Speaker 1: Ivey's mom just looked at her with a confused expression
Speaker 1: on her face. Ivey, we're not talking about your party anymore,
Speaker 1: she said. We're focusing on Lilla and her family right now,
Speaker 1: and you're going to help me make something to take
Speaker 1: over there for them to have for dinner tonight. What's
Speaker 1: Lila's favorite food, Ivey said, having to think for a minute.
Speaker 1: She's been focused so much on herself lately, it was
Speaker 1: difficult to think of anyone else at school. Lila's always
Speaker 1: really excited for pizza day, said Ivy. Finally, great, let's
Speaker 1: rent to the store for some ingredients, said her mom.
Speaker 1: You're going to help me make pizza. Ivey definitely wanted
Speaker 1: to help her friend, but she also wanted to think
Speaker 1: up some new ideas for her party. Her mom stood
Speaker 1: by the door, and Ivy knew the right thing to do.
Speaker 1: She grabbed her coat and walked out the door, but
Speaker 1: she still couldn't help but think of herself and her party.
Speaker 1: Once at the store, Ivy walked up and down the
Speaker 1: aisles with her mom, collecting ingredients to make homemade pizza.
Speaker 1: We should make pizza for my party, said Ivy out
Speaker 1: of nowhere. No wait, everyone could make their own, per
Speaker 1: personal pizza. That would be even better. We could turn
Speaker 1: the kitchen into a pizzeria. And but before Ivy could
Speaker 1: finish talking about her grand pizza party, her mom interrupted her. Ivy,
Speaker 1: this isn't about you right now. We're getting food for
Speaker 1: Lila and her family because it's the right thing to
Speaker 1: do and they need her help, said Ivy's mom. Please
Speaker 1: focus on what's truly important right now. Thank you, and
Speaker 1: with that, Ivy's mom walked ahead to grab some mozzarella cheese.
Speaker 1: Ivy didn't like the way she felt at that moment.
Speaker 1: She was only thinking of herself and her birthday party.
Speaker 1: She couldn't believe it had taken her so long to
Speaker 1: even notice that Lila wasn't in school. She should have
Speaker 1: reached out sooner. But instead of feeling bad about the
Speaker 1: things she couldn't change, Ivy decided to take action and
Speaker 1: be the best friend. She could. Beat Tolila right then,
Speaker 1: so moving forward, Ivy stopped talking about her birthday party
Speaker 1: and started to focus on Lila and her family. Ivy
Speaker 1: explained this all to her mom and apologize for the
Speaker 1: way she'd been acting. She grabbed some olives, remembering those
Speaker 1: were Alilah's favorite pizza talking, and off they headed to
Speaker 1: the register. Ivy worked along with Levi, her mom, and
Speaker 1: her dad to make the best pizza ever for Lyla
Speaker 1: and her family. When they were finished, she jumped in
Speaker 1: the car with her mom and headed over to drop
Speaker 1: them off. Ivy ran up and knocked on Lila's door
Speaker 1: once they arrived. When her friend opened the door, she
Speaker 1: gave her a big hug. I could tell that Lila
Speaker 1: was very happy to see her. Lila, it's so great
Speaker 1: to see you. I've missed you at school, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: I've missed you too, Ivy replied Lila, but then she
Speaker 1: got a little quiet. What's wrong, Ivy asked, well, I
Speaker 1: kind of thought you forgot about me, Lila began. I
Speaker 1: was out for so long, but I didn't hear from
Speaker 1: you at all. It made me sad. And when my
Speaker 1: mom said, your mom called because you wanted to see me,
Speaker 1: it made me really happy. Ivey felt really good hearing
Speaker 1: Lila say that, but was also sad that she made
Speaker 1: her friend feel bad in the first place. I'm so
Speaker 1: sorry I made you feel that way, Lila, but I'm
Speaker 1: glad I can see you now, said Ivy. We made
Speaker 1: you pizza for dinner, all of your favorite Lila was
Speaker 1: super excited and asked Ivy and her mom to stay
Speaker 1: for dinner. Her mom said that it would be fine,
Speaker 1: and after they ate, Lila and Ivy ran upstairs to
Speaker 1: her room to play while Ivy's mom helped Lila's mom
Speaker 1: with a few things around the house. The pizza was great.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Ivy, said Lila. It's been tough with my
Speaker 1: mom not feeling her best. I've had to help out
Speaker 1: a lot because my dad isn't able to get time
Speaker 1: off of work. It was really nice of you to
Speaker 1: stop by, said Ivy. But as she was playing with Lila,
Speaker 1: she saw a get well balloon in the hallway and
Speaker 1: it made her think about her birthday party. I've got
Speaker 1: super excited all over again and couldn't help but talk
Speaker 1: about it with Lila. So are you excited about my
Speaker 1: party next Saturday, asked Ivy. We're gonna have so much
Speaker 1: cool stuff going on. Wila smile quickly turned into a
Speaker 1: frown and she stopped playing. Ivy asked what was wrong,
Speaker 1: and Lilah told her. I can't make it to your
Speaker 1: party anymore, said Lila. My dad will be gone all
Speaker 1: day for work next Saturday, and I have to stay
Speaker 1: here and help my mom. I'm sorry, but my dad
Speaker 1: is taking next week off so I'll be back at school,
Speaker 1: and then my grandmother isn't flying and next Sunday to
Speaker 1: stay with my mom for a couple of weeks. She
Speaker 1: should be good after that. Ivy didn't know what to say.
Speaker 1: Not having Lila her party would make her feel sad.
Speaker 1: She was one of her best friends and she wanted
Speaker 1: her to be there to celebrate with. But very quickly,
Speaker 1: a new feeling washed over Ivy. This situation was not
Speaker 1: all about her. Lila really wanted to go to her
Speaker 1: party and was really upset that she had to miss it.
Speaker 1: But maybe Ivy could fix that. Don't worry. I think
Speaker 1: I know a way that you can make it to
Speaker 1: my party, said Ivy as she ran into the living room,
Speaker 1: where she asked her mom if she could talk with
Speaker 1: her mom. Do you think we can switch my party
Speaker 1: to the Saturday after next week? Asked Ivy. We could,
Speaker 1: but we've already made a lot of plans already. I'll
Speaker 1: have to cancel the bounce house and the pony rides.
Speaker 1: Those things are all booked up now, so we wouldn't
Speaker 1: be able to have them at the party on your
Speaker 1: new day, said her mom. Why do you want to
Speaker 1: change the date all of a sudden because Lila can't
Speaker 1: make it and I really want her there, said Ivy.
Speaker 1: I don't need all that stuff to make my party great.
Speaker 1: It's like you and Levi said, The really only important
Speaker 1: thing is that my friends are together, everyone's happy, and
Speaker 1: everyone is having a good time. That is such a
Speaker 1: lovely thing for you to do, Ivy said her mom,
Speaker 1: giving her a hug. I wouldn't be happy at the party,
Speaker 1: knowing that Lila was upset at home, said Ivy. It
Speaker 1: just wouldn't be as much fun without her. Ive's mom
Speaker 1: agreed to switching the date, and Ivy ran back to
Speaker 1: tell Lila. Ivy, I can't believe you did that for me.
Speaker 1: Thank you, said Lila. You've been super duper excited about
Speaker 1: your party all month. You're really sure you want to
Speaker 1: wait another week? And what about all the stuff you
Speaker 1: already ordered, like the bounce house? Can they reschedule? They can't, Lila,
Speaker 1: But it's okay. I'd rather you be there than some
Speaker 1: silly bounce house, replied Ivy. We'll have an amazing time
Speaker 1: at my party, no matter when it is, and no
Speaker 1: matter what things we do when we're there, the most
Speaker 1: important thing is we'll be together and I know we'll
Speaker 1: have fun. Just before she left, Lila thanked Ivy again.
Speaker 1: I'm so excited for your party, and I know it
Speaker 1: will be the best time ever, said Lila. Ivy said
Speaker 1: goodbye to her friend, and she said she would stop
Speaker 1: over tomorrow to see if she needed anything. For the
Speaker 1: rest of the night and for the rest of the weekend,
Speaker 1: Ivy didn't talk about her birthday party at all. When
Speaker 1: Lyla returned to school on Monday, they played together, having
Speaker 1: the most fun without one word about bounce houses, giant
Speaker 1: chocolate fountains, or many personal pizzas. When I got home
Speaker 1: from school that day, her mom had a special snack
Speaker 1: waiting for her. Yum homemade chocolate chip cookies. What are
Speaker 1: these for, asked Ivy. A special treat for my special kiddo,
Speaker 1: said her mom. I know I told you a bunch
Speaker 1: of times already, but I'm really proud of the way
Speaker 1: you acted with Blilah. Switching your party showed you have
Speaker 1: a good heart, and I know it meant a lot
Speaker 1: to Lila. Thank you, mommy, said Ivy as she nibbled
Speaker 1: on a cookie. You learned an important lesson that day,
Speaker 1: began her mom. The most important thing in life is happiness.
Speaker 1: Your happiness and the happiness of those around you, and
Speaker 1: sometimes doing the right thing isn't always the easy or
Speaker 1: fun choice, but it's always the right choice. And you
Speaker 1: made the right choice by changing the date of your
Speaker 1: party to include Lila, even if it meant not having
Speaker 1: the giant party you had been planning. Ivy's mom gave
Speaker 1: her a daughter a huge hug and sat down with
Speaker 1: her to enjoy a cookie. I've never forgot the words
Speaker 1: her mom shared with her that day, or her birthday
Speaker 1: party that year. It was the best one ever. From
Speaker 1: that day on, I've always thought of others before herself
Speaker 1: and strived to make the right choice, even if it
Speaker 1: wasn't always the easy choice. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed the story and learned a little
Speaker 1: something too, And since we know everyone has their own story,
Speaker 1: we'd love to hear yours. If you have an idea
Speaker 1: for a Lively Lewis story, leave a comment on our
Speaker 1: Apple podcast review page with five stars, your idea and
Speaker 1: your little one's name. Then maybe I'm next to thank
Speaker 1: you will be with you until our next story time
Speaker 1: hangout Gan friends the name. We can't wait to share
Speaker 1: another fun, Lively Lewis story with you.