Jasmine’s Big Idea

A New Forever Friend

Jasmine finds a quiet bench to sit on. She runs her fingers over her dog-biscuit-shaped necklace. Then, someone asks to sit next to Jasmine. She looks up to see Keiko. Jasmine scoots over to make room on the bench. Then, there’s another voice. Jasmine, smiling, slides over to make some room for Sofia, too.

Keiko hands Jasmine a brown manila envelope with the word Jasmine written in glitter ink. She explains that they were trying to save it for the end of the carnival, but maybe Jasmine should open it now. Jasmine opens the envelope to find a big homemade card in it. On the front is a drawing of Jasmine holding Cookie and smiling. Keiko drew it. Jasmine opens the card, and is surprised to see that all of the shelter volunteers had signed it. They’d left little notes thanking her for her hard work.

Keiko says that Sofia, Madison, and her wanted to thank Jasmine for getting them involved with the shelter and the carnival. They all came together to make this card, and make a donation to the shelter in her name. Jasmine is stunned. This is the nicest thing anybody has ever done for her.

Sofia explains that it was all Madison’s idea. Keiko points to a scribbled message near the corner of the card. It reads:

Sofia describes how they were just finishing the card up when Jasmine found them at the art station. They didn’t mean for Jasmine to think they were doing something fun without her. They just wanted to keep the card a secret.

Jasmine throws her arms around her friends. She apologizes for what she said about Madison, and says she needs to find Madison to apologize to her. And all three girls stand up to find Madison together.

The three girls walk around the park looking for Madison. They find her outside the adopt-a-cat trailer. She’s checking up on the stray kittens, curled up in a cage with one of Jasmine’s WANTED posters next to it.

Jasmine holds up the card, and thanks Madison for it. She says it’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for her. Madison shyly smiles. She wanted to do something for Jasmine, to thank her. Jasmine did so much for both her and the shelter.

Jasmine is surprised. She doesn’t feel like she did anything particularly nice for Madison. In fact, Jasmine said some really hurtful things about Madison, that she didn’t mean. Jasmine just thought Madison, Sofia, and Keiko were having fun without her.

Madison apologizes, too. She never meant for the surprise to make Jasmine feel left out. Madison was so happy to meet all of them at the shelter and to find friends that love animals, too. In fact, at her school, Madison is known for being a little too into animals. Madison explains how once, she set the mice and hamsters in the school classroom free when the teacher wasn’t looking. The animals were meant to be educational, but Madison thought they looked so sad being locked up. In fact, it wasn’t a smart decision. It’s possible the animals didn’t know how to take care of themselves on their own.

Jasmine knows how Madison felt. She made a similar mistake when she suggested a balloon arch for the carnival. It’s important to think things through, especially when animals are involved.

Then, Madison explains how she and her mom are moving next month, and her mom thought Madison would enjoy meeting new friends in the neighborhood before school started. In the fall, Madison will be attending the same school as the other three girls.

Keiko speaks up. This is great news! Madison admits that she was nervous to move there and be the new girl. But when she met all of them, she tried really hard to become instant best friends… maybe too hard.

Jasmine insists that they all love Madison. All four of them can be forever friends. Just then, Sofia interjects. It’s time to check on some animals. Her parents are there, and if they never see Sofia with an animal, they’ll never be convinced that Sofia’s ready for a puppy!