The July Playdate/The Short Neck Giraffe (feat. Lauren Holt)

An anonymous underwater graffiti artist named Angelfish (Lauren Holt) tags the Story Pirates’ ship. Featuring two new stories: “The July Playdate,” a story about a family that has dueling instrumental interests, written by Teddy, a 7 year old from Maryland, and “The Short Neck Giraffe,” a story about discovering that what makes you different makes you special, written by a 10 year old from Virginia named Gabriella.

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Illustration by Camila Franklin

Listen to the episode, and scroll down for the original stories!

Original Stories

The July Playdate

by Teddy, age 7 Maryland

One day there was a girl named Emma she had a secret that she never shared with anyone not even her parents or her grandparents. The secret was that she plays two different instruments. One is a guitar and the other is a trombone. She loved playing the trombone when her parents were doing things outside where they wouldn’t be able to hear her. Whenever her parents were doing something on the computer she would play the guitar. Whenever she played she felt very happy. And then she called her friend up to see if she wanted to have a playdate. Then her friend played the guitar and Emma played the trombone. The end.

The Short Neck Giraffe

by Gabriella, age 10, Virginia

Once Upon a time there lived a giraffe named Tyson, who was born at the zoo.Tyson was a wonderful,fun, giraffe but the only problem was he never grew a long neck. His neck was as short as a horse and if it wasn’t for his spots, he would have been called a horse. When he was little, his mom or dad would need to grab the leaves from the tree for him because he couldn’t reach. With a sigh they would say , “Tyson, you need to grow-up and get it for yourself dear.”A few years later, Tyson needed to go to school. He tried his best to fit in, but his neck was so short that he couldn’t see above anyone, or get in the lunch line. So he went home and told his mom, “I can’t go back to school tomorrow mommy. I don’t like it!” He said to his dad, “daddy,I don’t like school! Tell mommy not to make me go! “ But his parents insisted he go back. The next day at school, he was teased again because of his short neck. At lunch he snapped at the tall grass angrily and ran off in the wild determined to never show his neck to anyone ever again. Not long after, he was caught by circus men. “Wow! Look at this spotted horse! It’s unique! Perfect for our show!” they said excitedly. Tyson was excited to be loved, but soon he was at a carnival walking around in big circles with big clunky heavy seats and kids on his back like a horse and he felt sad because everyone thought of him not as a giraffe but a horse! He missed his mom and dad wished he was back at home but was scared everyone would laugh at him again. But one day he heard a little kid say, “mommy i really miss tyson the giraffe at the zoo!” her mother answered “i know but he is missing honey.” Many people continued to talk about the missing short necked giraffe Tyson! ​I can’t believe these people all miss me! ​He thought. ​I guess if I go back I might not be teased and I will finally fit in! ​So he decided to go back home to his family and the zoo. When he got back everyone cheered! So many people ran to the zoo to see him again, and even though Tyson was different, it made him special and that’s what made him the most unique giraffe. He had family and new friends who loved him the way he was and he decided to never be ashamed of his short neck again.