Chapter 9.

Amy Giraffe

"Amy! Lolek! Thomas!" Radcliffe Giraffe called for his niece and his two sons, the three young 7 year old Giraffes heard his voice and came running up to him.

"Yeah, Dad?" asked Lolek and Thomas.

"Yes, Uncle?" Amy asked.

"We are all going to the MonGoose City park today," Radcliffe announced.

"Oh! Goody, goody!" said Amy.

"Cool!" said Lolek and Thomas.

"It's something to do while your mother and Aunt are both preparing dinner," said Radcliffe.

"That's a great idea, Uncle," said Amy.

"It sure is," agreed Lolek.

"Are you kids ready to go?" Radcliffe then asked.

"Yes," said Amy, Lolek and Thomas.

"Excellent," Radcliffe replied with a smile. "Now, follow me and we'll go."

"Okay," said Amy, Lolek and Thomas.

Radcliffe went over to the door, placed his hand on the knob, turned it and pulled the door open. Then he walked out of the antique shop he owned, as did his sons and niece. Amy Giraffe lived with her mother Betsy, her Uncle Radcliffe, her Aunt Sandra and her two cousins Lolek and Thomas in an Apartment floor over Radcliffe's antique shop. Amy and Betsy both came to live with Radcliffe and his family because Betsy had some money problems and she had been reduced to living with some known relatives and when Radcliffe found out about this he invited Betsy to come live with him and his family and Betsy accepted.

"Uncle Radcliffe?" Amy asked Radcliffe.

"Yes, Amy?" Radcliffe asked.

"Could I make some friends at the park please?" asked Amy.

"I suppose that would be alright," said Radcliffe.

"Thank you," said Amy with a smile.

After a few minutes, Amy, her uncle and her cousins had arrived at the MonGoose City Park.

"You three can go off and play while I wait here for you on this bench," Radcliffe said to Amy, Lolek and Thomas as he sat down on a bench that was nearby.

"Okay, then," Amy replied as Thomas and Lolek nodded in understanding and then Lolek and Thomas ran off in one direction and Amy walked off in the other direction. As she did so, she turned her head this way and that for someone to talk to.

"Who could I find?" Amy asked herself.

"I wonder who's here at the park, too..." Amy also asked herself.

As Amy walked on she saw Leonardo, Tony, Echo, Spike, Marianne and Lloyd were playing a game of baseball. She stopped where she was, then turned toward them so she could watch.

"Heads up!" shouted Spike as he threw the baseball towards Echo who was holding a bat and she hit the ball with the bat as Amy looked on in excitement.

"Maybe they can be my friends," Amy said to herself and then she started to walk closer to them, but she didn't see where the ball was going to land. The ball hit Amy right in her left eye.

"Ow!" Amy flinched as she placed both of her hands over her eye. "My eye!"

Leonardo, Tony, Echo, Spike, Marianne and Lloyd gasped with horror when they saw their ball hit the left eye of the 7 year old Giraffe and they quickly ran to her.

"Oh, my gosh! Are you okay?!" Marianne asked in concern.

"Yes I am," said Amy removing her hand from her left eye that had become a black eye.

"Oh!" Leonardo and Tony said in unison, both of them shocked.

"Oh, my goodness!" Spike said in surprise and worry.

"I'm fine anyway," said Amy.

"I'm really sorry I hit you like that," Echo said. "I didn't know where it was gonna go..."

"It's okay I forgive you," said Amy, "By the way, my name is Amy Giraffe."

"It's nice to meet you, Amy," Echo replied. "I'm Echo Fox."

"I am Leonardo Turtle," Leonardo said to Amy.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Leonardo," said Amy.

"I'm Tony Lion," said Tony.

"I'm happy to meet you, too, Tony," said Amy.

"I am Spike Wolf," said Spike.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Spike," said Amy.

"I am Marianne Tiger," said Marianne.

"And it's nice to meet you, too, Marianne," Amy replied.

"I'm Lloyd," said Lloyd.

"And it's nice to meet you, too, Lloyd," said Amy.

"Why were you watching us?" Leonardo asked Amy.

"I was wondering if I could become your friend," said Amy.

"So like join our group?" asked Tony.

"Oh, yes, please," Amy replied.

Leonardo, Tony, Echo, Spike, Marianne and Lloyd all looked at each other and smiled. Amy couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking. It had to be something good, though...

"Amy, you can join our group of friends," said Leonardo.

"Oh, goody," said Amy in happiness. "Thank you so much."

"Your Welcome," said Tony with a smile.

"Now what would you guys like to do first?" Amy wanted to know.

"Would you like to play baseball with us?" asked Spike.

"Sure!" Amy said with a smile.

"Back to baseball, everyone!" Leonardo declared and with that, everyone went back to playing baseball, now joined by their new friend Amy.

And that is how Leonardo Turtle, Tony Lion, Echo Fox, Spike Wolf, Marianne Tiger, Lloyd Snow Leopard and Amy Giraffe met and became friends as 7 year olds and the next chapter will be about all 7 of them growing up together as friends.

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