*Present*
Mark: *Showing Stanley and Lionel wedding pictures* And the rest is history boys.. then we had you Lionel and 3 years later had you Stanley!
Lionel: Wow thats a pretty neat story guys! I think I'll write a song about it for the class!
Stanley: Yeah that was so nice! Im glad you guys got together and had me and Lionel
Joyce: We're glad too hun.. *Kisses Mark*
Stanley: Come on guys lets get started!
*Upstairs*
Dennis: That was certainly a beautiful story now wasnt it?
Elsie: Romance is certainly wonderful..
Harry: I wonder what story they based it off of!
Stanley: It was a true story based off events of their lives!
Harry: Oh- I'll be honest I wasnt really paying attention I just started playing with a ball!
Elsie: Hmm- dogs..
Stanley: But Lionel's already doing it about mom and dad.. I dont wanna do the same thing hes doing..
Dennis: Well what about the idea of you writing about Harry and Elsie's relationship?
Stanley: Oh yeah! I just hope the teacher will accept it..
Harry: Oh me and Elsie go WAY back dude! We've been best friends since the start!
Elsie: No we werent-
Harry: We werent?
Elsie: No remember I avoided you at all costs-
Dennis: I do remember that.. it was that awkward period between us
Elsie: Since Harry's gonna remember it wrong I'll tell the story.. so it was 5 years ago at the pet store.. and we were in the same kennel because they didnt have enough room in the cat area for me or my family so we had to settle with Harry and his family
*Flashback*
Owner: There ya go little kitty im sure you'll make plenty of friends here! Sorry we couldnt put you with the other cats but there was just not enough room..
Elsie: Meow..
Owner: Dont be too sad you'll like it! Now let me get you some food and water I'll be right back *Leaves*
Harry: *Sees Elsie* Oh boy new friend! Do you wanna play with me and my siblings!
Elsie: *Ignoring him*
Harry: Hey do ya?! Do ya?! Whats your name! My name's Harry!
Elsie: Ugh.. its Elsie..
Harry: Hi Elsie! Im Harry! Oh wait I said that- well do you wanna be friends huh! Im the bestest friend you'll ever have dudette!
Elsie: Please just leave me alone..
Harry: Awww you must be shy! Thats ok I know you'll come around!
Elsie: Uh huh.. *Mind* Great im stuck in here with this annoying dog..
*Months later*
Harry: Hey Elsie check out what I can do! *Playing the kazoo* I found this thing lying around and wanted to try it out! Wanna play it?
Elsie: Ughhhhh.. no..
Harry: Ok! We can do something else! Let me tell you a story so a long while back I-
Elsie: No I dont wanna do anything..
Harry: What about-
Elsie: I said I dont wanna do anything! Just leave me alone!
Harry: Ok.. I'll talk to you later!
*Present*
Elsie: And from that point forward he just kept bothering me and bothering me even more! Then.. your parents adopted us and lets just say how I felt about him didnt improve at all.. in fact it only got worse cause I got more and more annoyed with him now that I had to live with him- until I finally had to tell him off..
Dennis: Oh yeah I remember that one- you werent there for it Stanley as your parents were at the park with you and this is when you were just 2 years old
*4 years ago*
Harry: Hey Elsie I found this cool mouse toy! I know cats like mice so here you go-
Elsie: Leave me alone! I have had enough of you constantly bothering me! Its been like this since we were in the pet store! Just go away and dont ever talk to me again before things get ugly!
Dennis: Elsie calm down Harry just wants to talk to you-
Elsie: No! Im sick of it! He never leaves me alone and he always has to bother me! He is a stupid dog like the rest! Now get out of here Harry and dont ever bother me again!
Harry: Wow.. all you had to do was say please..
Elsie: Ugh- PLEASE go away!
Harry: Ok.. *Leaves with a sad look on his face*
Dennis: That wasnt very nice of you Elsie..
Elsie: Is constantly bothering people nice Dennis? Even when you constantly tell them to stop everyday!
Dennis: Well.. I guess not but Harry just wants to be your friend! Give him a chance im sure you'll love him!
Elsie: Yeah right.. when pigs fly..
*Present*
Stanley: Wow I didnt know things started out so sour between you guys
Harry: I didnt either-
Stanley: Maybe writing about you guys isnt the best idea.. if it started out so bad
Elsie: Actually I was just getting to how we got along-
Stanley: I know! What if I write about how 2 animals work together!
Dennis: Im not so sure your teacher will want to hear about random animals.. I think she specified 2 people you know and Harry and Elsie arent "people" but you still talk to them and know them
Harry: Thats just rude Dennis dehumanizing us like that! "Arent people"..
Dennis: How can I dehumanize you when you're not even a human?
Stanley: Dennis what 2 animals have a bond and work together? That'll be perfect for my project
Dennis: If you insist on it Stanley.. theres 2 animals who come to mind.. the Nile crocodile and the Egyptian plover
Harry: Whats the croc dude in denial about? That hes a crocodile?
Dennis: No not denial- the Nile which refers to the Nile River in the northeastern part of Africa and its where Nile crocodiles live along with other swampy parts of the continent
Stanley: Lets look them up online! *Goes onto his computer*
Harry and Elsie: NOWWWWWWWW… WE'REEEEEEEEEE.. going on the internet to find out everything! We'll surf the worldwide web for the answers it shall bring!
Dennis: If there is one thing denial is present for Harry its me being in denial that this song exists as I always try to forget it.. and wait those arent the usual lyrics to that version-
Elsie: We changed it up a bit as we felt this flowed better with the rhythm of the usual song
Harry: Like the update dude?
Dennis: Not one bit..
Elsie: If you cared about us changing the lyrics.. I think you do..
Dennis: I dont! How many times do I have to say that!
Harry: Sure dude keep telling yourself that..
Harry and Elsie: Theres no denial here when learning about the Nile crocodileeeeeeee!
Stanley: Nile crocodile.. that starts with N! *Types it out on the keyboard*
Harry: AHHHH WATCH OUT BIRD DUDE GET OUT OF THE CROC'S MOUTH HES GONNA EAT YOU!
Dennis: Dont worry Harry the crocodile's not gonna eat the bird!
Elsie: Its possible though.. isnt it?
Dennis: I suppose thats true I mean not all Nile crocodiles and Egyptian plovers are gonna get along the same as with any animals
Harry: Hold on dude im gonna save you! *Jumps into the computer*
Elsie: Harry! *Jumps in too*
Dennis: I guess we might as well follow them-
Stanley: Ok! *Jumps into the computer with them*
Elsie: So where are we again?
Dennis: We're near the Nile River! Which is located in the northeast region of Africa! And where Nile crocodiles live! Specifically though we're in the country of Egypt!
Harry: Have no fear birdie dude! Harry Griff is here! *Goes after the bird but Elsie stops him*
Elsie: No Harry! Hes gonna be fine! Right?
Dennis: He should be fine as Nile crocodiles and Egyptian plovers typically have a symbiotic relationship
Stanley: Oh I remember what that word means! It means a relationship between 2 animals that benefits both of them!
Dennis: Correct thats called mutualism! However not all symbiotic relationships are beneficial some of them only benefits one but has no change to the other such as the grazing cattle and the cattle egrets thats called commensalism and some animals have a symbiosis that has no affect on either one thats called neutralism
Elsie: I think predator vs prey is another type isnt it?
Dennis: Precisely Elsie there are many different types of relationships between animals just like there is with people
Stanley: So how does the plover and crocodile help each other?
Dennis: Well you see Stanley they- Harry leave the bird alone!
Harry: *Trying to catch it* Ok ok! Yeesh dont have to yell..
Dennis: As I was saying they benefit each other like this *Shows the bird cleaning gunk off of the croc's teeth*
Harry: Whats he doing pecking his teeth dude?
Dennis: The plover is cleaning the crocodile's teeth!
Stanley: I see how its beneficial for the crocodile so his teeth are nice and shiny but how does it help the bird?
Dennis: The crocodile gets his teeth clean and the bird gets a nice snack because the teeth have plenty of food for it to eat! So the crocodile's teeth stay nice and clean and the bird doesnt go away hungry
Stanley: Sort of like how Harry and Elsie have a symbiotic relationship! Right?
Dennis: Yes I think so
Harry: Really? So we're a symbiosis? When do we start growing!
Elsie: What do you mean?
Harry: Ya know that little process plants go through!
Elsie: No thats called photosynthesis Harry-
Harry: So you're saying that Elsie and I's relationship is beneficial to each other and we cant live without the other?
Dennis: I mean not in the survival kind of way but-
Elsie: Well HE certainly cant live without me but im an independent cat I can live without him..
Harry: You can?..
Elsie: Ummm.. oh who am I kidding I cant! *Nuzzling him* I thought I could but things just arent the same without him..
Harry: I feel the same way dudette..
Dennis: As cute as this is what I mean is you both actually can survive without the other but you choose to live together cause of how much you love each other! In this case thats protocooperation symbiosis! Where both parties can live without the other but living together is beneficial for the both of them
Harry: Parties? I wanna party! *Dancing* so whats the party about?
Dennis: No party meaning 2 different people in this case
Stanley: And what about me and you Dennis? What kind of symbiosis is that?
Dennis: I really could not live without you Stanley you're the one who feeds me and cleans my tank! If I didnt have you taking care of me I'd die.. thats obligate mutualism
Stanley: Im glad im able to help keep you alive! But this gave me an idea! I can write about how the Nile crocodile and Egyptian plover get along!
Dennis: Now Stanley remember what the assignment was about.. it has to be 2 people you know personally whos relationship has grown over the years into the relationship it is now!
Stanley: Oh yeah- well I can always write about the crocodile and plover another time!
*They leave the computer*
Stanley: Ok sorry for interrupting the story guys
Elsie: Its ok.. so like I was saying before.. oh where was I..
Harry: The part where you started to like me!
Elsie: Yes thank you Harry.. so how we started to get along was a year or so after when you were 3 years old Stanley I was sleeping one night when all of a sudden I had this really bad nightmare this is also where my fear of the dark comes from.. so when I left the room I saw the whole house was dark and I was scared out of my mind! I kept running until I gave up and tried to sleep on the couch..
Harry: Oh I know this part! *Goes into a deep narration voice* it was a dark and stormy night.. well not stormy but it was pretty dark! And I was all alone.. with Stanley and Dennis
Elsie: You dont gotta do that voice Harry..
Harry: Alright! *Back to normal voice* so there I was in Stanley's room when I awoke in the middle of the night and saw Elsie wasnt there.. I was getting hungry so I went downstairs to get a snack from the kitchen when I heard this faint crying and trembling coming from the couch.. so I sniffed to see what it was and I caught Elsie's scent!
*Flashback*
Elsie: *Crying* Please dont hurt me scary darkness.. I'll get you anything you want.. just leave me alone..
Harry: Hey dudette? Something wrong?
Elsie: Huh- oh its you.. its been a while hasnt it..
Harry: Yeah it has.. I think? But I heard ya crying!
Elsie: Its nothing Harry just leave me alone like you've been doing.. im fine.. just dreaming about a dark monster but its nothing! Just go away..
Harry: No- not this time Elsie! I've accepted you dont like me but im not gonna sit here and just let you be scared! You're my friend! Even if you dont see me as yours! Whatever scary dark creature you're imagining right now I wont let it come out of your head and hurt you! Us dogs are loyal to those we care about!
Elsie: Oh.. thanks I guess.. you really see me as a friend?
Harry: Of course I do! We live together dont we?
Elsie: Yeah.. but how are you gonna calm me down! The monster could be anywhere!
Harry: Hmmm.. tell you what.. if its ok with you I have an idea to protect you from all the spooky darkness!
Elsie: What?
Harry: I lay like this *Lays down* and you sleep near my stomach in the same position! And wrap your long tail around me so that way you know im still there and sense if I ever leave!
Elsie: Ok.. its worth a shot *Lays down next to him and wraps her tail around him*
Harry: Hows it feel?
Elsie: Its.. actually calming me down and.. its comforting knowing I have someone besides me to protect me..
Harry: Im not gonna let anything happen to you Elsie.. *Licks her slightly and raises his paw* I solemnly swear on my life to honor and defend my best friend Elsie Griff! Along with my other best friend and owner Stanley Griff and my other other best friend Dennis Griff! Well good night Elsie! Sleep soundly now dudette *Falls asleep*
Elsie: *To herself* Wow.. I've never seen this side of him before.. maybe I've been too mean to the big guy.. if hes willing to protect me no matter what and love me even after all I've said to him over the years.. I think I'll give him a chance..
*Back to the present*
Lionel: *Walks to Stanley's door* Hey Stanley I need your help with this.. see im writing the song about mom and dad's love story right now and im having trouble coming up with lyrics for their wedding day I know you dont really know weddings that well but neither do I so I figured we could help each other out and-
Elsie: And from that day onward Harry has been with me at my lowest and I couldnt have asked for a better best friend..
Lionel: Huh- who was that? That didnt sound like one of Stanley's little friends *Looks in*
Harry: And I kept my oath then didnt I Elsie?
Elsie: *Purring and nuzzling* You sure did..
Dennis: Does someone have a tissue I think im gonna cry.. that was a lovely story..
Stanley: Uhhhh no I dont..
Lionel: Here ya go Dennis *Gives him*
Dennis: *Wiping tears* Oh thank you Lionel this story was just- wait Lionel?!
Stanley: Lionel?
Lionel: Soooo I guess you werent kidding when you said the pets can talk-
Stanley: I told you they could!
Lionel: How come you never told me they could?
Stanley: Ummmm actually I dont know.. I mean grandma knows they can talk too
Lionel: She does?
Stanley: Yeah
Lionel: Well the fact our pets can talk is kinda cool but at the same time kinda freaky..
Elsie: You'll get used to it..
Lionel: Right.. uhhh anyways Stanley you mind helping me out with my project?
Stanley: Sure! Nice song so far!
Lionel: Thanks! Hey can I see what you wrote?
Stanley: Yeah! *Gives the story he wrote down*
Lionel: Woah thats a long story.. I didnt know the cat and dog had this much history together
Harry: Yeah we were just telling Stanley about it!
Lionel: This talking pet stuff is gonna take some getting used to..
Stanley: Yeah but you'll be fine! Anyways let me help with the song! *They help each other out*
*At school*
Ms Diaz: That was a very good presentation Marci and Mimi!
Marci: Thank you Ms Diaz!
Ms Diaz: And last but not least Stanley why dont you present?
Stanley: Ok! *Goes to the front of the class* my presentation is about the friendship between my dog Harry and my cat Elsie! Is that ok Ms Diaz?
Ms Diaz: Of course! Even though animals cant talk they can still grow loving relationships!
Lester: Harry and Elsie can talk actually Ms Diaz!
Mimi: Yeah we talk to them every time we visit Stanley's house!
Ms Diaz: Im sure they do guys! Now tell us their story Stanley
Stanley: So they started out in the same pet shop as my goldfish Dennis *Tells the story Harry and Elsie told yesterday* and after that day their relationship has never been stronger! They have a protocooperation symbiosis which means they dont have to live together but they both benefit from doing so! And that is how Harry and Elsie became best friends!
*The class claps for him*
Ms Diaz: That was lovely Stanley! And now that everyone is done presenting I have a special surprise! Since you've all been so good this year I have free candy and toys for everyone! Go on and pick your favorite!
Lester: Alright! Race you to the box Stanley!
Stanley: You're on Lester!
*At night*
Harry: *Chewing* Thanks for the new toy dude!
Stanley: No problem Harry! I bet you and Elsie had a great Valentines Day together huh?
Elsie: It was simply purrrrrrfect hanging out with your best friend all day.. not that we dont everyday
Dennis: Having friends who love you no matter what is the best feeling in the world isnt it?
Stanley: It sure is! Thats how I feel about you guys!
Dennis: We have a protocooperation symbiosis going on dont we Stan?
Stanley: Yeah we do! Except for you its obligate symbiosis
Dennis: Yep and for the Nile crocodile and Egyptian plover thats mutualism! Because as the crocodile gets his teeth nice and clean from the plover the bird gets a nice snack to eat so it doesnt fly away hungry!
Stanley: No matter what symbiosis we have.. you'll always be my best pals..
Harry: Same to you dude.. good night!
Elsie: Wait Harry I have a question
Harry: What is it Elsie?
Elsie: Am I the reason why you used to act like a cat?
Harry: Hmmm? What do ya mean?
Elsie: Well remember when you said you used to pretend you were a cat
Harry: Yeah
Elsie: Was it so I could become your friend easier because I kept being mean to you? So you thought if you acted more catlike I'd wanna be your friend?
Harry: Oh no I just did it because it was fun!
Elsie: Oh ok.. just wanted to know.. well good night now best boy Harry..
Harry: Good night best girl Elsie..
Stanley: Good night you 2 and good night Dennis
Dennis: Good night crocodile boy Stanley..