Written and illustrated by: Katlyn Pollard
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For those of us who need it most
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Finn was bored. There was nothing to do. He swam about aimlessly, in the great big blue. Then high above, up in the sky, As if right on cue, an airplane flew by.
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Finn was inspired, he wanted to soar, But Grandpa shark stopped him, Finn had to know more. 5
“When I was your age, I wanted to fly! The stars were so beautiful, I fell in love with the sky.” 6
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When I was a baby, no more than two, I was bored, the same baby shark with nothing to do.
Then one night, as I lay down to sleep, I gazed at the sky, and my heart took a leap. 8
For there, high above, nestled in the Milky Way, Was a beautiful star, so bright it took my breath away. 9
I had to meet the star, I had to learn their name, I was on a mission. It was my own secret game. 10
I asked the seagulls, “how do you fly?” They said, “You need some wings to get up so high!”
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o the clouds and t d e aske rn u t d I
the m
ho w
th ey
, at flo
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B
ut
th
ey
on
ly sig he
da
nd sa
id, “You’d make 13
!” t oa b r e t t a be
I asked all the birds, the wind, and every plane, But none of them could help me, “you’re wasting your time!” my friends would explain. 14
One night I looked up at the bright evening star, And begged it for a chance, “I wish to be where you are!” The star twinkled and smiled, and shone very bright, Then lifted me up and into the night! 15
They brought me close and told me their name, “I am Phoenix,” they said, “for I burn like a flame.” “I have seen your dreams and I know what you desire, So, I will help you fly and soar ever higher.”
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I was so happy I spun around with glee,
The sky stretched out before me, my brand-new endless sea. 17
” o her “hello!
av ed t
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I made some new friends, Hung out with planets and comets too, I waved goodbye to the clouds & the birds, There was just so much to do! 19
But as I began to explore & swim through outer space, I started to feel lonely, and miss my friends’ embrace.
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What good was a game, or a dream, or a goal, If no one else is there beside you to make your heart feel full? So I sped back to the Star, & asked them what to do. “Don’t worry,” Phoenix said, “Sometimes I miss my family too.”
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I flo
a te d b a ck
do w n
in to e th rm wa
da rk
ue bl
se & a,
w sa y lm al
ie fr
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sw ai ti ng
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to sp end time with me!
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Grandpa shark looked down at Finn & asked him what he thought, Finn replied, “Thank you for the story, I know I learned a lot!” 24
Late that night, when Finn was sound asleep,
Grandpa shark gazed up at the Star... 25
And remembered the favor it promised to keep. 26