Rex Finds a Friend

Written and Illustrated

by Mary Rohl

Special thanks to Kari G and Jenny G for their help and guidance editing Rex. Shout out to my girls—you know who you are—for the inspiration to bring Rex to life.

Thanks and love to Todd for always supporting my crazy projects, and no you are not Rex. And, to my fellow classmates (Andrew, Zach, Sarah) and Dr. Husted for your encouragement and guidance throughout the semester. ©2014 All rights reserved.

Rex Finds a Friend was Written and Illustrated by Mary Rohl mary.rohl@icloud.com

Written and Illustrated

by Mary Rohl

This is Rex.

Rex is sad.

Rex is sad because he is big and different.

And Rex’s short arms make things hard to do.

Rex wants to tear into things with his big strong mouth, but Rex’s Mom tells him to use his hands.

Sometimes, the other kids laugh at Rex.

Sometimes, when Rex gets frustrated, he seems angry and they are scared.

When this happens, Rex goes behind the school and ROARS!

One day at school, the teacher introduces a new girl named Lucy. The teacher says we should make Lucy feel welcomed. Rex can tell she seems a little bit scared.

Then, Lucy looks right at Rex and smiles.

At recess, Lucy walks right up to Rex and says “Hi.” Lucy asks Rex if he wants to play.

Lucy says: “My best friend at my last school was a T-Rex too! He was SOOOOO cool.”

Rex is very surprised! “He was COOL? Didn’t the other kids think he was weird? Weren’t they scared of him?”

“Gosh no!” says Lucy

“I can’t even hold the baseball bat or eat my food right.” Rex hesitates…

Lucy stands back and checks out Rex.

“He loved baseball, he just held his bat with one hand! In the outfield, he let me climb up his back and we would catch the balls together.” Lucy says. “PLUS, he was the fastest in the races and when the other kids lost their ball on the roof he would jump up and get it for them.”

Rex thinks about this and says, “Hmmm…I am fast and I can jump really high.”

Then the bell rang and Lucy and Rex walk into school together.

The next day, Lucy and Rex are happy to see each other on their walk to school.

At lunch, Lucy and Rex eat together and Lucy makes a super-duper long straw for Rex to drink his juice.

She shows Rex how to set up his lunch so he can eat it easier.

At recess, Lucy and Rex join a baseball game. Rex tries out the one-handed batting and it works! In the outfield, Lucy and Rex catch 3 fly balls!

After school that day, Rex asks his teacher if he could talk to her. Rex tells his teacher he was uncomfortable in his desk. She was surprised but said “I am sorry I didn’t think of it before!”

Rex’s teacher promises she would get him a desk that fits. In the meantime, Rex can sit in the story-time area, which is his FAVORITE!

At home, Rex told his Mom and Dad about his new friend Lucy and how she helped him.

Rex knew he would always be different, but different can be good, too!

When Rex fell asleep that night, he roared a soft happy roar that his Mom and Dad hadn’t heard since he was a baby T-Rex.