Penelope Rex Learns to be a Friend
Reading time: 6 min
Penelope Rex Learns to be a Friend is a Fable from United States set in the Contemporary This Humorous tale explores themes of Friendship and is suitable for Children. It offers Moral insights. Penelope Rex discovers that kindness—not sharp teeth—makes the best friends
- United States
- United States
- United States
- Contemporary
- Fable
- Children
- English
- Friendship
- Humorous
- Moral
Penelope Rex was unlike any other student in Mrs. Pickles’s class. For starters, she was a T-Rex—complete with green scales, a tail as long as a school bus, and teeth that were more suited for chomping on jungle vines than doing arithmetic. On her very first day at school, Penelope was filled with excitement, her tail swishing back and forth with nervous anticipation. She couldn't wait to make friends and have fun, just like all the other kids did. But as Penelope would soon find out, making friends when you’re a T-Rex isn’t exactly easy…
The First Day of School
Penelope trotted down the halls of Wonder Elementary, her claws clicking against the tile floors. Every student turned to watch her; some looked curious, others slightly frightened, but Penelope was too busy daydreaming about her new friends to notice.
"Good morning, Penelope Rex," Mrs. Pickles greeted with a smile as Penelope walked through the classroom door. But Penelope didn’t notice; she was busy imagining all the games they’d play at recess.
Penelope looked around. Her classmates were all a bit smaller than she was—well, a lot smaller, in fact. There was Lily the hamster, Timmy the mouse, and even Sam the snail, who was eyeing her curiously from the edge of his desk.
But just as Mrs. Pickles finished introducing Penelope, her stomach let out a loud growl. She hadn’t had breakfast that morning. Her eyes darted to the other students. They looked…delicious!
A Big Mistake
Without thinking, Penelope opened her mouth and took a big chomp—only to feel a strange, ticklish sensation on her tongue. She had a mouthful of classmates! Immediately, her classmates began to scream and wiggle.
“Spit us out, Penelope!” cried Lily the hamster.
Penelope’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as she realized her mistake. Quickly, she opened her mouth and out tumbled her classmates, covered in dinosaur drool. They looked at her with wide, horrified eyes. Penelope tried to smile, but her sharp teeth didn’t help much.
"I… I didn’t mean to!" she stammered, her voice shaky. "I was just so hungry, and… well… you all looked so tasty…"
Her classmates didn’t seem convinced, and Mrs. Pickles frowned. “Penelope,” she said gently but firmly, “we don’t eat our classmates.”
Penelope’s heart sank. She hadn’t meant to frighten them! She just didn’t know what else to do.
Apologies and Second Chances
The next day, Penelope returned to class determined to make things right. She approached Lily and Timmy, clutching a bouquet of wildflowers she had picked on her way to school. “I’m really sorry about yesterday,” Penelope said, offering them the flowers.
Lily and Timmy exchanged glances and slowly took the flowers. “Just… don’t eat us again, okay?” Timmy said, looking up at her nervously.
“I promise!” Penelope said with all her heart. She spent the rest of the day trying to be the best classmate ever. She shared her crayons, helped Sam the snail carry his books, and even let tiny Timmy ride on her back during recess.
Yet, despite her efforts, her classmates still seemed distant. Whenever she came close, they would scoot away. By the end of the day, Penelope felt lonelier than ever.
Penelope’s Big Realization
That night, Penelope lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Why don’t they like me?” she wondered aloud. “I apologized, and I even tried to be nice!”
Her mom sat down beside her, stroking her head gently. “Sometimes, Penelope, it takes more than words to make up for a mistake,” she said. “You scared your classmates, and now it’s up to you to show them you’re truly sorry by being a kind friend, no matter what.”
The next morning, Penelope walked into class with a new plan. She decided she’d be patient and earn her classmates’ trust.
Small Acts of Friendship
For the next few days, Penelope made it her mission to help her classmates. She held the door open for everyone, shared her snacks, and helped Mrs. Pickles with the chalkboard.
One afternoon, Penelope noticed Sam the snail struggling with a tall bookshelf. Without hesitation, she reached up and grabbed the book he needed. Sam looked up at her in surprise. “Thanks, Penelope!” he said with a smile.
Lily, who had been watching from across the room, saw Penelope’s act of kindness and felt a little more comfortable around her. She gave Penelope a tentative wave, which Penelope eagerly returned.
The Unexpected Snack
One day during lunch, Penelope’s stomach growled, and she realized she’d forgotten her lunch at home. Her classmates noticed, and Timmy, who was sitting nearby, held out a small piece of his sandwich.
“Would you like some, Penelope?” he asked cautiously.
Penelope's eyes widened in surprise. “Oh! Are you sure?” she asked.
Timmy nodded, and soon other classmates joined in, sharing bits of their lunches with her. Penelope felt warmth spread through her heart. She realized it wasn’t just about food—she was sharing in the kindness of her classmates, too.
Penelope Saves the Day
A few weeks later, the class went on a field trip to the zoo. Penelope was thrilled and promised to be on her best behavior.
When they reached the lion’s cage, a loud roar startled everyone. Timmy, who had been at the front, tripped and fell, landing dangerously close to the cage. Penelope didn’t hesitate. She raced forward, scooping Timmy up and placing him back with the group.
The class gasped in awe, grateful for her quick thinking. Penelope felt proud, but more than that, she felt accepted.
A Friend to the End
After the zoo trip, Penelope’s classmates saw her in a new light. They realized she wasn’t just a T-Rex; she was a friend. Gradually, they started sitting with her at lunch and playing with her during recess. Penelope was overjoyed; she finally had friends!
One day, as they all played together, Penelope looked around at her classmates—her friends—and felt happier than she ever had before. She realized that true friendship wasn’t about how big or scary you were; it was about caring, kindness, and trust.
A New Lesson Learned
At the end of the school year, Mrs. Pickles gathered the class for a special goodbye. She looked at Penelope with a smile. “You’ve learned so much, Penelope,” she said, “and taught us a lot, too.”
Penelope beamed. She knew she would never forget the friends she’d made and the lesson she’d learned: kindness, patience, and trust were the real keys to friendship.
And as the bell rang for the final time that year, Penelope trotted down the hallway with her friends, laughing, playing, and most importantly—not eating them!