Once upon a time, big gray Ellie the elephant stands next to tiny stripey Zee the baby zebra. They look up. A dark cloud rolls in. Boom-boom!
It is Rain Cloud."Oh no!" squeaks little Zee. His stripes shake."I scared, Ellie!" Ellie lowers her long, soft trunk."It okay, Zee. I keep you safe." The wind goes Whoosh-whoosh through the tall grass. The cloud cries big splashy tears. Plip! Plop!
Plip! Plop! Zee hides under Ellie’s big gray leg. He feels warm and safe.
Rain Cloud booms again. Boom-boom-boom! Ellie pats Zee with her trunk."Do you hear that?
Rain Cloud just saying hello." Zee peeks out."Hello?" he whispers to the cloud.
Rain Cloud giggles with tiny raindrops. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. Ellie smiles."See?
Rain Cloud is friendly, just loud." The rain gets bigger. Splash! Splash!
The ground turns shiny and wet."Can you guess what happened next?" asks Ellie. Zee’s eyes grow big."Puddles!" "Yes!" Ellie laughs."Puddles for jumping!" But first Ellie lifts one big foot. She makes a tiny umbrella with her ear. Whoosh! She shields little Zee from the splashy drops.
Zee feels warm and happy."You best friend, Ellie." Ellie’s kind eyes shine."Friends keep friends safe." The rain keeps falling. Drip-drop, drip-drop."Want to count raindrops?" Ellie asks."One drop... two drops..." Zee giggles. Rain Cloud hears them and giggles too.
Boom-boom becomes soft rumbles. The sky turns from dark gray to light gray, like Ellie’s gentle skin. Suddenly - Splash!
A rainbow peeks out. Red, orange, yellow, green! So many colors! Zee jumps up."Look, Ellie! Rainbow hug!" Ellie lifts Zee high on her trunk."Rainbow hug for brave little zebra." The rain stops. Plink! The last drop falls. The grass smells sweet and fresh.
Birds chirp again. Tweet-tweet! Zee trots out from Ellie’s safe shadow."I not scared anymore!" Ellie smiles."Rain Cloud just wanted to play music. Boom-boom is like drums!" Zee stomps his tiny hooves.
Boom-boom! Boom-boom! He laughs. Ellie joins the music.
Stomp-stomp! Her big feet make happy sounds. They dance together in the warm, wet grass. Splash-splash-splash!
Rain Cloud waves goodbye with fluffy white hands. Bye-bye! See you next time!
The sun comes out. Yellow and bright. It kisses their backs. Mmm, warm!
Ellie wraps her trunk around Zee. It feels like a huggy blanket."Thank you for keeping me safe," says Zee."Always," says Ellie."That what friends do." They walk home side by side. Ellie big and gray. Zee small and stripey.
The rainbow follows them all the way, like a colorful smile in the sky."Next time it rains," Zee says,"I not hide. I dance with you and Rain Cloud!" Ellie smiles big."Best plan ever." And they both go home happy. Hearts full of friendship. Hearts full of love.
The end.