This book is dedicated to my family
and all of my past and present students.
Never let go of your dreams!

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/agrkku23bvgj

When I was young, my family owned a house in the mountains. I played
a lot by myself. There were so many places to run and hide. The house was
as big as a castle, surrounded by tall trees and soft grass. Part of the front
porch had glass windows.

I didn't mind if no one
was around to play with!
I liked to get up on a big
white boulder by the side
of our driveway and
pretend to talk on my toy
phone. This was my
favorite place to have lots
of fun conversations!

Sometimes. I wandered
off to play under an
enormous fir tree. It
felt like I was hiding
in my own private
house as I sat on a
soft bed of pine
needles while the
outside light peeked
in through the low
branches.

One hot afternoon, I grew tired of playing alone and sat on our old
wheel barrel. My mother came out of the house and said, "What's
wrong? You look grumpy!"

"Well, Mom, I like playing by myself, but right now, I
wish I had a friend or pet to keep me company.", I responded
in a not too grumpy voice. "At our home in the city,
I had more friends and there were even dogs to play with!"

My mom said, "Well, didn't you tell me how great it was to put
all those lightening bugs in jars, catch butterflies in your net, and
see all the wonderful animals outside our house?"

I thought a bit about what
my mom said. I guess she
was right. I did have a lot
of fun playing and
pretending where ever
I wanted. Once I became
queen of my own
leaf mountain and no one
could break through
my fortress!

That night, before falling asleep, I wished I could be like
Super Girl and fly over our house. Then I would fly to the
pet store in town and get myself a new dog!