Best Buds! UFLI Foundations Lesson 81

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Best Buds!

Practice Words

blurts chirps firm first sturdy turns bursts curt hurt hurts smirk spurn squirms twirl twirls
Page 1
On the right side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot looking sad and hopeful, facing a group of three potted trees who are clustered together with smug, dismissive expressions. The scene is set outdoors on reddish-brown ground with a colorful flowering hedge running across the background under a white sky. Spike's posture is slightly hunched and uncertain, while the trees lean together as a clique, clearly rejecting him.

Spike wants a friend. He has never had one, not once. Not ever. 'Hi!' Spike blurts. 'I am Spike! Can we hug?' The plants smirk at Spike. 'A hug? No, Spike,' they say. 'Go!'

Page 2
In the lower half of the image, Spike is shown in three sequential poses hopping cheerfully from left to right in his small terracotta pot, conveying movement across the scene. In each pose Spike has a happy, optimistic smile — unbothered and determined to keep going. Dashed bouncing lines between each position emphasize the hopping motion. The top half is plain white background, and the overall setting is a simple, minimal outdoor ground plane with soft shadows beneath the pot.

Did Spike sob? Did Spike quit? No! Spike hops off with a grin. He turns and twirls in his pot. He hums a glad tune as he hops.

Page 3
On the right side of the image, Spike is shown in a sequence of poses hopping across the scene in his terracotta pot, with dashed lines indicating his bouncing path. In the center-right, Spike stands in his pot looking up hopefully with a friendly smile at a grumpy orange tree, which has narrowed, annoyed-looking eyes peering out from its foliage. The outdoor scene features a warm peachy-orange ground with a colorful flower hedge running along the background.

Spike spots a plant that sits by itself. 'Hi! Can we chat?' Spike chirps. The plant squints at Spike. 'No,' it says. 'No chat. Go!' That plant is so curt.

Page 4
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot on reddish-brown ground, facing a banana tree (also in a pot) that has a worried, fearful yellow face peeking out from its leaves. Spike has a slightly confused or uncertain expression, appearing to approach the banana tree. The scene is set outdoors in a garden with a colorful flower hedge running along the background under a plain white sky. Two additional small potted plant characters are visible — a flower to the right of the banana tree turning away, and another flower on the far left also moving away, both with small fearful facial features, fleeing the scene.

Spike finds another plant. 'Hi, I am Spike! Can we be...' The plant squirms and yells, 'Sharp! Spike is so sharp!' Two small plants dash off fast. Spike looks at his spines. 'Well, yes,' he says. 'I am a bit sharp.'

Page 5
On the right side of the image, Spike is shown multiple times in a sequence — standing in his terracotta pot beside a tall mango tree and a smaller guava bush, both in pots with annoyed, sighing facial expressions. Spike appears with a hopeful but slightly sad expression as he approaches each tree. The scene is set outdoors in a sunny garden yard with a row of colorful flowering bushes in the background and warm reddish-brown ground. A dashed trail on the ground shows Spike's path moving from tree to tree, with one instance of Spike walking away toward the far right looking dejected.

Spike asks another plant, and then another. 'No, Spike,' they say. 'You will prick us.' They spurn him. Spike walks off, and his glad tune stops.

Page 6
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot looking up at Pawpaw tree with a hopeful, slightly shy expression. Pawpaw tree, also in a terracotta pot, towers over Spike and looks down at him with a calm, knowing expression. Pawpaw tree has a straight slender brown trunk, a round green leafy canopy forming its head with large round white eyes, small dark eyebrows, and a subtle smile, with several large lobed green fronds extending outward from the top like hair. They are outdoors in a garden setting with a colorful flower bed visible behind them, and the right side of the image is plain white background.

One tall plant is left. Spike hops to it and looks up. 'You want a pal,' says the tall plant. Spike nods. 'Well, Spike, you are in luck. I am firm and sturdy. I will not run off.'

Page 7
Pawpaw tree stands on the right side of the image with a warm, welcoming smile and gentle eyes, looking slightly downward as if inviting someone closer. The tree's large leafy fronds spread outward like open arms against a plain white background. The scene is set outdoors in bright daylight with a calm, welcoming atmosphere.

The tall plant opens his big tops wide, like arms. 'The rest were unkind to you,' he says. 'Sit with me, Spike.' Spike blinks. 'Yes!' For the first time, Spike grins a huge grin.

Page 8
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot next to Pawpaw tree (also in a pot), both with surprised, wide-eyed expressions. Spike is shaking, mouth open in shock with his small arms raised, and Pawpaw tree looks upset and is trembling, with a worried frown, drooping green fronds, and a single sweat drop on her leafy crown. Motion lines surround both characters, suggesting an agitated reaction. The right side of the image is plain white background.

They chat and joke. It is so fun! Then Spike hops in for a hug, and pop! A spine jabs the tall plant. 'Ouch!' he yells. 'That was my leaf! That hurts!'

Page 9
On the right side of the image, Pawpaw tree stands with an angry, furrowed expression, frowning and looking upset, leaning away as if pulling back from someone. Its large leaf fronds are trembling with agitation, indicated by small motion lines above them. The left side of the image is plain white background, leaving ample space for text overlay.

The tall plant quivers. He is stern and mad. 'Go, Spike!' he yells. 'You hurt plants! Go find another pal!' 'It was a mistake!' says Spike. But the tall plant is firm. Spike hops off, so small and hushed.

Page 10
On the left side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot in an empty garden, looking outward with a bright, determined smile — as if he has just decided to find somewhere new. The garden around him is bare and quiet, emphasizing that he is alone with no other spikey plants in sight. The background is plain white, suggesting open space and possibility ahead.

Spike sits in the empty garden. No plants. No pals. No one. Then Spike looks at his spines, and he makes a plan. 'I look for pals that are not sharp,' he whispers. 'What if my pal must be sharp, like me?' He grins and turns to the path.

Page 11
On the right side of the image, Spike stands in his terracotta pot on sandy, dry terrain just beyond a road, looking curiously at Thorn bush with a happy, excited expression. A dashed line traces Spike's path from the road across to his current position. Thorn bush sits beside Spike as a round, ball-shaped tangle of dark brown thorny vines with small spikes protruding in all directions, with two large white mismatched eyes and a small open dark mouth, looking back at Spike. The scene is set outdoors in a sandy, arid landscape with a paved road and sidewalk visible in the upper-left corner, along with a hint of greenery near the roadside.

Spike hops to the sand dunes. There in the sand sits a sturdy ball of thorns. 'You are so sharp!' Spike blurts. 'You are so sharp!' says the ball of thorns. They gaze and grin. 'I am Spike. Can we hug?' 'I am Tom. Yes!' chirps Tom.

Page 12
On the left side of the image, Spike and Thorn bush walk together across sandy dunes at sunset, both with wide joyful smiles as if singing together. Spike stands upright in the center-left without his pot, smiling broadly, with a small flower blooming from the top of his head and a dotted trail of footprints behind him leading back to a clay pot left by the road in the far background. Thorn bush — a round, dark brown ball of thorny vines with mismatched white eyes and a small open mouth — bounces along beside Spike on the right. Dark mountains and a glowing sun sit on the horizon. The right side of the image is plain sandy background with warm golden sky.

They hug, and no one yelps 'ouch'. Spike and Tom set off up the dunes at sunset. They sing duets and twirl in the sand. Then a flower bursts from the top of Spike's head. His first flower! But Spike does not see it. He is so glad to be with his pal.

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