10.18.25 - Part 2

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to Reali's Children's Story. Ire As a
Reminder is a reading service intended for people who are
blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to
read printed material. Today we will continue with the book
from last time, The Adventures of Ali and Amy The
Best Friend Plan, and your reader today is Diane Again.

(00:27):
Our book is The Adventures of Alien Amy The Best
Friend Plan. It was published by Aladdin Quicks of Simon
and Schuster Children Publishing Division, has the copyright year of
nineteen ninety five, and it was written by Joanna Coe
and Stephanie Coumlinson. Chapter two, Madame Loulu Alien Amy went

(00:54):
around the corner to Madame Lulu's fortune telling parlor. It
was pink and yellow outside, the dark and little spooky insight.
Even though the girls knew that Madame Lulu was nice
missus Tompkins from the first floor of Allie's building, they
still got the shivers going inside. You go in first,
said Alie, taking a step back. No you, said Amy,

(01:18):
taking two steps back, No you, said Alie, taking three
steps back. Greetings fortune seekers, called a husky voice from
the dark. Why don't you both come inside? Alie and
Amy held hands and squeezed through the doorway together. Madame
Lulu sat behind a beaded curtain. She was dressed in

(01:40):
black with a veil on her head. She had about
twenty bracelets on each arm. They clinked together whenever she moved.
What to bring you here, she asked? Clink. Oh, we
want our fortune's toad, said Amy. Amy and Ali each

(02:01):
held out a coin to Madame Lulu. Madame Lulu slipped
the coins into her pocket. Clink. Can you tell us
what the summer is going to be like? Asked Ali.
Of course, said Madame Lulu. She gazed into her crystal ball.
The summer will be hazy, hot and humid, she said.

(02:26):
In fact, it already is. Madame Lulu wiped the sweat
off her forehead with a lace handkerchief. Clink. Ali and
Amy looked at each other. Thanks, but that's not what
we meant, said Amy. We don't need to know about
the weather. We need to know about us, she poked Ali,
who put another coin on the table. Madame Lulu took

(02:50):
the coin. Clink. Let me see your palms, she said Alian.
Amy turned to their palms up and held them out. Hm.
Nice and clean, said Madame Lulu, and do you moisture eyes? No,

(03:11):
we don't, said Allie. You're going to tell our fortunes
right absolutely, one best friend's fortune coming right up, said
Madame Lulu. I see an interesting story. Today is a
special days it's coming to me now. Madame Lulu closed

(03:33):
her eyes and held her fingers to her brow, going
into a trance. She said, today is the very first
day of your summer vacation. Wow, how did she know that,
whispered Amie. Madame Lulu continued, you will take a trip
to a special place. I see sunshining, I hear water splashing.

(03:58):
I smell hot dog cooking on an open fire. Suddenly,
Madame Lulu snapped out of her trance. Did someone say
hot dogs? She asked? You did, said Ali and Amy together.
Madame Lulu looked at her watch. Oh yes, it's time
for my coffee break, she said. Ali and Amy had

(04:20):
no more coins anyway. They walked through the beat a
curtain and out into the hazy, hot and humid day boom.
They bumped right into a boy named Marvin. Amy yelled,
why don't you watch where you're going? Watch where I'm going,
said Marvin Lopez. He checked his skateboard for scratches. Watch

(04:42):
where you're going. You're the ones who bumped into me. Well,
don't do it again, said Alie. Alie, Amy and Marvin
could go round and rounding silly all day long, but
Ali and Amy had no time for that. Today. They
put their noses in the air linked arms and headed
for home. See you later, alligator, said Amy, going into

(05:04):
her building. In a while, crocodile, said Alie, going into hers.
Chapter three, Camp Mary Moose. Ali's father and mother were
waiting for her when she walked in the door. Hi, honey,
said her mother, with a big smile. We have wonderful
news for you, said her father. What is it, asked Allie.

(05:27):
Remember that camp you wanted to go to, the one
we talked about last winter, said her mother. Allie perked up.
You mean Camp Mary Moose where they have sailboats and everything.
She said. That's the one, said Ali's father. I thought
there was no room for me. I thought it was
all filled up, said Allie. There was a last minute opening,

(05:50):
so now you can go, said Ali's mother. Camp starts
the day after tomorrow. Allie could hardly believe it. She
always wanted to go to a sleep away camp, sunshine, swimming, campfires. Wow,
this has to be the special place Madam Lulu was
talking about. Allie was so happy she wanted to tell

(06:12):
Amy right away. Ring ring, the telephone rang at Amy's house.
Amy's father answered it. It's for you, Amy, he said,
guess who. Amy had no trouble guessing. Hi, Allie, she said,
I haven't talked to you in five whole minutes. What's new?

(06:33):
What's new? Front page News, shouted Allie. My parents just
told me. I'm going to camp, Marry News. I'm going
for the whole summer. There's a lake with boats and
everyone gets to sleep in a tent. Amy was so
surprised she didn't say anything for a minute. Then she
burst out, you can't go to camp, not without me.

(06:54):
We're best friends, we have plans. Oh my gosh, you're right.
Yuped Allie. I forgot you weren't going. I can't go
to camp without you. That's right, said Amy. You can't,
but maybe I can go too. I'll ask my parents
found one work. There was only one space, and my

(07:14):
parents got it for me, said Alie sadly. But wait,
I know what to do. I'll call you back, Allie,
hung up and found her parents. I can't go to camp,
she said. I'm staying home with Amy. Allie, you have
to go, said her mother. We made all the arrangements,
but Amy and I do everything together, said Alie. You

(07:36):
and Amy can write to each other, said her father.
You have a wonderful time at camp, said her mother. No,
I won't, said Allie. Not without Amy. I won't. Well,
you have to give it a chance, said her father.
You're going, and that's final. Allie walked slowly to her room.
She sat down on her bed to think. A minute later,

(07:58):
she popped up, raced to the phone, and dialed Amy's number.
Meet me downstairs. We've got to talk, she said. Okay, sir, Amy,
I'm on my way. Six five four three two one. Allie.
Amy burst out of their doors at the exact same moment.

(08:19):
Chapter four, Allie's plan. I've got a plan, said Alie.
It's great. It's the best. I'm a genius. You won't
believe it. Well, I can't believe it if I don't
hear it, sired Amy. What is it? Allie pulled a
jump rope out of her back pocket. This, she shouted,
This looks like a jump rope to me. Not a

(08:40):
genius plan, said Amy. But wait till you see what
we do with it, said Allie. She been down and
tied their ankles together. Now I can't go to camp.
I had to stay here with you. This is so wicky,
said Amy. This is so us, said Alie. The girls
began to walk with the jump rope tight around their ankles.

(09:01):
Step step, step, It's working, said Amy. This is fun.
Step step step See I am a genius, said Alie.
Step step step boom. Down They went ouch, said Amy.
The two friends got up. They tried again. This time
they went more carefully. Step in side feet, step outside feet,

(09:26):
step inside feet, step outside feet. We've got it, said Ali, Together,
said Amy. Forever, said Alie. They walked faster and faster
on their third trip around the block. They were really zooming.
As they turned the corner, they bumped right into Marvin,

(09:46):
yelled Ali and Amy. Why don't you watch where you're going?
Watch where I'm going? Watch where you're going, said Marvin.
Marvin been down to pick up his skateboard when he
saw their ankles tied together, started laughing, Hey, whats goofy
and has three legs? He asked. He did not wait

(10:07):
for an answer. HiT's you. You look like a three
lady cookie bird. Oh really, there's no such thing as
a cookie bird, said Amy. Exactly, said Marvin. So how
come you're tied together? If you must know, mister Marvin
Q smarty pants, being tied together as part of a

(10:27):
genius plan to prevent our summer separation, said Ali. Separation.
No way, said Marvin. You two are glued together. Yes, way,
said Ali. It's too horrible even to think about. It's
definitely too horrible to talk about. Said Amy. We're leaving.

(10:48):
Allie and Amy put their noses in the air and
stomped away. Inside feed outside feet inside feet, outside feet.
Bye bye, cookie bird, called Marvin. The girls played together
the rest of the afternoon, then headed home. When they
got to their street, Amy's mother called Amy it's time
for supper. Amy took a step forward toward her building.

(11:12):
Something was pulling her bike. It was Allie. For a minute,
Amy had forgotten all about being tied to her. I
guess we have to eat together. What are you having
for supper, asked Amy. My mother's making fish fries, said Alie. Ooh, Smellie,
I hate that, said Amy. Why don't she come to
my house? What are you having, asked Allie. Not too sure,

(11:35):
sed Amy. But I know it's leftovers and it's green. Ooh,
said Alie. You know I don't eat anything green. Well,
I'm hungry, Sami, Me too, said Allie. Maybe this isn't
such a genius plan after all, Sirnami. Maybe you're right,
said Alie. She sighed and then bent down and untied

(11:55):
the jump rope. Allie and Amy said goodbye and went
into their buildings. That night, both of them had trouble sleeping.
In two days. Ali was going to camp without Amy.
Chapter five, Tick Tick Tick. Today is our last day together,
Amy said gloomily. The next morning. That's why we have

(12:17):
to get busy, said Ali, doing what, asked any Everything.
We have to do everything on our list, Allie exclaimed,
waving the list in the air. But we can't do
it all on one day, said Amy. Yes we can.
We just have to move fast. We already visited Madame Lulu,
said Ali, crossing it off the list. The next thing

(12:37):
is Spring Street Fair, said Amie. Are you ready? Said Ali? Ready?
Said Amy. On your mark, Get set go, cried Ali.
Amy and Alli raced around the corner to the fair.
There was music playing and the street was filled with games, rides,
food to eat, and things to buy. This is great.

(12:59):
Let's get our faces painted. Let's go on the ferris wheel.
Let's win a wind up fish, said Amy. Okay, we
better set the alarms on our watches, said Alie. I
have to pick for camp this afternoon. Amy and Ali
set their watches and in half an hour their alarms
would beep. They went to the face painting table. First,

(13:22):
A friendly lady with a rose on her cheek asked
what they wanted. I want a puppy, said Amy. I'll
get a kitten, said Ali. The lady painted their faces.
Al Ain and Amy looked great. Together. They had sixteen
home minutes left. They raced to the ferris wheel. Before
long they were swinging a basket way up high they

(13:44):
could look out over the whole fair. Hey, I see
the fishbow game, said Amy. When the ferris wheel stopped,
the friends had eight minutes left. They ran straight to
the game booth, but there was a long line. Tick tick,
three minutes went by, tick tick tick, three more minutes
went by. By the time the man behind the counter

(14:06):
called next, they had only two minutes left. Ali and
Amy walked up to the booth together. Four throws for
fifty cents, said the man. Ali and Amy each gave
the man coin and each got two balls. Amy went first.
She knew she had to work fast. She tried not
to look out at her watch. Okay, ball going to

(14:29):
the bow. When nea wind up? Fish, she said. Amy
was trying to throw quickly. She threw the ball too
hard and went sailing across the street. Take it easy,
said the man. I'll try, said Amy, but I'm in
a hurry. She threw the second ball. The man ducked
just in time. Let me try. It's my turn, said Ali.

(14:53):
Her first ball landed way over in the space rocket right.
They watched the ball disappear into the moon tunnel. Hurry,
said Amy. Our time is almost up. I'm hurrying, shouted Ali.
She threw the last ball. It bounced off the wall
of the booth and landed right on a cone of
cotton candy. Guess who's cotton candy? Marvin, Why don't you

(15:16):
watch where you're walking? Shouted Allie and Amy. Together Watch
where I'm walking. Watch where you're throwing, yelled Marvin. He
ran over to them beep beep, beep, beep beep. What's
all that beeping, asked Marvin. You two really are goofy. No,
we really are organized, said Alie. Those beefs were our

(15:37):
watch alarms. That means we have to go now by.
She grabbed Amy's arm and dragged her out of the fair.
Chapter six splash. Come on, Amy, we have to skate
and sing backward. That's next on the list, said Ali
as they headed home. What's after that, asked Amy. Swimming

(15:57):
at the town pool, said Ali. We better hurry. Alian
and Amy raced upstairs and came back down. With skates
on their feet and bathing suits under their clothes. They
headed for the pool, skating backwards and singing to the
tune of the Star Spangled Banner be keenly silly Houseye
you can say Oh. After stumbling quite a few times

(16:20):
on skates and words, Ali and Amy finally made it
to the pool. They tossed their things into lockers and
headed out for some fun. Standing at the edge of
the deep end, Ali called one, two three, jump splash.
As soon as they were in, They swam underwater all
the way to the shallow end. They swam right into
a pair of feet. These looked like the very same

(16:43):
feet they seem walking around the fair. Ali and Amy
popped up out of the water. Marvin cried, Ali, why
don't you watch where you're standing, Watch where I'm standing,
Watch where you're swimming, said Marvin. We have to be
at the end of the pool. We're going to play
Marco Polo, said Alie. Well this end of the pool

(17:04):
is taken, said Marvin. Allie and Amy looked at each
other and nodded. It just so happens. We need three players,
said Amy. Marvin, you can be it me it Sorry,
I just forgot how to play, said Marvin. Let us
remind you, said Allie. You close your eyes and call
out Marco. Then we say polo and you have to

(17:27):
catch us. Let me think about it, said Marvin, getting
a funny look on his face, funnier than usual. Then
he said, okay, I'll play. He closed his eyes, but
instead of calling out Marco, he called Martha. That's not funny,
said Amy. Try not to laugh, so sorry, said Marvin.
I'll try again. He closed his eyes and called Michael Ronnie.

(17:52):
Ali got a gleam in her eye. She was supposed
to answer Polo. Instead, she said geez. Now, Amy got
the idea tomato sauce. She called Marvin. Slashed through the water.
After Amy, Amy slipped past him. Massachusetts, called Marvin. Amy
tried to think of a state, Michigan. She called Minnesota.

(18:16):
Called Ali. From a corner of the pool. Marvin dived
in Ali's direction. His hand swatted her toe. You're it,
he shouted. It was Ali's turn to close her eyes
and call out Marco. Instead, she closed her eyes and
called Marvin. They're great, Marvin, answered Amy. Groan loullly, gotcha,

(18:39):
said Ali, taking Amy. Beep beep, beep, beep beep. The
girl's alarms went off. Oh no, not again, said Marvin.
We're very busy people, said Ali, rushing out of the pool.
I'm going to camp tomorrow. I've got to get home
and pack. She called over a shoulder what camp called Marvin,
but Ali and Amy were already too far away to

(19:02):
hear him. They quickly dried off and jumped into their clothes.
Then they headed home. Ali and Amy stood in front
of their buildings. They looked at their list. They had
crossed off the first four things. There was still number five.
Make a new list of things to do I guess
there's no point in making up a new list now,

(19:23):
said Amy. I guess not, said Ali. We can make
another list when I come home. Alien and just stood there.
Neither one wanted to go inside. Then Amy's mother called
to her. Amy, please come upstairs. I guess I better go,
said Amy. I'll miss you, but all right, I promise
me too, and we'll be together again after the summer,

(19:45):
said Alie. See you later, alligator, said Amy. In a while, crocodile,
said Ali. Amy and Ally hugged each other. Then they
disappeared into their buildings. Chapter seven, Let's go Ring Ring.
Allie hadn't been home five minutes when the telephone rang.
It was Amy, Guess what? Guess what? Amy shouted happily,

(20:10):
what what? Asked Allie. There was another opening a camp
mary moose, said Amy, and I'm going hooray, yelled Allie.
We are so lucky. I can't believe it. I've got
to go pack, said Amy. I'm so excited, me too,
said Allie. See you tomorrow. The next morning, the families
went outside and walked around the corner to the bus stop.

(20:33):
Allie and Amy skipped ahead, singing and holding hands. The
camp bus was waiting for them. The girls hugged their
parents and jumped onto the bus. They stopped at the
door and waved, calling bye Mom, Bye Dad. Just then
they heard the sound of skateboard whilst scraping the sidewalks.
Look it's Marvin, said Amy. You know I'm going to

(20:56):
kind of miss him, said Alie. He can be obnoxious,
but he's pretty funny too. You're right, said Amy. It
was fun playing marco polo with him. Oh, well, we'll
see him when we get back. Alie and Amy found
two seats together on the bus. Oh, Marvin, here's your
camp bag, called Marvin's mother, running after him. Amy looked

(21:18):
at Alie. Ali looked at Amy. Did she say camp bag,
asked Amie. It is impossible, said Alie, But it was possible.
Marvin got on the bus wearing a Camp Mary Moose
t shirt. Ali's foot was sticking out in the aisle boom.
Marvin tripped right over it. Marvin, why don't you watch

(21:40):
where you put your feet, said Alie. Watch where I
put my feet. Watch where you put yours? Said Marvin.
Look out, Allie, cried Amy, ducking down in her seat.
There's a big googly eyebug climbing up Marvin's T shirt.
Marvin jumped back and started brushing at his shirt. Got chest,
said Amy. Marvin's face turned bright red. You got me

(22:04):
this time, but we've got a whole summer, he said, smiling.
I'll get you back. Suddenly, a familiar sound filled the air. Clink,
Then a familiar voice called buckle up, everyone, We're off
to Camp Mary Moose. It is impossible, said Amy, But

(22:24):
it was possible. Madame Lulu had just stepped onto the bus. Hi,
Madame Lulu, what are you doing here? Called Amy. I
looked into my crystal ball. It said I would be
going to a special place. And I am. I am
the Camp Mary Moose drama counselor, exclaimed Madame Lulu. Wow,

(22:47):
Amy whispered to Allie. She even tells us her own fortune. Okay,
kids called the bus driver, we're on our way. The
driver closed the door and started the motor. As soon
as she did, some kids started to sing the Camp
Mary Moose bust song. In no time, everyone was singing together,

(23:10):
let's go, Let's go to Camp Mary Moose. It's time
to have fun. Just to turn us loose. Our camp
is the best. It beats all the rest. Suddenly, a
paper airplane marked in flew toward Allie and Amy's heads.
They each duck just in time. A few seconds later, clink, clink,
Madame Lulu was swatting the airplane off her head. This

(23:33):
summer is going to be so much fun, said Amy.
We're going to need a new list of things to do,
after all, said Ali. Ali took out paper and a pencil.
Number one, learn to sell, she said. Number two, make
things at arts and crafts, said Amy. Number three starr

(23:53):
in Madame Lulu's play, said Ali. She stopped with her
pencil in there. What else do you do at camp?
She asked? I don't know, said Amy. How about this
for number four, said Alie. She wrote in great big letters,
have the best summer ever. That will be easy, said Amy.
For us, said Alie, Because we're together, said Amy. Forever,

(24:18):
said Alie, and they gave high fives as the bus
bounced down the roads. Questions what makes a friendship special?
Name three things that matter to you. If you went
to see Madame Lulu, what would you ask her when
you have an important question? Who's the person you go

(24:38):
to It worked out great when Allie and Amy gave
Marvin a chance to join them doing something fun. Is
there someone you would like to get to know better,
what would you invite the person to do? And what
is your idea of the best summer ever. Well, that's

(24:59):
all we have time for, so that concludes our Children's
Story Hour for today. Please join us next time as
we will read more stories, fables and fairy tales. Thank
you for listening and please stay tuned for The Lasting
Hero Leader on RADIOI