Pebbo's Brave Hello

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Pebbo was a small, round stone who lived on a sunny beach. He loved the warm sand and the sound of waves going swoosh, swoosh!

Every morning, he rolled to his favorite spot and watched the seagulls dance in the sky. It felt so cozy and safe!

One breezy day, Pebbo noticed something different. The other stones on the beach were talking and laughing together!

Pebbo rolled closer, his heart going thump-thump. He wanted to join them, but he felt too shy to say hello first.

He rolled past a group of sparkly stones playing a game. "Maybe tomorrow," he whispered to himself and kept rolling.

Next, he saw smooth gray stones telling funny stories. Pebbo smiled but couldn't make any words come out.

Poor Pebbo felt stuck! He really, really wanted friends, but starting conversations felt as big as climbing a mountain.

He rolled to a quiet spot and watched the waves. "Why is saying hello so hard?" he wondered sadly.

A tiny crab scuttled by and waved its little claw. Even the crab could say hello! Pebbo felt even more worried.

Then Pebbo had a brave thought. "What if I just try one tiny word?" He took a deep breath of salty air.

He rolled up to a spotted stone sitting alone. "H-hello," Pebbo squeaked. The stone's face lit up with joy!

"Hello! I'm Dottie!" said the spotted stone. "I was too shy to talk first too!" They both giggled and giggled.

Soon, more stones rolled over. Each one had been waiting for someone else to say hello first. What a silly discovery!

As the sun painted the sky orange and pink, Pebbo and his new friends made a cozy circle on the warm sand.

"Tomorrow, I'll say hello first again," Pebbo promised himself, feeling brave and snuggly with all his stone friends.