Recess was Henry's favorite part of the school day.
He liked to chase the other kids around the playground.
"Aaaaahhhhhh!" he screamed, making his scariest monster face.
When the kids saw Henry coming, they would shout,
"Here comes the monster!"
Then they would run away screaming and giggling.
Henry could be quite a few different monsters: a wolf, a gorilla, or a ghost.
He tried hard to make each one scary.
What Henry really wanted, though, was to play nicely like everyone else.
He wanted to make sand castles or play catch with the other kids.
But Henry was shy and talked in a quiet voice.
He was always afraid the other kids would laugh at him.
The only way he could play was by being a monster.
"Oh, Henry, can't you play some other way?" Henry's teacher asked him.
She tried showing him how to play in the sandbox, but Henry wasn't good at making sand castles.
He always ended up throwing sand in other kids' faces by accident.
One day, a new girl arrived at school.
Henry saw her sitting alone in a corner, looking sad.
He was curious.
"Maybe I can make her run away from me.
It might be fun," he thought.
He decided to be the ghost.
Slowly, he walked toward her, making scary faces and sounds.
But she didn't even look at him.
He got closer and beat his chest, grunting like a gorilla.
She still did not move.
Then he showed his teeth and screamed as loud as he could.
The girl finally looked up at him.
She giggled and then laughed out loud.
Henry was confused.
The next thing she did confused him even more.
She opened her mouth wide and roared like a lion.
This had never happened before!
Kids were always scared of him!
What was he supposed to do?
The girl kept making funny faces and laughing.
Then Henry laughed too.
This was fun!
"I like playing monster!" said the girl.
"Do you want to see my wolf monster?" Henry asked proudly.
"Sure!"
Henry threw his head back and howled like a wolf. "Aooooo!"
"Wow! Let me try." The girl howled too.
"Aooooo! I'm Annie. What's your name?"
"Henry."
"I'm glad you're playing with me.
Everyone else already has a friend."
Then Henry shyly asked, "Do you want to be my friend?"
Annie smiled and gave Henry a hug.
"Yes! I'd love to be your friend!"
Henry blushed.
"Tag, you're it!" Annie yelled as she ran away.
Henry and Annie chased each other happily around the playground.
They took turns being the scariest monster.
Then Annie taught Henry how to make sand castles in the sandbox.
Henry's teacher was very happy.
Henry was happy too.
He did not have to be a monster all the time anymore.
Now, he and Annie were best friends.