The Berenstain Bears Faithful Friends by Jan, Mike Berenstain Page A

butterflies sailed up into the sky over the trees.
    â€œThey’re so pretty!” said Sister.

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    On their way back, Suzy and Sister ran into Lizzy and their friends Anna and Millie. They were all carrying their Bearbie dolls.
    â€œHiya, gang!” called Sister when she saw them. “Suzy and I were out catching butterflies. You should have seen the big yellow one I got!”

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    â€œYeah, great,” said Lizzy. “Well, see you, I guess.”
    â€œWait a minute,” said Sister. “Where are you all going?”
    â€œWe’re going over to my garage to play Bearbie dolls,” said Lizzy.
    â€œCan Suzy and I come too?” asked Sister.

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    â€œIt looks like you two are already pretty busy,” said Lizzy. “Come on, girls.” With that, Lizzy and her friends went on their way.

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    â€œHow do you like that?” said Sister, hurt and angry. “Who does she think she is? Come on, Suzy, we’ll play over at my house. Who needs them, anyway?”
    When they got to the Bear family’s tree house, Suzy and Sister found Brother Bear and Cousin Fred getting out their fishing tackle.

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    â€œLizzy and your friends were here looking for you,” Brother said. “I told them you were playing with Suzy. Lizzy didn’t seem very happy.”
    â€œThat Lizzy Bruin!” said Sister, annoyed. “What business is it of hers who I play with?”
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    â€œI guess she’s jealous,” said Brother.
    â€œJealous?” said Sister, puzzled.
    â€œSure,” said Brother. “She’s been your best friend for years. You mean a lot to her. She’s just worried that maybe you don’t like her as much as you used to.”
    â€œOh,” said Sister, “that’s silly!” It was true that she liked her new friend, Suzy. But Lizzy would always be her best friend.

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    â€œWhat should I do?” Sister wondered.
    Cousin Fred spoke up. “You know what the Bible says: ‘Wounds from a friend can be trusted.’” Fred liked to memorize things.
    â€œHuh?” said both Sister and Brother. “What does that mean?”

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    Suzy answered—she liked to memorize things too. “I think it means that when a friend who loves you hurts your feelings, you need to find out what is bothering her.”
    â€œYes,” Fred nodded. “And the Bible also says that we shouldn’t stay angry with our friends. God wants us to make up with them if we have an argument.”
    â€œOh,” said Sister, thoughtfully.
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    â€œI have an idea,” said Brother. “Fred and I were about to go fishing. Why don’t we grab some extra fishing gear and go over to Lizzy’s? We can see if they would all like to go fishing with us.”
    â€œGreat!” said Sister. Suzy grinned.
    So they all stopped by Lizzy’s garage on their way to the fishing hole.
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    â€œHey, Lizzy!” called Sister. “Do you and Anna and Millie want to go fishing with us?”
    Lizzy acted like she wasn’t so sure. But Anna and Millie were all for it, and Lizzy certainly didn’t want to be left out.
    Soon, they were all down at the fishing hole. Lizzy cast her line out into the middle of the pond and got her line into a terrible tangle.
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    â€œHere, let me help you, Lizzy,” said Sister, taking her fishing rod. “I’ll untangle it for you.”
    â€œWow, thanks!” said Lizzy. “You’re a real friend, Sister.”

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    â€œI always have been and I always will be!” said Sister, giving Lizzy a hug.

    And together they picked away at the tangled fishing line.

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