Friendship

"Friendship" title screen

**Friendship** is the seventh episode of the first season of Adventures from the Book of Virtues.

## Plot

Annie becomes discouraged when her friend, Sarah, picks another partner over her for their canoeing field trip, even when she agreed to pair up with her. Because of that, Plato and the others remind her about how powerful friendship can be with some stories.

## Full Synopsis

At school, all of the children are arriving, just as Annie gets off of the bus. However, just as Annie gets off the bus, she suddenly meets with a girl who asks him how it's going. Annie recognizes the girl as her friend, Sarah West, as she greets her back rather uncertainly. This causes Sarah to ask Annie what's the matter because she doesn't look too happy to see her, though Annie says that she is but didn't think that Sarah was talking to her.

    Sarah realizes that Annie is talking about what happened at the library last week, before assuring her that it was just a misunderstanding, then asks Annie what she's doing on Saturday. Annie is not sure, before Sarah lets her know that a bunch of kids are going canoeing on the river, including a boy named Bobby Draper. Sarah then asks Annie if her dad has a canoe, which Annie confirms, before Sarah cuts off Annie by telling her that they can be canoeing partners, which surprises Annie, before Sarah tells her that it'll be fun. The bell then rings, just as Annie agrees to Sarah's proposition that they'll shoot the rapids together, while Sarah tells Annie that she'll be in the bow while she'll be in the stern, though Sarah asks Annie if she's sure that her dad will take them canoeing while Annie tells Sarah that she's sure. After school, Annie has taken Sarah to her house to show her the canoe, though the canoe looks rather homely, while Sarah comments that the canoe looks old. Annie assures Sarah that it's a great canoe and that her dad had it since he was a kid, though Sarah backhandedly tells her that it's great then leaves while telling Annie that she'll see her on Saturday, which Annie is excitedly to hear as she leaves the garage.
Annie then enters the house and meets with her mother, Mrs. Redfeather, who asks her if she was talking with Sarah West.

    Annie confirms it, saying that Sarah was the new girl who just moved in from the city, also commenting that "she's so cool". However, Mrs. Redfeather asks Annie if Sarah West was also the girl who left her stranded at the library last week, though Annie assures her that everything is okay now, because they're really good friends. Mrs. Redfeather hesitantly says that she hopes so though Annie is certain that she knows so, before she takes two cookies and leaves while saying that she'll go for a hike, but not without Mrs. Redfeather telling her to be home in time for supper.

    As Annie runs through the woods, she suddenly meets with Sarah, who tells her that she's glad she ran into her because she changed her mind about the canoe trip and that she's going with a girl named Ashley instead. Annie is surprised when she hears this, before Sarah adds that Ashley just called her because her parents got her a fancy new canoe then also adds that she can't let Bobby Draper see her in Annie's old canoe, then rides off on her bike while telling Annie she knew that she'd understand. After Sarah has left, Annie sadly reiterates what Sarah said about understanding, then wonders who she'll go with now.
All of this is revealed to be a flashback that Annie was telling the others at Plato's Peak, as she concludes that the worst part is that she thought Sarah wanted to be her friend. Socrates tries assuring Annie that she still has them, but unfortunately, the moment is killed when he gets his hand caught in the globe while it is spinning before he also gets spun around before getting flung right into one of Aristotle's holes before Ari throws him out. Annie appreciates the concern, but says that it's not the same because Sarah is so popular.

     Zach states that Sarah is totally out for herself before Plato says that it sounds like a fair-weather friend, but Annie says that that wasn't what it was at all. Plato also reminds Annie that in friendship, everyone must bring something to the party, not something as superficial as a new canoe. Annie doesn't know what that means, before Aurora answers that it means that it's not what you have that makes a friendship, but rather what you give, like loyalty and caring. Plato confirms this then says that that's what a young Native American boy named Waukewa discovered, which confuses Sock, before Ari lets him know that it's storytime as he pops up in front of Plato while carrying the Book of Virtues, while Plato says that Waukewa and his tribe were great hunters and fishermen.

Story #1: Waukewa's Eagle

After the story ends, Aurora comments on what a story that was, while Sock quips that he wishes he had a friend like that. This offends Ari, who matter-of-factly asks Sock who helped him get his tail out of the equator.

     Zach then comments that Waukewa and his eagle had a friendship that really took off, before Aurora lets him know that it was because it was based on caring. Annie then forlornly states that all Sarah cared about is what kind of canoe she would be riding in. Plato informs Annie that sometimes, friendships don't get off the ground for very good reasons, such as when a friend isn't trustworthy. Annie points that Sarah wasn't trustworthy and says that she'll never trust someone from the big city again, before Plato stops her, telling her that wasn't the point he was making. When Annie is confused about what Plato means, Plato tells her that if she sticks with that attitude, then she might miss out on some great friendships. Because of that, Plato leads everyone outside, to another stone wall that has pictures of a frog and a snake carved into it, while saying that Ari is going to tell them an African folk tale, which Ari confirms after he pops up out of the ground.

Story #2: Why Frog and Snake Never Play Together

After the story ends, Zach acknowledges that Frog and Snake wanted to be friends, but they were kept apart.

     Annie says that she gets the point, which is that where someone is from or what they look like doesn't tell you what kind of friend they'll make, which Plato confirms. Annie also realizes that friendships aren't like instant cocoa, they take time to make, while Aurora adds "and effort to keep". However, Annie wants to know how you will know if a friend will really be a true friend. Plato answers that when true friendship exists, there's almost no stronger bond, like in the story of Damon and Pythias.

Story #3: Damon and Pythias

After the story ends, Sock has been crying his eyes out over the outcome of the story, before Ari gives him a tissue so that he can blow his nose. After doing so, Sock states that that was a friendship. Zach also adds that he doesn't know if he could have been as brave as Damon all because he put his life on the line for Pythias.

     Aurora doesn't think of it as bravery because they were friends, while Plato adds that they were devoted and true to each other. Annie realizes that those things really count, like loyalty, honesty, and courage, while Zach also adds being willing to give to a friend and not just get something out of it. Plato then points out that all those things they call virtues are an important part of being a good friend. Annie then states that maybe one day she'll have a friend like Damon or Pythias, before Zach comes up to her telling her that while he may not have a Greek name, if she would consider going canoeing with him. Because of that, Annie hugs Zach in confirmation before asking him if he doesn't mind a leaky old canoe, though Zach assures her that he's real good at bailing out, before Annie jokingly says, "Yeah, so's Sarah!" before she and Zach start laughing. At the same time, Sock and Ari have been watching the whole thing, as Ari states that Annie already has a good friend while Sock adds that he just loves happy endings. Once again, the moment is killed when Sock tries leaning on Ari, only for Ari to get knocked into his hole while Sock loses his balance and falls to the ground.

     A little later, Plato and Aurora are standing high above Plato's Peak as they recite the poem New Friends and Old Friends by Joseph Parry while witnessing Zach and Annie spending time with each other, such as skipping stones across the lake.

## Characters

* Annie Redfeather
* Zach Nichols
* Plato
* Aurora
* Aristotle
* Socrates

## Minor Characters

* Sarah West
* Mrs. Redfeather