A Beary Hot Day

A Be a r y Hot D ay

WRITTEN BY

Elana Hampton and Raven Richmond ILLUSTRATED BY

Carmen Galabiz NARRATED BY

Raven Richmond

In honor of the National Day of Service on January 18, 2016, Memphis Challengers created “Tell Me a Story: Service Through Storytelling.” Through this project, 62 Memphis Challengers in grades 9-12 wrote and produced specialized storybooks and poems for children. The project aimed to bring smiles, excitement and the love of storytelling to children, as well as enrich the process of using creativity to give back for Memphis Challenge students.

Learn more about The Memphis Challenge at www.memphischallenge.org.

Copyright ©2016 Memphis Challenge Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address The Memphis Challenge, 516 Tennessee St., Suite 129, Memphis, Tennessee 38103.

First Edition | Printed in the USA ISBN 978-1-944843-01-4

“A Beary Hot Day” Written by Elana Hampton (10th grader, Middle College High School) and Raven Richmond (10th grader, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School) Illustrated by Carmen Galabiz (9th grader, Houston High School) Narrated by Raven Richmond (10th Grader, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School) Funded by a generous grant from the Pyramid Peak Foundation Special thanks to the Project Production Team – Heather Bruce, Cierra Burnett, Avery Cunningham, Jamien Sills, Lisa Smith, McKenzii Webster, Christa Wininger and Cassandra Webster, Executive Director – for your expertise, commitment, vision and leadership. Parents and guardians thank you for your trust and support.

A Be ar y H ot D ay P U B L I C AT I O N S Memphis

Written by Elana Hampton and Raven Richmond Illustrated by Carmen Galabiz Narrated by Raven Richmond

Once upon a time, there was a bear named Patience who had no patience. Patience was so excited because she was going to visit her Grandma Pipin’ who lives in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Grandma Pipin’! It’s hot here,” Patience complained for the thirtieth time.

“I know Patience,” Grandma Pipin’ said.

Patience had hoped that since she was visiting her Grandma while her parents were out of town, that she and her grandma would have the best time of their lives. But she wound up stuck in a house with no air conditioning on the hottest July day of the year.

Grandma Pipin’ said, “I’m trying to fix the air conditioner, but I’m having some trouble. Patience, please help me, hand me the wrench.” Patience passed the wrench to her grandma, feeling the energy drain out of her.

The minutes felt like hours to Patience as her grandmother continued to work. Fans were all around the house, but all they did was blow hot air. Patience needed some way to cool down, when she saw the freezer, she got an idea.

She got up from her chair and walked out of the living room towards the kitchen. She looked back at her grandmother who was very busy working on the air conditioner. Patience opened the freezer door and felt a wave of cool air wash over her body.

“Ahhhhh, how refreshing,” she said, as she climbed into the freezer.

Meanwhile her Grandma Pipin’ continued to work.

“This is more than I can handle,” Grandma Pipin’ said. “I’m going to take a break. I am going to surprise Patience and take her for some ice cream.”

She looked over at the chair where Patience once sat.

“Patience?” she said, puzzled. She looked around and saw that Patience was no where to be found. “Patience, where are you?” she said while she walked around the house looking for her. She checked her room…. no Patience. She checked the closet…no Patience.

Grandma Pipin’ was starting to get very worried. “Where is my granddaughter?” she said frantically. Grandma Pipin’ leaned against the freezer and heard small noises coming from inside the freezer. Grandma Pipin’ cautiously started to open the freezer door.

When the freezer was finally open, Grandma Pipin’ realized that the noise she heard was Patience.

“What in heavens are you doing in the freezer Patience?”

Grandma Pipin’ exclaimed.

Patience didn’t respond to her Grandma. Grandma Pipin’ looked a little closer at Patience and realized she was frozen!

Grandma Pipin’ immediately pulled Patience out of the freezer.

She tried everything to defrost her – she even started to blow her breath on her. She finally went to the closet to get blankets, and she wrapped up Patience.

As Patience started to defrost, she began to shake and gasp for air.

When she was finally defrosted, she looked around the room and asked, “What happened to me?”

Grandma Pipin’ replied, “ I was wondering the same thing. Why were you in the freezer Patience?”

When Grandma Pipin’ said freezer, everything started to come back to Patience. She remembered that she got in the freezer because she was trying to stay cool because it was so hot.

“I was trying to get away from the heat, Grandma.”

“Then why didn’t you stand in front of the fan?” Grandma Pipin’ asked.

“The fans were just blowing hot air around Grandma, so I wanted to get cool the fastest way I knew how,” Patience said.

“That doesn’t mean get in the freezer, Patience. Do you know how dangerous that was? I was worried about you.” She shook her head and said, “I wanted to take you to get ice cream, but I guess you have cooled down enough already.”

Patience cried, “Noooo! Grandma, I’m still really hot, and I really would like some ice cream!”

“Are you sure you need ice cream because you look pretty cool to me?” Grandma Pipin’ said, laughing.

“Yes, yes Grandma I need ice cream,” Patience continued to cry out.

“Alright,” said Grandma Pipin’. ‘I guess we can get ice cream.”

“Yaaaaaay!” Patience shouted as she ran out the door to the car. Grandma Pipin’ laughed as she followed.

Once Grandma Pipin’ and Patience arrived at the ice cream shop, they both ordered two scoops of ice cream.

As they both sat down at a table, Patience said, “Grandma, I’m sorry for getting in the freezer. I know it was dangerous. I was just trying to cool off, and the air conditioner was taking so long. I will never ever do it again.”

“I know Patience,” Grandma Pipin’ said. “I know you are sorry, and it’s okay. Sometimes waiting can be better than finding an easy way, sweetie.”

As Patience continued to eat her ice cream, she realized that even though today was a hot day, she learned a valuable lesson. All she had to do was be patient because there was a delicious ice cream cone waiting for her at the end of her Beary Hot Day.

THE END