Gus loved his blue ball.

It wasn’t a normal ball.

Even though it looked just like a regular ball you would play with on a playground, Gus knew it was extra special.

He loved it more than anything in the world.

It was round and shiny and the most beautiful shade of blue Gus had ever seen. When the sunlight touched it just right, it looked like a tiny piece of the sky.

Every morning, Gus woke up and checked on his ball.

Still there.

He would pick it up, hug it against his chest, and smile.

Then he would carry it everywhere.

He carried it to the river.

He carried it beneath the trees.

He carried it to his favorite shady spot, where he and his blue ball would spend hours together.

Gus never got bored of his ball.

He never threw it.

He never kicked it.

He didn’t ever bounce it.

He simply loved it.

One afternoon, a new little monkey named Miles came bouncing over.

“Can I play with your ball?!? It is the best ball ever! We could play catch, and dodge ball and kickball! It would be soooooo much fun!”

Gus hugged his ball tighter.

“No.”

“Just one throw?”

“No.”

“I’ll be careful!”

“I said No!”

Mile’s smile disappeared.

“Oh….”

He slowly walked away.

Gus watched him go.

How could that guy actually think he it was ok to play those kinds of games with my ball? Gus thought.

For just a moment, Gus felt a tiny bit of guilt, maybe he shouldn’t have yelled at Miles.

But then he looked at his ball.

He hugged it closely.

“It’s safer with me,” he told himself.

And he believed it was. He knew it was.

Until one afternoon.

Gus was sitting beneath his favorite tree with his ball beside him.

He was simply relaxing, enjoying the warm sunshine and the gentle breeze.

The branches rustled overhead.

This is the most beautiful day, thought Gus.

Then he reached for his ball.

It wasn’t there.

Gus looked to his left.

Nothing.

He looked to his right.

Nothing.

Then he saw it.

His blue ball was rolling away!

And it was rolling straight toward the stream that feeds into the river!

“No!”

Gus jumped up and ran after it.

His heart pounded.

What if I CAN’T catch it!?!?

What if it goes into the water?

What if I never see my ball again?

The ball rolled faster.

Gus ran faster.

But he couldn’t catch it.

Then - SPLASH!

The ball rolled right into the stream.

Gus stopped.

His whole body froze.

The Stream

Gus was terrified of the stream.

He couldn’t swim.

He had been afraid of water for as long as he could remember.

He stood at the edge, staring at his beloved blue ball floating farther and farther away.

He was heartbroken.

“My ball…….”

He wanted to keep chasing after it.

He wanted to reache into the water.

But his feet wouldn’t move.

He was too scared.

“I can’t….”

Suddenly, Gus heard footsteps behind him.

It was Miles.

Miles had seen everything.

He looked at Gus.

Then he looked at the ball drifting down the stream.

“I’ll get it!”

Before Gus could say anything, Miles jumped into the water.

“MILES!”

Miles grabbed the ball.

He held it tightly above his head as he made his way back to the shore.

Then he walked over to Gus and held it out.

Here.

Gus stared at his ball.

Then he stared at Miles.

Tears filled his eyes.

He reacher out and took the ball.

He hugged it against his chest.

For a moment, Gus couldn’t say a word.

He was so relieved.

His ball was safe.

It was back.

He thought he would never see it again.

But another feeling was growing inside him too.

Guilt.

Why was I so mean to Miles?

Miles had been so nice to him.

He had seen Gus scared.

He had seen how much the ball meant to him.

And he had gone into the stream to get it.

Even though it was scary.

Gus looked at Miles.

“I…”

But the words wouldn’t come.

Miles smiled.

“I’m so glad I could get it back for you! I know how much you love this ball!”

Miles turned to walk away.

“Wait!”

Miles stopped.

Gus took a deep breath.

He looked down at his ball.

Then he looked at Miles.

Do you…”

Gus swallowed.

“Do you want to play catch with me?”

Mile’s face lit up.

“I would LOVE that!”

Gus smiled.

Miles smiled.

And Gus tossed him the ball.

For the first time, Gus watched his blue ball fly through the air.

And he didn’t feel afraid.

He felt happy.

Really, really happy.

Miles taught Gus how to play catch.

Then dodgeball.

Then kickball.

Then all sorts of games Gus had never even imagined.

Gus never know one little ball could be so much fun.

And every day after that, Gus and Miles played together.

Soon, other young gorillas joined them.

Gus’s ball wasn’t just something he loved anymore.

It was something that brought everyone together.

And Miles needed Gus just as much as Gus needed Miles.

Before they became friends, Miles had been having trouble finding someone to play with.

Gus had been having trouble trusting anyone enough to let them get close.

But somehow, they found each other.

And after that, Gus and Miles were inseparable.

They had each found something they had been looking for all along.

A best friend.

Gus still loved his blue ball more than anything.

But now he understood something he hadn’t understood before.

Sometimes, the things we love become even more special when we share them with someone we love.

And sometimes, the best way to protect sometime you love is to share it with someone you trust.