Ryers Readers - Ricky, The Rock That Couldn’t Roll

Episode Date: July 5, 2024

“When you’re surrounded by love, you always have hope!”

Let's do this! Thank you so much for tuning into today's story. Don't forget to rate and follow, so you never miss out on all the Reyers, readers, fun. Before we get into the story, do you want to know a fun fact? Did you know there are three main types of meteorites? Stony, iron, and stony iron. Stony meteorites are made mostly of rock. Iron meteorites are made mostly of metal. And stony iron meteorites, well, can you guess? Yep, they have both rock and metal. Pretty cool, huh?

Okay, story time. Today, we are going to read, Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll by Mr. Jay. Lake and out past the bay was a green grassy hill where the rocks came to play. They would race to the top to take in the view, then roll their way down, the way rocks loved to do. There was Kip and Pip and Chester and Marvin the Boulder. Ignatius played too, though he was much older. And a group called the Pebbles never ever sat still, zigzagging their way up and over the hill.

Kai was a meteorite and not from this planet, and Maya was lava but taken for granted. Stu was the smart one, Parker the clown, and grumpy old Ebert rolled round with a frown. Gabby was sassy, Lacey had flair, Emma was giggly, and HUD had black hair. But the one trait that seemed to be shared by them all was that every rock there was shaped like a ball, And because they were round, they could easily roll. Through the grass, past the lake, up and over the knoll. Except for poor Ricky, who quietly sat. You see, Ricky couldn't roll, because one side was flat.

His friends didn't get it. Come roll, they would chant. So Ricky tried, but replied, I'm sorry, I can't. But the rocks were determined. They were sure they can solve Ricky's flat-sided problem and help him revolve. So Marvin the Boulder, with his impressive physique, carried Rick all the way to the hill's grassy peak.

Then he pushed him downhill, yelling, Keep rolling, kid! But Rick didn't roll. He just kind of slid. Well, the rocks weren't done. Not by a mile. surely this next try would get Rick to smile. They stuck rubber balls all over Rick,

using big gobs of glue to get them to stick. They were proud of themselves. This will work, they announced, but Ricky still couldn't roll. Now he just sort of bounced. Well, they pushed and they pulled, trying every which way to get Rick to roll, but by the end of the day,

nothing had worked, just like Rick expected, and he ended up feeling depressed and dejected. It's no use, Ricky sighed. There just isn't a way, so I'll sit off to the side and watch you all play. But his friends wouldn't quit. We're here for you, brother, and we'll get you to roll one way or another. So they pondered and thought, each straining his brain, till they looked up and saw it was starting to rain. And that's when it hit, that smart stone named Stu. Eureka! he shouted, I know just what to do. He explained to them how they would get Rick to tumble. My plan is pure genius.

Stu wasn't too humble. So they carried our hero down the road about a mile to the lake where they gathered up mud they could pile, on the flat side of Rick, creating a mound that they shaped smoothed and sculpted until it was round. Then after the rain, with the sun in the sky, they left him to bake till the mud was all dry. They gathered up vines and one colorful feather that they wrapped all round Rick to keep it together. When the last knot was tied and the work was all done, the only step left was for Rick to have fun. They stood back and watched, feeling nervous and tense, as Rick breathed in deep with increasing suspense. He moved slowly at first, testing out his new mold, and then, for the first time, Ricky the Rock rolled!

O'Briya the ladybug, who'd been there from the start, felt a surge of pure joy swell up in her heart. She thought, as she watched her friends play on the hill, that there's always a way if there's also a will. And she said to herself, as Ricky rolled down the slope, when you're surrounded by love, you always have hope. The end. Don't forget to stick around to see if you can answer today's paying attention question. Before you go, do you think you can answer today's paying attention question? I couldn't Ricky roll in the beginning of the story. If your answer was, he was flat on one side?

You did it! Great job! You sure were paying attention. I hope you enjoyed that story. I wonder what we're going to read next.