NEW! A Skateboarding Adventure, Part 2

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Okay, reader, are you ready to use your imagination and fly into a brand new story with me? Great! It's time for a Reading Bug Adventure! Hi reader, we're back with part 2 of our all new Skateboard Adventure. I'm so glad you're back.

If you haven't listened to part 1 yet, go back and give it a listen. Now, before we ollie back into our adventure, I have some exciting news. news. The Reading Bug has just launched a brand new mobile app. Download it at thereadingbug.app or on the Android or Apple app stores for free access to all our original podcasts and music,

links to our favorite books, badges to track your progress, and more. Oh, and if you are a Reading Bug Box subscriber, you'll get access to all of the app's premium features. Okay, reader, are you ready to roll back into our skateboarding adventure? Great! It's time for a Reading Bug adventure.

Welcome back, Reader. I'm so glad you could join us for part two of our skateboard adventure. In part one, we traveled in the Reading Bugs Magic Book Bag to Venice Beach in Southern California, where skateboarding was invented about 70 years ago. We met a new friend, Livy, who told us about her older brother, Jason, who had been teaching her how to skateboard

in the backyard. Jason went with Livy to the Venice Beach skate park today so that she could meet and skate with other members of the skateboarding community. But as As they were skating down the boardwalk to the skate park, someone ran into Livy and caused her to fall off her board.

Then as she was getting up, someone called her Livy Loser, and then she realized that Aiden, one of the boys from her school, had knocked her off her skateboard. He's a bully, and his heckling combined with the loss of her lucky necklace caused Livy to lose confidence in her skateboarding skills, and she decided not to skateboard

today. But another new friend, Skye, overheard part of our conversation and asked if she could ride with us to the skateboard park. Lauren told Livy that sometimes she gets nervous about

skateboarding too. Then Lauren sang a song that helps her get back on her board after she takes a fall. Sky also shared that she took a bad fall several years ago,

but that she found the confidence to get back on her skateboard as soon as her injuries had healed. Within months, she was winning competitions again. We asked Livy to reconsider coming with us to the

skate park, and then we took a break so that we could rest, and Livy would have time to decide. Now that we've rested, we're ready to head to the skate park. Livy, have you decided if you'll join us?

We sure hope you do. Well, you've been resting. I remember that Jason always tells me that when you're afraid, the hardest part is showing up.

Once you show up, you can take one step at a time to see if you want to do it. The important thing is to show up. So I've decided to follow his advice and show up.

I'm going to take the first steps and skate to the skate park with you. When we get there, I'll decide whether I want to skateboard. That's great news, Livy.

Let's take the bicycle path that runs between the ocean and the boardwalk. The bike path will take us by some other cool parts of the parts, can I'll point out to you.

If everyone's ready, let's get started. Reader and I are right behind you, Skye. Follow me. Wait for me.

Here I come. Oh no, my board slipped out from under me. Hey, kid. If you can't stand on top of your board,

you shouldn't be skating on the bike path. If I hadn't been able to stop in time to avoid hitting your board, I could have crashed my bike. I'm really sorry I lost my balance

and the board shot out from under me. Why don't you go home and skateboard there where you can't hurt anyone? Venice Beach is a busy place.

It's not for people who don't know what they're doing. Don't let that guy get you down, Livy. Remember, when we fall, we haven't failed. If we keep trying, we'll prevail.

Yeah, falling is just part of flying close to the ground. And that's a fact. I'm not so sure about that. I can't even step onto my skateboard today

without almost causing an accident. Don't worry, Ruby. Everyone started out as a beginner, even though some people forget what it was like

when they were just learning how to skateboard. Then we only make mistakes now and then. Actually, that cyclist was going too fast for this bike path. And he was also tailgating.

Tailgating? Tailgating means the cyclist was riding too closely behind you. Exactly. Tailgating is super dangerous on a board, bike, or even in a car.

And that's a fact. That's right. Everyone needs to skate and cycle cautiously when they're on a crowded bike path like this one.

If you ride too close to another skater or cyclist, you're just asking for an accident. All you need is a stumble and both people are down. Maybe.

Why don't you and I step on the board same time and skate together side by side. Lauren, reader, let's stay close together so I can point out the sights. If you look to the right now you can see the paddle tennis court. You can play pop tennis or pickleball, compete in a pop tennis tournament,

or watch some of the best pop tennis players in McCountry playing right here at Venice Beach. What's pop tennis? Think of it as a cross between ping-pong and tennis.