Max was in first place in the big surfing race. He was excited and wanted to win, but he had to be careful not to fall off his surfboard like he did in the past. Dennis, another surfer, was close behind, trying to catch up. “Surf’s up! I’m coming for that number one spot,” Dennis shouted.
Max was determined. “Not today, Dennis. Nothing’s gonna slow me down,” he thought. But then, his friend Sharkdog appeared. Sharkdog was a fun-loving creature who loved to play, but he wasn’t supposed to be in the race.
Sharkdog zoomed around, having fun, but he accidentally caused Max to lose his balance. “Whoa!” Max exclaimed as he tried to stay on his board. “Sharkdog, no. You can’t be here,” he said, worried about the race.
Meanwhile, Arthur, another racer, was at the back of the group. He was smiling, even though he was in last place. “I’m in last place, and it’s all your fault,” he said to Sharkdog. “I’m never gonna win that mollusk medal now.”
Sharkdog felt bad. “Sharkdog’s sorry. Sharkdog just wants to have fun with Max,” he said. Max realized he wasn’t being nice. “My mistake,” he admitted.
As the race continued, Max tried to catch up. Dennis was in the lead, but Max was determined. “Look at this. Max is making up ground,” the announcer said. Max was doing his best, even with seaweed on his face!
Max was now in second place, and the race was fast and exciting. “Hey. Watch it, Dennis,” Max called out. Dennis was confident. “Watch what? Me winning for a fourth year in a row? You’ll never catch me, Fisher,” he replied.
But Sharkdog wanted to help. “Sharkdog help Max win. Sharkdog make Max happy,” he said. Suddenly, Sharkdog was in the way, and Max had to be careful. “Sharkdog, are you all right? What were you thinking?” Max asked.
In the end, Dennis won the race. Max felt sad, but he realized something important. “No, I’m sorry. I got so caught up with winning, I forgot what was really important. Having fun with my best friend in the whole world,” Max said to Sharkdog.
Then, they found something amazing—a silverback oyster! “These are super rare,” Max said. They realized they had their very own special prize. “As long as we’ve got each other, we’ll always be champions,” Max said happily.
Max and Sharkdog decided to play fetch. “Now let’s go have fun,” Max said. “You got it, buddy!” Sharkdog wagged his tail, ready for more adventures with his best friend.
Friendship Role Play: Pair up with a classmate and take turns acting out a scene where one of you is Max and the other is Sharkdog. Think about how Max and Sharkdog felt during the race and how they solved their problem. After your role play, discuss with your partner how you can be a good friend like Max and Sharkdog. What are some ways you can help a friend who is feeling sad or left out?
Surfboard Balance Challenge: Create a pretend surfboard using a piece of cardboard or a towel. Practice balancing on it like Max did in the race. Can you balance while holding a small object, like a toy or a book, to make it more challenging? Talk about why balance is important in surfing and how Max had to stay balanced even when Sharkdog surprised him.
Nature Treasure Hunt: Just like Max and Sharkdog found a silverback oyster, go on a mini treasure hunt in your backyard or a local park. Look for interesting rocks, leaves, or flowers. Share your discoveries with your classmates and talk about why they are special to you. How does finding these treasures make you feel, and how is it similar to Max and Sharkdog’s discovery?
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Max is back in first place. But can he ride the wave to victory? Or will he wipe out like in years past? I’m not sure, but here’s Dennis. Surf’s up! I’m coming for that number one spot.
Not today, Dennis. Nothing’s gonna slow me down.
Max, Max, Max.
Huh?
Max goes fast. Sharkdog goes fast too.
Sharkdog, no. You can’t be here.
Whoa!
Huh?
Whoa!
Ah!
Wee!
Whoa!
Again, again, again.
My board.
And there’s Arthur, bringing up the rear. Just look at that smile, folks.
Reminds me of when I got straight C’s on my report card. Never been more proud.
Huh?
I’m in last place, and it’s all your fault. I’m never gonna win that mollusk medal now.
Sharkdog’s sorry. Sharkdog just wants to have fun with Max.
Well, I don’t. I want to win, and you’re messing it up. Please, Sharkdog, just leave me alone.
Max, that’s not nice to Sharkdog.
My mistake.
Arthur’s not the only straggler.
Max is back.
Huh?
But sadly, it looks like another last-place finish for Fisher.
Huh?
Sharkdog made Max last. Sharkdog help Max win… Max happy.
Now in our final leg, Dennis is in the lead by five whale lengths.
That’s not a unit of measurement.
It is today.
Look at this. Max is making up ground.
Oh!
What can you say? The kid has heart. And a face-full of seaweed.
Hang in there, Max. Sharkdog help.
Whoa. Guess those extra push-ups really paid off.
Yeah!
Wow, Max has made a miraculous recovery and is now in second place.
Look at them go. It’s fast and exciting out there.
Hey. Watch it, Dennis.
Watch what? Me winning for a fourth year in a row? You’ll never catch me, Fisher.
Max win medal. Max be happy.
What now? Out of the way!
Sharkdog?
No!
Huh?
See ya!
Sharkdog.
Don’t worry, bud. I’m here.
Sharkdog, are you all right? What were you thinking?
Sharkdog help Max win. Sharkdog make Max happy.
Is Sharkdog okay?
Yeah, he will be. Thanks, Annabelle. I got this.
And Dennis wins.
Looks like he’s the Island’s Big Kahuna once more.
Max no win. Sharkdog sorry.
No, I’m sorry. I got so caught up with winning, I forgot what was really important. Having fun with my best friend in the whole world.
Huh? No way!
Ooh. It’s a silverback oyster.
These are super rare.
Huh?
Looks like we got our very own mollusk medals after all. As long as we’ve got each other, we’ll always be champions.
Now let’s go have fun.
Sharkdog and Max play fetch.
You got it, buddy!
—
This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a family-friendly tone.
