Spiker the Jumping Spider Learns about Joy

The next day Spiker and Crispin saw a new silk spider web that was much bigger than what Spiker made. It was beautiful! It had little dewdrops on silk strings that sparkled in the sunlight. This web was attached to a crate on the ground next to their tree where they camped. Right in the middle of this web was a chubby light blue spider named Sully. Sully was not a jumping spider, but he could make an awesome web! “Hi Sully! We like your big, beautiful web,” Spiker called out. “Well, I wish it was bigger with even more dew drops on it! And I wish I could jump just like both of you can!” grumbled Sully. Crispin said, “Sully, don’t be sad. We can do something different so that you won’t need to jump.” “We’ll have fun!” said Spiker. “We already made a tent. Now let’s make a silk ladder, from our tent to the ground, for Sully to use! Maybe we can even make our tent bigger—like . . . like . . . like a treehouse! Then we’ll play ‘Let’s Go Camping’ in the treehouse!” And that’s just what they did. Sully did not grumble anymore, and all the friends were glad that they could have fun together. But the next day, when the three friends went back to Sully’s big, beautiful web, they saw Gerry the grasshopper crying nearby. “What’s the matter, Gerry?” asked Sully. “I bumped my knee!” said Gerry. “Don’t cry,” said Sully. “Crispin and I will wrap your knee with a piece of grass, then Spiker can put a little silk string around it. That will make your knee feel stronger. Then all of us will stay here with you until you feel better, OK?” “Oh yes,” said Gerry, wiping his eyes. So they spent the day together. They told stories and counted the dew drops on Sully’s web. They also talked about the new word, joy, and how they had joy every day. Spiker remembered lots of things he was glad about: the bird nest with feather towels nearby, ant snacks, finding his silk trail, playing games and camping with friends, and even helping Gerry all day. Suddenly Spiker knew the best way of all to have joy: Do something nice for somebody else!