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Series I Book 9: “Moose And The New Friend” Author’s Discussion

by Ray Perseghin, Sara K Enterprises, ©All Rights Reserved

It is said that ”… two is company and three is a crowd.” This story highlights a social problem for groups of all ages, throughout our lives. Try to imagine what happens in a small group of friends, when one person introduces an outsider, or more seriously, shuns the group for the company of an ‘outsider’. Add to that drama, the fact that the individual leaving their own group is unaware that the group is now jealous and irate, without any knowledge of the facts surrounding the situation. This may all sound like a daily routine for fans of Facebook, but the skills needed to resolve the situation and return the group dynamic to equilibrium are sometimes learned through very hard life lessons. Placing all of this into the context of our small animal friend’s group provides the story line presented.

The ultimate goal here is to try and show that one must gather all the facts surrounding a situation before making a judgment. Indeed, things are not always what they seem. In our story, it is only the Snowman who could foresee the embarrassment the group would suffer once they knew the facts. In the end, Moose and Otter, who had only good intentions, would never know that the group had plotted to shower moose with their ire. As Moose explains his meeting with the otter, the group keeps quietly to themselves, hiding their original intentions.

The What-Ifs in this scenario makes for an interesting discussion of a group dynamic. As a follow-up exercise, we will be using a game called “Getting The Story.” In various forms, this is used by many professionals when teaching investigative techniques. It is a fun way to demonstrate how much a story can change when passed from one person to another.

Above all…Have Fun!

Sarah K Enterprises

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS TO GENERATE DISCUSSION

1. Why were all of the friends together today?
2. Why were the friends upset?
3. Where was Moose, while the friends were together?
4. Who was Moose’s new friend?
5. Why could the new friend go where the group normally met?
6. Do you think that the friends were fair when they were talking about Moose?
7. Do you think that the group of friends liked the Otter in the beginning?
8. How did the friends feel when they found out that the Otter just wanted to be friendly?
9. What do you think happened with the group after the story ended?
10. How do you adjust when a new person joins your group of friends?