“Happy Zushmore Four Day!” Liza called out as she rushed to meet Kevin and Renee after school. She and Zed had been waiting for them because they were so excited to tell their friends about this special day. “Happy Zushmore Four Day to you too!” Renee said. “What’s Zushmore Four Day?” “It’s an extra special Zee Zees holiday to celebrate our founding Zee Zees!” Zed explained. “So the Zushmore Four are Zee Zees?” Kevin asked. “They’re VIZs!” Liza exclaimed, “Very Important Zee Zees!” She was so excited to share this special holiday with her human friends that she could hardly wait for them to get on the bus before she started the whole story. A long time ago, back home on Planet Z, the Zee Zees were all separated by their different flavors. The strawberry Zee Zees only played with strawberry Zee Zees, the cinnamon Zee Zees never left their cinnamon trees, and no one ever thought to see what would happen if the flavors got together. But, there were four great Zee Zee thinkers: Geoze, Zomaz, Tezore, and Zambrah. And they had a big idea: what if the Zee Zees got together and shared their flavors and skills? By introducing great combinations, like strawberry-banana applesauce, to all the Zee Zees flavor tribes, they were able to convince all the Zee Zees to share. They brought the Zee Zee groups together at the Zacropolis on top of Mt. Zushmore, and it became Planet Z’s capital. With all the Zee Zees working together instead of all living separately they were able to make wonderful new things they never could have made apart. Food became more delicious and snackable, friendships grew and blossomed, and technology soared. Before long, Zee Zees were soaring too, in the new space ships they’d invented by working together. Eventually Geoze, Zomaz, Tezore, and Zambrah grew old and had to pass leading to the next generation of Zee Zees. So, to honor them and their contributions to all Zee Zeekind, their faces were carved into the face of Mount Zushmore in commemoration. Now, they are known as the Zushmore Four. Today, when Zee Zees spread out to meet new friends in nearby galaxies, they remember to share all they’ve learned, and they all still celebrate Zushmore Four Day in honor of the four special Zee Zees who taught all Zee Zees the valuable lesson that we are stronger together than we are apart. “You carved their faces into a mountain?” puzzled Kevin. “That’s funny ‘cause it sounds a lot like Mount Rushmore!” “Really?” Liza asked excitedly—she loved to learn about Earth history. “I’d love to hear about your Mount Rushmore.” Kevin and Renee explained that Mount Rushmore was a national monument to 4 important American leaders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The four presidents’ faces were carved into a mountain in South Dakota to remind people of how four special men had helped found, build, overcome, and hold together the United States. “George Washington was our first president, he was a great general who lead us to independence,” Kevin explained. “Thomas Jefferson was our third president and one of our founding fathers. He wrote the Declaration of Independence that helps define our values to this day,” Renee added. “Theodore Roosevelt was our 26th president and he helped America grow and expand into the 20th century. He won a Nobel Peace Prize and started a great tradition of preserving land for National Parks,” Kevin continued. “Don’t forget Lincoln!” Renee nudged. “I was going in order, Renee!” Kevin teased. “Abraham Lincoln was our 16th president. He held the United States together during the Civil War and taught us that even when we disagree, we are all part of one great country who still believe in the values Jefferson wrote about.” Liza, Kevin, Renee, and Zed decided that road trip out to Mt Rushmore was in order. They wanted to see Mount Rushmore in person, and it sounded like a great way to celebrate the Zushmore Four by enjoying sharing different cultures. So, they piled in the Applesaucer and took off to see a big piece of histor-zee—together.
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