Once upon a time in a small town, two best friends, Billy and Jim, faced a challenge that tested their friendship. Both were chosen to participate in the town's annual race. As the race approached, they practiced together, cheered each other on, and their bond grew even stronger. On the day of the race, Billy tripped and fell. Jim had two choices - to continue running and possibly win or help Billy and lose his chance at victory. Without a second thought, Jim helped his friend, and together they crossed the finish line hand-in-hand. After the race, Billy thanked Jim for his help. Jim smiled and said, "Winning the race is less important than our friendship." Now, let's look at this story again. Did you notice a pattern or a central message? That's what we call a 'theme.' The theme of our story is 'friendship.' All the events - the race, the fall, the decision to help - revolve around this theme and highlight the value of friendship over competition. Theme binds together the different parts of the story and gives it a deeper meaning. Understanding the theme can help us appreciate the story and its message more profoundly.