Outside of ancient Syracuse on the island of Sicily, there lived a cruel ruler named Dionysius. He trusted no one. Nearby lived two best friends, Damon and Pythias. One day Pythias spoke out against Dionysius, who quickly ordered his execution, to take place in one month. Pythias wanted to return to his elderly parents to say goodbye and arrange for their care. Dionysius laughed, not trusting that Pythias would return. Damon stood up and offered to take Pythias' place until he returned. The ruler agreed only after stipulating that if Pythias did not come back, Damon would die instead. When the execution day arrived, Pythias had not returned, but Damon still believed that his friend would be there if he could. Just in time, Pythias ran in, offering up his own life for his friend's.

Best friends, Damon and Pythias, prove the strength of friendship to the tyrant Dionysius.

When Raven leaves for vacation, Luca finds himself on his own again. As the new kid at Lincoln Elementary, he’s tired of getting told what to do by everyone around him. So despite his best friend’s warnings, Luca visits the Wish Library and asks to be the one in charge. But even rule makers need to compromise sometimes.

Practical Friendship brings insights together from ancient and contemporary philosophy, theology, psychology and sociology to identify what good friendship means and how we can live it. Based on the analysis it proposes we adopt a role based view of friendship, that also can be used to analyse loneliness. Based on research and anecdotal evidence the book compiles a range of recommendations on how to maintain our friendships in good repair and how to foster friendship in old age. The book addresses an audience of professionals working to fight loneliness in our society as well as lay people wanting to reflect on how to improve the friendships in their lives. Additional sections are addressed at researchers in sociology and psychology who want to expand their understanding of friendship in order to tune their research to generate insight for loneliness-support.

Theatre. Mr. Cooper's 3d night. On Thursday Evening, August 14, will be produced (for the first time) a celebrated and new historical tragedy, in 5 acts, called "Damon and Pythias, or, The Test of Friendship." Performed in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, &c. with the most distinguished success. With new dresses and decorations. ... After which a Scotch dance by Miss H. Hathwell. To conclude with the comic interlude of "Is He Jealous, or, A Peep Into the Boudoir" ... Mr. Cooper's fourth night, and the last of his Engagement, on Saturday Evening.