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on 19-08-2002 20:01
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By Tavis Adibudeen
At the edge of the forest, there lived a colony of moths in the old Jamal Tree. They lived in peace with other insects and kept out of the way of hungry birds.
Little Moth live in the colony with his parents, but unlike the other moths, he did not like the Jamal Tree and did not like being a moth. One day Little Moth approached his mother and said, “Mama, I want to be a butterfly.”
His mother smiled at him thinking that he was joking and replied, “OK dear, you be a butterfly.”
“No, mama, I really want to be a butterfly.”
His mother’s tone changed, “Well, why would you want to be a butterfly of all creatures?”
Little Moth said, “They are so beautiful and they fly all over the place and land on beautiful flowers. They don’t stay around this old tree all day.”
“Little Moth, we are creatures of the night, we cannot go around dancing on flowers.”
“I know,” said Little Moth, “That is why I want to be a butterfly!”
Little Moth began to fly off, angry that his mother would not take his dream seriously. His mother yelled to him as he flew away, “Be careful, Little Moth, the Jamal Tree is what protects us. Do not fly too far.”
But Little Moth was already flying far away from the Jamal Tree and did not pay attention to his mother’s warnings. He landed on the ground near a berry bush and watched the flowers waiting for a butterfly to appear. For a long time, he only saw bees bouncing from flower to flower.
Finally, emerging from above, as if sent by the very rays of the Sun, the most beautiful butterfly landed on a yellow flower. The butterfly was mostly yellow with dots of orange and blue splattered on its wings as if the Divine Presence had painted it with the finest brush.
As Little Moth watched the butterfly from the cover of the berry bush, he decided that he had to speak with this butterfly. He cautiously flew out into the open and called to the butterfly. “Hey, butterfly, come here.”
The butterfly was really not interested in a little moth, but he was curious. So, he followed Little Moth over to the bush. Once they were under the bush, Little Moth realized just how big the butterfly was. Its wings towered over Little Moth and could have shaded him from view even without the bush’s cover. This was not any ordinary butterfly.
Little Moth examined the butterfly for several minutes. The butterfly frowned at the moth, “Well, come on now, child. What is it you want?”
“I want to be a butterfly!” Little Moth said boldly.
The butterfly chuckled but then noticed that Little Moth was not smiling. “Oh, you are serious then, are you?”
“Yes,” said Little Moth, “Can you help me?”
“I do not have such powers, but I know someone who does.”
“Tell me tell me!” said Little Moth impatiently.
“I must warn you, Little Moth, such power is very dangerous. At the very top of the Hakim Tree, there lives the oldest moth in the world, called the Grand Moth. Some say that he is over 400 years old. You must go to him and ask him for whatever you wish. He will grant it to you.”
“A moth has that kind of power?”
“Yes, now if there is nothing further, I will return to my lunch now.”
“Thank you, Butterfly.”
The butterfly darted off without replying. His large wings caused a gust of air to flow under the bush that dropped Little Moth to the ground. When Little Moth was finished dusting himself off, he set off to find the Hakim Tree.
This tree was not as large as the Jamal Tree, and there were no other insects flying around it at all. Little Moth used all his might flapping his wings flying straight up to the top of the tree. He would never have made it to the top of the Jamal Tree, but this tree was much shorter.
When he arrived, he expected a ceremonious entrance by the Grand Moth. Instead he only found two large branches and gigantic brown leaves shading a chair. Little Moth thought the Grand Moth would come and sit in the chair, but then a voice commanded, “Sit!”
Little Moth sat in the chair. Then the huge leaves began to rise up. Little Moth looked up and realized that the leaves were in fact the wings of the Grand Moth. Its wings were larger than any bird Little Moth had seen. This moth truly was grand.
“Why have you come, Little Moth?”
“I want to be a butterfly, oh Grand Moth.”
The Grand Moth did not ask why or waste anytime. He only said, “So it is requested, so it shall be. But you have been warned.”
The large wings closed in on Little Moth until he saw nothing but darkness. When the wings opened, a waft of air rose and lifted him away from the Hakim Tree. Little Moth fell to the ground below next to a puddle of water. He looked into the puddle of water and there he saw his beautiful golden wings. He had become a butterfly!
Little Moth was so excited. He flew off into the air dancing like an autumn leaf drifting in the wind. He flew everywhere in the forest. Finally, he wanted to fly to the flowers where he had seen the big butterfly. He flew higher than he’d ever flown before toward the flowers.
Suddenly, darkness came over him. He thought that a cloud might have covered the Sun, but before he could look, a raven swooped in and swallowed him whole.
For every gift there is a consequence. Be thankful for the gifts you have been given.
Last update : 19-08-2002 20:01
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