Superstar Caterpillar

By Prasanth Pazhayidam

TWO caterpillars wanted to become beautiful butterflies with colourful wings.
So they quickly started eating the leaves of a mulberry plant.
They ate and ate, and at last only one leaf was left.

Then they started a competition.
“Whoever eats this first is the hero!”

When only a little of the leaf was left, they began to fight.
“I am the hero!”
“No, I am!”

The mulberry plant listened quietly.
Feeling hurt, it bent its head and said:

“My friends, think for a moment.
You may be heroes in your own story,
but in my story, you are the bad ones.

"Every living being is the hero of its own story
and a part of someone else’s story too.
Life is very short.
Why should we fight and compete?”

Hearing this, the caterpillars became calm.

They said:

“Dear friend,
thank you for teaching us this lesson at the end.

"You protected us from the rain,
hid us from enemies,
gave us food,
and finally taught us a lesson.

"You would not hurt even an ant.
You are the real hero.”