Once upon a time
a toad was at
the edge of a
pond looking for
insects to eat
when he saw a
colourful
butterfly flying
nearby. He
leaped over
there and hid
behind some
plants waiting
for the
butterfly to
land somewhere
so he could eat
it.
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And, quietly, he
stood there
waiting. But the
butterfly kept
always flying
around as if
enjoying looking
at the pond, the
plants around
its banks, and
the animals that
came to drink
water and cool
down.
Croak...
croak...
croak... The
toad was getting
restless. He did
not like
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 |
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to wait
long,
and
besides,
he was
very,
very
hungry!
So he
began to
think: |
- What can I do
to make this
delicious
butterfly land
on a flower so I
can eat it?
But the
colourful
butterfly kept
flying and
flying... and he
could not get
close enough to
her. If he
managed to get
near, she would
fly away again.
And in that
game, time
passed. The poor
toad was already
starving when
one of his
friends showed
up.
- Hello, my
friend Bel!
- Hello! - said
Bel the toad
despondently.
- What's going
on with you? You
seem weak and
discouraged!...
And the toad
told his friend
Crio:
- Ah! I'm really
hungry. Since
early this
morning I have
been trying to
catch a
beautiful
butterfly but I
can’t! Every
time I approach
her, she
escapes!
- Poor thing! -
Exclaimed Crio
the toad, full
of pity. - Would
you like me to
help you catch
the butterfly?
I'm fine, I have
just had lunch
and I feel
satisfied.
Bel thought
about if he
should trust his
friend but as he
had no other
option, he
accepted Crio’s
offer. So he
showed him the
butterfly, which
was still flying
and delighting
everyone on the
edge of the
pond. Crio
thought very
hard and then
suggested:
- Why don’t you
pretend you're
not hungry or
sleeping? Do
like me! When I
want to catch an
insect, I
pretend I'm not
interested. Got
it?
Bel nodded,
agreeing with
his friend:
- You're right.
If the butterfly
does not feel in
danger, she will
be calmer and
fly loosely in
the air. I will
do it. Thank
you, Crio! You
are a great
friend.
Crio thanked him
and walked away.
Bel found a very
visible place
and pretended he
was sleeping. He
closed his big
eyes, leaving a
small gap, and
stood still.
Soon after, Bel
saw that the
beautiful
butterfly
approached
flying calmly
over the
flowers. He did
not move,
waiting for her
to land
somewhere. Then
she landed on
some flowers.
Bel slowly began
to approach
while he kept
hidden in the
plants. Suddenly
he saw that Crio
jumped on the
poor butterfly,
trying to grab
her. Fast, he
threw himself on
Crio, preventing
him of eating
the butterfly.
Angry, Crio
croaked
irritably:
- Why didn’t you
let me catch
her? After all,
the smartest one
always wins! And
I am more clever
than you!...
- Oh, is that
so? Take your
eyes off of this
butterfly! I saw
her first and
she's mine.
Understood? Go
away! ... And
don’t come back
here. This is my
house!
Filled with
rage, Crio
walked away. But
the butterfly,
still full of
fear, had seen
Bel talking to
Crio and him
leaving. More
serene, she
approached Bel
and said with
her soft little
voice:
- I can’t thank
you enough! You
defended me from
that hideous
toad who wanted
to eat me. Thank
you, Bel. You're
a good toad and
I like you. I
want to be your
friend!
Bel stared at
the beautiful
butterfly, who
spoke to him
with such
affectionate
words, and lost
the will to
destroy those
colourful and
beautiful wings,
and those sweet
eyes that looked
at him fondly.
She walked over
and gave him a
kiss on the
forehead, which
made the poor
toad fall in
love!
- Would you like
to be my true
friend, Bel?
- Oh, yes,
butterfly! I
really like you,
believe me. I
have always
followed your
beautiful
flights by these
plants, admiring
you more and
more.
And Bel the toad
thought: She
likes me! How
could I think of
destroying her?
I really want to
be friends. To
satiate my
hunger, I have
other means...
And thus the
beautiful
butterfly and
Bel the toad
moved in close
to each other,
and became great
friends. When he
was hungry, she
asked:
- Why not eat
one of those
leaves? They are
so delicious!
And the
butterfly would
often bring him
leaves and roots
to eat. And he
fed so much on
leaves, flowers
and roots that
Bel the toad
became a
vegetarian!
Only love can
transform us
intimately into
better people.
MEIMEI
(Psychographed
by Celia X. de
Camargo on
29/02/2016.)
