MY JOURNEY

It’s time now. Either I do it now or I am done for. Madame B. told me if I am not prompt, there will be no other chance for me. I might get squashed or be put in a bottle. Nobody will feed me. Big eyes will stare thru green glass. When I can no longer crawl, I’ll be alone.’ Can you hear me Mother? Goodbye, I’m going now. You be careful too. I will look for you wherever I go.’ Crawling is slow. My long body aches. My fuzzy hairs are falling out. Ouch! ‘Mother, you didn’t tell me about the terrible headache I have. Are the black things on my head going to stop hurting soon? Oh, Madame B., why did you leave me?’ There is so much to be done and I’m not sure I will survive. Please come back.’

Shouldn’t there be a silk rug or something soft to make my journey easier? Every inch I move cuts into the green that is leaking out of me. The wind is getting stronger. When I do is hear my mother’s echo. ‘Curl up, son. Make yourself into a circle and hold on.’ This I did once just to practice and it worked.

The road trembles as the wind grows stronger. Help! Help! I’m falling. This is good. I land in heaven. Green food surrounds me. I’ll never be hungry again. When I am full, I stop and look around. There are thousands of me, other thousands just like Mother said I will be. The changes are coming faster and faster. The yellow and green that I was is turning into bright orange and black. I am pretty. No, I am more than that. I am beautiful! I am a Monarch, King of all butterflies.

The days to find my mother are short. Below me the green food is quickly turning orange. Life is fleeting. My wings weaken and I am helplessly pulled to earth to lie in Rhodes orange cemetery.

With great effort I flutter them one more time as I pretend the orange wings next to me are Madame B.-- and I die.