The Giraffe With The Big Eyes

 

The Giraffe With The Big Eyes   

By Paul Mc Cann

Some say the earthquake started the panic that began the stampede . It was awesome .  A huge wave of wild beasts spanned the horizon and trampled everything in its path . The noise of terrified animals shrieking in fear shattered across the dry tundra covered in dust as the stampede moved towards a distant sun that tried to shine through an overcast sky .

A small giraffe who had lost it’s parents in the middle of the madness made its way to a mountain path . Engulfed by fear she clambered up the rocky road until she came to a fertile patch on the mountainside . Covered I bracken and long grass the giraffe began to munch away at this new supply of fodder and it was then as she ate she discovered a large cave that had been hidden by the overgrowth .

Feeling sad and alone the little giraffe entered the large cave and was able to gather her thoughts after the stampede .

 

Once inside the caves presence the giraffe heard this soft dripping sound up ahead and decided to see what it was .

A shaft of light shone down from somewhere up above and the mountain

cave was glistening with natural wonder . There were frozen water crystals that hung from the roof . They looked like long icy fingers that pointed to a lake that lay as still as a mirror .

The giraffe soon discovered a terrible secret .

She saw a reflection of herself and was horrified by her huge eyes that stuck out of her head .

“Why didn’t anyone tell me I was a freak ?“ She thought . 

“I can never go out looking like this .“

She said and so the giraffe remained in the cave .  She refused to leave and ended up staying there for a long time .

Each day she looked out of the caves entrance and watched the birds fly through the sky . She often wished she could be like them . 

She came to terms with the loss of her and even got rid of the hard done by stigma . She was able to eat well enough and sleep well enough . In fact she could have lived there for the rest of her life but there was something missing .in her life . The thing she needed was some company .

Day by day she wrestled thoughts around her head . Eventually the giraffe had come to a decision .and she realised that she had to leave the cave . At first she thought of how unfair it was to have these very big eyes and then she got angry and she started to think about what people in the world might say .

The giraffe had grown a lot since first coming to the cave and was strong and healthy . She was able to sum up courage in her outlook at returning to the world . It her attempt to face this challenge she said aloud ,

“ If anyone even looks at my eyes with scorn I’ll trample them to death.“ 

Then she said ,“ I am afraid of nobody . They better stay out of my way ! “

The giraffe had a lot of pent up anger to unload .

“As soon as they see me they will laugh . But if they do I’ll kick them and bite them and slam them to the ground and then they’ll be sorry .“

After unlocking some her deep emotions the hurt began to leave and then she grasped the reality of life as it was . It was going to be difficult but she knew that the world would just have to accept her as she was . With her huge big poppy out eyes . 

That is the way she came into the world and there was nothing she could do to change that .

 

She left the cave and made her way down the mountain where she came to a road that stretched out for miles .

Along the road she met a friendly man who spoke to her .

“Hello there my fine friend . What kind of beast might you be ?

 

“I am a giraffe “

“Of course you are . My name is John and tell me have you a name ?“

“Yes John . You may call me Poppy .“

Came the reply .

“Poppy tell me where are going ?”

“No place in particular . Just out into the world . I want to see what it is like .“

“That’s sounds very interesting .“

Said John .

“Don’t you notice anything different about me John .“

 

“I don’t know what do you mean . You see I am blind and have never seen the wonders this world has to offer . Tell me is it pretty ? “

 

The giraffe steeped back and said ,

“Well John I never understood . I am sorry .”

 

“Tell me giraffe . They say the sky is blue and the sun is gold . But, I who have never seen colour, cannot imagine what it is like . Can you explain to me how the world is ?”

 

The giraffe closed her eyes and thought deeply and said ,

“The world is happy and sad . Hard and soft . Big and small . Everything in the world only one colour . The colour of life . So look inside your heart and you find that world John . It’s a brave world with all of these things . I must go now goodbye John .“

“Thank you my friend . Goodbye “

A little further down the road the giraffe came to a school . There were children playing outside and so the giraffe decided to say hello .

She walked over to the fence and stretched her long neck over to eat some of the young grass on the ground . All the school children immediately ran over and said hello .

The giraffe seemed puzzled and said .

“ Hello there . Aren’t you frightened of me ?”

 

All the children looked up and said ,

 

“No . Why should we be frightened ?“

Came the reply .

“Can’t you see my big poppy out eyes ?.“

The giraffe replied .

“No .“

Was the answer .

”Come on . Look at them they’re huge .“

Said the giraffe .

“They’re just normal looking eyes .“

The school children said .

The giraffe seemed shocked and said ,

“But I seen them in the reflection .“

“What where you looking into ?“

One of the older children asked .

 

The giraffe replied ,

“A crystal that hung from the roof of a cave .“

“You silly giraffe don’t you know about how light reflections in a crystal reflect a larger image than normal .“

“What ?“ Came the answer .

“You’re eyes are normal .“ Came the reply .

“I don’t know what to say . How can I ever thank you ?“ Said the giraffe .

 

“Well you could bring some of your friends and put on a circus for the village .

 They are going to shut our school unless we can get some of the urgent repairs done . The money that we could raise from the circus might just save our school .“

Said one of the children .

“Right then just leave it to me !“.

Said the giraffe who ran off to round up some of her friends .

When the giraffe told the story about the cave and the school to the lions they all agreed to do a taming show with all the tricks . The Zebras also promised to perform with monkeys on their back and elephants joined the parade .

The giraffe found John the blind man who wanted to help and was offered the job as ringmaster .

In the first performance the circus had made enough money to carry out all the repairs needed and with a lot of help from the village people the circus was a huge success . The school was rebuilt and renamed after the Giraffe .

Poppy Public School .

The giraffe returned to the fold and was running with her head held high .

 

THE END

 

 

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