The Friends Of Mr Caterpillar

“I wonder what’s wrong with Caterpillar”, said Mr Earthworm, one day to his friends, who lived at the bottom of a flowery garden, “He’s taken to lying in bed all day. I do hope he’s not ill”.

“Perhaps he’s just feeling a little sluggish”, said the slug, yawning, “I often feel a little sluggish myself, now and then”.

“No, no”, said Mr Earthworm, “I don’t think that’s it”.

“Well, maybe he’s feeling cold”, said Miss Spider, looking down from her web, “I could knit him a jumper or give him a hug. That might warm him up”.

“Err…no”, said Mr Earthworm horrified, “Your jumpers are very hard to get out of. Very sticky, if you know what I mean and, besides, I don’t think he’s cold”.

“I could sing him a song”, said the Cricket, “That might cheer him up if he’s feeling sad”.

“Oh, well, that’s a nice thought, Cricket”, said the Earthworm, “But I don’t think that’s it either. He seemed happy enough when I last spoke to him”.

“Honey’s what he needs”, buzzed Mrs Bee, “A spoonful of sweet honey will fix him right up”.

“Perhaps”, said Earthworm, doubtfully, “Though I must say that I prefer soil myself”.

“Well, whatever’s wrong with him”, said the Cricket, chirpily, “Maybe we should go and see him. It might make him feel better”.

All of the garden friends thought this was an excellent idea and so, off they went to see Mr Caterpillar.

However, when they got to Mr Caterpillars house, he wasn’t in bed anymore and they couldn’t find him anywhere.

But then, suddenly, Miss Spider noticed a brightly coloured object in the corner of one of her eyes
and then, pointing one of her little matchstick arms towards the sky, shouted, “Look! Look up there!”.

Looking up, they all saw their friend caterpillar but now he had an enormous pair of brightly coloured, flapping butterfly wings.

“Hello everyone”, said the butterfly to all the creatures below, “It’s so nice of you to come out and see my transformation”.

“It’s beautiful!”, said the Earthworm, with a smile on his face, looking up at the butterfly swooping and gliding, like a brightly coloured paper kite, overhead.

“But what’s even better than that”, said the Butterfly, fluttering down beside him, “Is having so many wonderful friends”.