The writing prompt was Take Four. We were given sets of 4 words and had to pick one of the groups and use them. I chose hammock, moon, ladybug, and leaf. We had 25 minutes to write.
A Lesson Learned
It was a cool July night. Not your usual one, considering that the humidity and heat prior to this day were unbearably discomforting. With time on my hands, having completed all of my chores, I chose to grab my iPad and stretch out in the backyard on my hammock and surf the web.
The gentle breeze ruffled the branches of the trees around me. As I was about to open my iPad, a quick burst of air loosed a leaf from a branch overhead. I stared at it as it slowly floated its way down, down, down, only to rest on my chest.
I was about to brush it off of me when I heard a voice.
“Excuse me.”
I looked around but could see no one.
“Excuse me,” it repeated in a frustrated voice.
On closer examination of the leaf, I noticed a ladybug. Its iridescent wings reflecting the full moon’s light.
I shook my head and said, “No way.”
Again, I heard, “Excuse me, could you give me a lift?”
The voice was definitely coming from the ladybug. Who knew?
“How is it that you can talk?” was my first question.
Her response was, “How is it that you’ve never tried to listen?”
Okay, she got me there. “Where would you like a lift to?”
“Back up to the tree, of course.”
“You’re a rather surly ladybug, aren’t you?” I said.
“A…yeah!” she answered. “You would be too, if you were a woman or girl. Have you ever seen men treated the way women are treated?”
I had to agree with her on that point. “But I’m not like that. I see all people as equal.”
“Good for you,” she said, “now try and think the same way for other species.”
Rather than argue with the ladybug. I chose to try and act humbly. I apologized for my male counterparts and said that it would be my honor to help her with her request and anything else she might desire.
“And don’t you forget it,” was her reply.
“Do you mind if I give you a treat before I return you to the tree? I have some plants that are covered with aphids and would gladly have you feast on them first.”
I’m not sure if she smiled or not, but without hesitation, she flew right onto my hand, leaving me to wonder why she didn’t fly back to the tree herself.
Having fed on the aphids, I did return her to the tree above my hammock, and her parting words were. “Now don’t forget what you’ve learned today. Always treat women and bugs as equals, be generous with your aphids, and once in a while, enjoy the beauty of your surroundings.”
As I lay back down on my hammock, I decided to put away my iPad and just stare out into the clear night sky and enjoy all the sights and sounds around me.
