once upon a time i was a little beetle.  i had a hard shell, but i hid in the bushes.  i was a shy little bug, but after awhile i got bold and came out of the bushes, slowly at first, then more and more.  soon i spent all my time outside the bushes without a care in the world!

 

one day, i didn't notice a dark shape overhead.  i just lay in the grass thinking how cool i was to be outside the bushes, with my hard shell to protect me.  suddenly a big black bird swooped down upon me.  i was very scared and tried to run to the bushes but i was too slow.  the big bird pecked at my hard shell, once, twice, 3 times!  at first i was okay, and i felt safe. but on the third peck, a crack appeared in my shell and i was afraid i would die.  i squeaked and squeaked for help.  a curious cat passing by heard my screams, and came over to see what was happening.  the cat saw the bird and chased after him.  when i was free, i limped into the bushes and buried myself under a rock.  i stayed there for a long time, too afraid to come out.  soon my shell fell off, and my legs got smaller.  but i would not come out, i stayed in the safety of the darkness of the rock.

 

a long time passed.  each day i became sadder and sadder and more and more lonely.  soon i couldn't stand it anymore, so i peeked out from under the rock.  what a sight did i behold!  i saw the most beautiful creature.  she was short and soft, whereas i was long and thin.  i couldn't help but stare and stare.  she saw me peeking out and waved.  i got such a shock, i pulled myself under the rock and hid!  but she was so lovely, even when i closed my eyes i saw her.  so after awhile in the dark, i came out into the light.  at first my eyes were very sore because it was so bright.  but everything looked new and fresh.  the beautiful creature was eating a leaf.  i decided to say hello, even though it took all my courage to do so. i wondered what she would think if a beetle came to her!  but when we met, she said the most extraordinary thing!

 

"you are like me," she said. "we are the same!"

i was shocked!  i was a beetle and she was not. how could she say this?  i didn't know how to reply, so just stared at her in a confused way.  she noticed i did not understand, so she brought a drop of dew on a leaf to me.  she said, "look.  we are the same."  i stared into the dew drop and saw a reflection of myself.  what a shock i got!  for she was right, i looked similar to her!  i no longer was a beetle, i had been transformed, from living under the rock so long.  i looked up at her, crying, and smiled.  she nodded and took my hand, and we walked for a long time, not saying a word.

 

we walked and walked and walked.  i don't know how long we walked for.  but soon it became dark.  the beautiful girl made a small narrow house for us.  she told me we must rest for a long time and that everything would be okay in the morning.  still, i could not say a word, but i was happy, and she could read my heart.

 

i slept well, i had never slept like that before. in the morning i felt different, renewed.  i noticed the door was open and the beautiful girl was gone.  at first i was sad.  but when i went to the door and looked out, i got such a surprise!  she was outside on a flower, with wings!, looking completely different and a hundred times more lovely than she was before!  i squeezed outside as well.  something didn't feel right. i looked around me and saw that i had wings too!  i flapped them once, twice, and soon i was in the air. i laughed and laughed.  i heard more laughing beside me, and looking, i saw my beautiful friend beside me, also laughing and laughing.

 

she said to me, "see? we are the same!"

"yes," i replied. "we are."

taking each other by the hand we flew away into the clouds, and lived happily ever after.