Once upon a time there was an elephant family with Mama,
Papa & their daughter Elly. Baby Elly was everyone’s favorite with her
cheerful smiles & charming curiousness. Then Elly started going to a
school. Soon after, she came home with a grumpy mood. Mama said, “What happened
to my sweet Elly; is something bothering you, honey?” “Humph, why am I so fat
Mama? I want to be like that skinny Deer; she looks so pretty.” said Elly. “Oh
honey, come here. You are perfect the way you are!” But that didn’t cheer her
up. There onwards every once in a while Elly came home with sadness in her eyes
& grumbles like “Why do I have to have such a long-ground touching trunk
and not cute pink nose like Bunny? … Why does my skin feel so baggy & not
like Cheetah’s tight shiny one…” All the time, Mama’s only response was, “You
are perfect the way you are!” But that didn’t make Elly a bit happy.
On and on Elly went and started sulking by passing day. Then
one day Mama said, “Elly, why don’t you get a paper and we can do some painting
this afternoon.” Elly loved to paint; especially when she was allowed to use
big girl’s water colors!! Elly said,” What should I paint, Mama?” “Umm, how
about painting the mountains that you saw on your field trip? You loved seeing
such big mountains, waterfall, soft tickling grass & all your friends…”
responded Mama. “Ooh yeah, that would be fun.” cheered Elly. She got all her
supplies & was about to start. Then she realized that Mama has put out only
orange color. “Mama, there is only one color- orange. How am I supposed to
paint gray mountains, blue waterfall, white clouds, green grass & all my
friends are of so many different colors and patterns?” “Well Elly, orange is your
favorite color. So I thought you would like to paint everything in the same
color; won’t you?” Elly thought for a moment and she had a broad grin on her
face. She could sense how Mama has tricked her. She hugged Mama and said,” I
get it Mama. Nature has everything in different sizes, shapes, colors. Yet, everything
is perfect the way it is!”
- Ketaki Joshi.
