Animal Story

 

The earliest known artists and writers used animals as their first subjects. Images of creatures dominate cave walls of Lascaux and Altamira and tell stories of the prehistoric world.Teaching stories and fables arrived later. They reveal, through actions of animals, ways to show children how to behave and the consequences of wrong choices.

Consider two animals who collaborate. An elephant waded into the pond at a Wild Animal Park. With the sound of a trumpet, it tossed water from its trunk onto its back. Ripples from its skin sent droplets over the large frame. A bluebird happened by and noticed this refreshment in the heat of the day.

“Hello,” the bird sang as it flew above the trunk.”How do you do that?”

“Ah, “ the elephant responded. “ Would you like a spray?”

“I have flown from the north and would like a drink and bath,” the bird flapped just above the gray trunk. Soon the water sparkled from its feathers. “What a wonderful mechanism to have.”

“You’re fortunate also to have wings,” smiled the elephant. “I’ve always admired birds in the sky and how they can travel.

“It looks like we have ways to share our experiences,” said the bird, drying one feather at a time with its beak.

“So many animals here have talents to learn about,” said the elephant.

“Aren’t you frightened by the fierce ones?” the bird asked.

“Each has his or her own specialty,” said the elephant and moved deeper into the water. 

Ears wriggled from the water as a large head appeared, then the body of a hippo.

  Where would you take this story?