Fuzzy and Wuzzy

Two baby caterpillars, Fuzzy and Wuzzy, were inching their way through the green grass of the meadow. As they neared a bright bed of flowers, the brilliant burst of a beautiful flying creature captured their attention. "Look," squealed Fuzzy, "I wonder what that is." "I don't know," answered Wuzzy, "but I see hundreds of them up in the sky!" Both caterpillars strained to see the vibrant flashes of color as the creatures darted from blossom to blossom. "I want to be able to do that," cried Fuzzy. I bet if I could just climb up on one of those flowers, I would be beautiful too." "Don't be foolish," said Wuzzy. "you are nothing like those fellows. You'll just hurt yourself."

But Fuzzy wouldn't listen to his friend. He moved slowly along the ground until he reached the stem of a flower. As his gaze swept upward, he though, "I just know that if I can touch the colors, I will be like those beautiful creatures I saw." Fuzzy began climbing toward the colorful petals. As he climbed, he felt his skin becoming tight so he would push and push until he burst through the old skin. Instead of resting to allow his new soft skin to harden, Fuzzy continued his climb. When he finally reached the top of the flower, he latched onto the colorful petal expecting to transform into a beautiful soaring creature. At that moment, a hungry bird spotted Fuzzy, swooped down, and Fuzzy was no more.

Meanwhile, on the ground Wuzzy continued her slow journey through the meadow. She grew in size as she climbed trees to snack on leaves. Each time she burst through her old skin, she rested as her new soft skin hardened to a protective coat. Eventually, Wuzzy climbed a tree, transformed into a gray-brown chrysalis, and hung like a shriveled leaf from a branch. Time passed as Wuzzy waited. One warm day she awoke to a strange and wonderful sensation. She wiggled out of her shell, clung to the branch with her new long legs, and fluttered her moist gossamer wings. The moistness dried in the breeze and the fluttering motion lifted her high above the garden. As she joyously darted from flower to flower, Wuzzy briefly thought of her friend Fuzzy. "I wonder if he is experiencing the joy I am feeling right now. I hope so." Then she continued her delightful journey through the garden.