Story
Being
Yourself
by
Kay Challenor
She
plunged into the water and diving deep, began to walk along
the bottom of the riverbed. Her movements were slow as she moved
against the current, similar to a space man walking on the moon.
Life
just was not fair!
The
water around her was cool and soothing after being in the heat
of the day. Calming to her emotions as well, which were running
high.
It
was so unfair being a hippo. Running out of breath, Lady lifted
her head, kicked her feet and returned to the surface. Immediately
she could feel the sun scorching on her back so she made her
way to the muddy bank and, covering herself with wet orange
clay, stood amid the reeds half submerged in water.
She
was soon joined by Pee, a very smart looking Oxpecker with yellow
and grey marking his feathers.
"Why,
Lady, whatever is the matter?" Pee inquired, seeing tears
slowly roll down the hippo's cheek.
"It's
miserable being a hippo," replied Lady with a sigh.
"Why?"
"Well
look at me. I'm big and fat, ugly and clumsy, destined to spend
my life waddling around in the mud to stop this grey hairless
skin of mine from burning in the sun."
"Why,
Lady…"
"Don't
call me Lady! Some lady; look at me! Now they are ladies, look
at them."
Lady
paused to watch a group of gazelles darting across the sandy
earth. Their golden and cream coats gleamed in the sun and they
leaped this way and that, higher and higher into the air.
"They
look so light, so beautiful and so carefree," moped Lady,
"Just like dancers, so graceful."
A
family of giraffes followed the gazelles. They too had beautiful
coats that glistened with health. Their long necks gently moved
as they took slow deliberate strides on their long legs. They
looked completely at peace with the world around them.
"Wish
I was a giraffe," whispered Lady.
"You
are funny," laughed Pee. "Do you know why the gazelles
leap and dart from one spot to another as they run?"
"For
fun?"
"Hardly!
They are running away from predators; lions, leopards or hyenas.
They leap to confuse their pursuers, in an attempt to put them
off the chase. It is not so much a dance as a fight for life,
even if it is beautiful to watch. You wouldn't really want that
would you?" said Pee, "After all what are you afraid
of as a hippo?"
"Why,
nothing really," replied Lady. She paused and gazed up
at the blue sky in deep thought.
"I
guess the only thing is the occasional hungry lion, but I just
charge to see them off and then come into the water. Nothing
bothers me in the water, not even the crocodiles. Actually I
do love being in the water. It is so, well, calming and comforting.
She waded deeper into the river until just her eyes and nose
were showing above the surface. The water moved around her body,
caressing and soothing. Feeling happier, Lady kicked out her
legs and began to swim. Pee flew onto her head for a free ride.
"Have
you any idea how gracefully you swim?" he said."Quite
the expert."
"Just
watch," said Lady as she dived to the bottom of the river.
She began to move her legs and head, moving and turning, a picture
of skill and expertise. Looking a bit like a small grey submarine
in the hand of a master helmsman. She came back to the surface
and was rejoined by a chuntering Pee.
"You
nearly drowned me diving like that with no warning!"
"Good
though, aren't I?"
"Yes,
yes, very good. So why don't you start to believe in yourself?
We all have our own individual skills. Time you began to enjoy
yours rather than comparing yourself with others. Comparing
only makes you miserable."
"Hum,"
said Lady.
The
two swam to the opposite side of the river where the giraffes
were enjoying their afternoon drink. With their long necks they
had to splay open their legs to enable their mouths to reach
the surface of the water. It was a very tricky procedure and
in this position the giraffes were very vulnerable, open to
an attack from a predator.
"Oh
Lady, you made me jump!" one startled giraffe remarked.
"Thought you were a crocodile for a minute. I could only
see your eyes and nose and that is just how they sneak close
before they make an attack."
"Sorry,"
said Lady. "Do you know I have always wanted to be tall
and elegant like you, but it isn't very easy for you to drink
is it?"
"No
we have to be very careful. You wouldn't want to be us Lady.
You would miss your water too much. We often see you swimming
and diving in the cool water and it looks so much fun. You are
very lucky you know."
The
giraffe's words remained in Lady's head and she thought about
them for a long time. She thought about them all that day and
all the next day as well and the day after. In fact, she remembered
the words for the rest of her life and from that day on she
was never sad or critical about who she was or what she looked
like. She spent her days rolling in the orange mud to keep cool
and having long conversations with Pee. And often, at night,
she would lay half submerged in the water, gazing up at the
stars and thinking just how lucky she was to be alive.
Lady
by the riverbank.
Illustration by Kay Challenor
Talking
Points: Self-acceptance, Happiness and Contentment.
Questions:
1.
Why was Lady miserable?
2. What were the gazelles good at?
3. Why did the gazelles leap?
4. What was Lady good at?
5. What made Lady happy?
6. What did the giraffe say to Lady?
7.
How did the story make you feel?
8. Does it remind you of anything in your own life?
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