Martin and the Butterfly

 

Once upon a time, Martin was walking along the road near his house.  While he was walking, a butterfly flew close to him. 

 

It was a very beautiful butterfly.  It’s wings were all the colours of the rainbow.  They shimmered in the sunlight.

 

Martin held out his hand, and the butterfly landed on it.

 

 “You are very beautiful.” Said Martin to the butterfly  “You can stay on my hand for as long as you like.”  The butterfly flapped its wings, waved its antennae, and settled on Martin’s hand.

 

Martin sat down on a log next to the road and held his hand steady, so the butterfly could be free to stay as long as it liked.  He was very careful not to hold too tight, because to do so would damage its beautiful but fragile wings.

 

A wind came.  Martin held his other hand up next to the butterfly to protect it from the wind, so the butterfly could be free to stay as long as it liked.

 

When the wind was gone, it began to rain.  Martin moved his other hand over the butterfly to protect it from the rain, so the butterfly could be free to stay as long as it liked. 

 

The rain stopped. 

 

The sun came out again.

 

The butterfly flapped its wings.  Their colours rippled and shone in the sunlight.  They were truly lovely!

 

Then, waving its antennae to Martin, the butterfly flew away, as butterflies do.

 

Martin was very sad to see the butterfly go, but he was also very happy.  The butterfly had come to him, and it had stayed for as long as it liked.

 

Martin got up, and began to walk home.

 

As he was walking home, Martin thought about the butterfly.  He remembered its beautiful wings.  He remembered protecting it from the wind.  He remembered protecting it from the rain.  He remembered the butterfly waving its antennae to him.  He remembered it flying away.

 

Everything he remembered was very good, even the sad part, when the butterfly flew away.

 

So, Martin collected all his memories of the butterfly together and put them in the space in his heart where he kept his most special treasures.

 

And there they stayed for always.