Everything is too hard! Cried the quiet little caterpillar as she tried to reach a tall, tall leaf.

Wait and see, little one. Smirked the smug crow.

My burden is too heavy! Whined the tired little caterpillar

as she tried to build her hefty cocoon.

Not as heavy as mine! Vomited the smelly old disgusting turtle.

(Everyone hated the turtle, and he deserved to be hated.)

Everyone else is already done! Wait up! Begged the slow little caterpillar.

You have time! Touted the wise and handsome hare.

The caterpillar did not finish her cocoon. She died. And winter came. A little boy named Harrison, age four, found her exoskeleton and added it to his bug collection, which got him an A- at show-and-tell. Harrison is now a very successful entomologist. He has a crush on his fellow scientist Daisy, although he maintains her research methodology is sloppy.

But he likes her ideas, like how we could use genetically modified bugs to eat plastic deposits in the earth someday. Harris does not ask Daisy to out to drinks or dinner, but instead, gets her a very personal gift for Valentine’s Day. It does not go well. He moves labs a few weeks later.


Everyone still hated the turtle.