1. Dominique Frazier<br />October 7th, 2010<br />Showcase #1<br />9 IH<br />Ms. Hahn<br />Word Count: 791<br /> <br />The Garden of Urar and the Caterpillar<br /> There once lived a caterpillar in the garden of Urar. All the animals in the garden were beautiful, but this one caterpillar. All of the animals made fun of and laughed at her. There was Hummingbird and his extravagant colors. Ladybug had her shiny red jacket. Snake slithered with his diamond back scales. Rabbit with her snow white coat. Caterpillar envied all of the other animals, and wished to look just as stunning. Caterpillar overheard Snake and Ladybug talking about the Magic Pond in the middle of Urar. Caterpillar sat above their heads on a leaf eavesdropping.<br />“Did you know that if you look into the Magic Pond you can get one of any wish granted,” spoke the Ladybug to Snake. She got curious and decided to ask some more about it. They replied with a cackle,<br />“How could you possibly get there? So small and pudgy, you would never make it over to the pond for it is too far for you.” This made Caterpillar furious, so she inched away not saying anymore. Frustrated, Caterpillar wanted to show them how wrong they all were. <br />The next morning Caterpillar got prepared for her long expedition. On her journey she ran into Ladybug.<br />“Where might you be going? You’re quite far from home,” said the flying bug. <br />“I’m off to the Magic Pond, so I can get a wish granted,” she replied back.<br />“Ha-ha, do you know how ridiculous you sound? You will never make it that far little one.” Caterpillar was displeased by her ridicule, she huffed and crawled away. Going farther into the garden then she ever had before, Caterpillar saw things she’d never seen before. Things such as tall flowers lined one by one, with yellow petals. The flowers resembled the sun, therefore Caterpillar called them Sunflowers. <br />Continuing on her voyage, Caterpillar noticed something different. Something silky was above her head; it was kind of hard to see from different angles though. As Caterpillar concentrated above her head, something blocked her view. The figure was a spider with extremely long legs. <br />“Who might this be trespassing in my territory?” asked the unknown creature. <br />“I am nothing but a small creature, heading to the Magic Pond,” said Caterpillar with confidence. <br />“Hm, I’ll let you pass if you can solve my riddle.”<br />“Hit me with your hardest riddle.”<br />“How many months have 28 days in them?” Caterpillar thought long and hard, the question was too simple. There was obviously a logical answer to it. Taking a while longer to think, then she remembered a question similar to this.<br />“All the months have 28 days?” Caterpillar questioned.<br />“Correct, you may pass. Take this on your journey,” the Long-Legged spider gave her silk yarn. Disappearing before she could thank him. Caterpillar gave this spider a name, Daddy Longlegs. Tying the gift around her neck and continuing her trail. <br />Getting closer to her destination, Rabbit stopped in front of her.<br />“Whoa, what are you doing far away from home?” questioned the white bundle of fur.<br />“I’m going to the Magic Pond to have my wish granted,” Caterpillar said with determination in her face. <br />“Good luck, only if the pond was a true story,” Rabbit snickered and hopped off. This got Caterpillar discouraged. Caterpillar pondered on whether to head home or not. Her mind was telling her too, but her gut spoke something else. Caterpillar followed her gut, she came this far to turn back now. <br />The sound of rushing water reached Caterpillars small ear. Caterpillar listened to the sound some more and followed it. She came to a pond with a small waterfall. She slithered closer to examine the body of water. Caterpillar peered over the edge to get a better look. Seeing her reflection she spoke,<br />“I hope to be beautiful, more beautiful than any other animal in the Garden of Urar.” Holding her breathe hoping for something to happen, but nothing. Caterpillar repeated the same phrase over and over, but no new results.<br />“You need to give something in return,” spoke a voice Caterpillar did not recognize. There above her floating on the crystal clear water was a lovely white bird, also known as Swan. <br />“Something in return?” she questioned.<br />“Yes, like an offering,” the bird explained. <br />“Ah, I have something,” Caterpillar said with enthusiasm. Unraveling the silk from around her neck and dropping it in the water. Caterpillar repeated,<br />“I hope to be beautiful, more beautiful than any other animal in the Garden of Urar.” The silk came from out depths of the pond and raveled around Caterpillar, forming a cocoon around her. As Caterpillar fell into a deep slumber in her cocoon, Swan scooped up the cocoon in her talons and flew to the top of a tree. Swan placed the bundle on a high tree branch away from predators. <br />As a month passed by the cocoon started to break, and out came a creature no other has seen. The unknown species had wings, but not similar to a birds, a small body, and antennas. They called the creature Butterfly, and Caterpillar showed all of the other animals how beautiful and strong-willed she possibly could be. This gift was passed down to her children, and her children’s children, and continued forever. <br /> <br />