This is something I discovered a while back, Who wrote it I know not. A Macmillan nurse gave it to me to help explain to my grandhidren where their nanny had gone. (Hope it's not too long)
Water Bugs and Dragonflies
Down below the surface of a quiet pond
lived a little colony of water bugs.
They were a happy colony living
far away from the sun. For many
months they were very busy scurrying
over the soft mud on the bottom of
their happy pond.
They did notice that every once in a
while one of their colony seemed to
lose interest in going about with its
friends. Clinging to the stem of a
pond lily, it gradually moved out of
sight and was seen no more.
'Look!' said one of the water bugs
'One of our colony is climbing up the
lily stalk. Where do you suppose she is going?'
Up, up, up it went slowly. As they watched,
the water bug disappeared from sight.
Her friends waited and waited but
she didn't return.
'Wasn't she happy here,' said one.
'Where do you suppose she went?' said another.
They were all puzzled with no awnser.
Finall y, one of the water bugs said
'I have an idea. The next one who climbs up
must promise to come back and tell us where
they have been and why. 'We promise' they all said
Not long after, in the spring the water bug
who had suggested that plan, found himself
climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up up he went.
Before he knew what was happening he had
broken through the surface of the water and
fallen onto the broad green lily pad above.
When he awoke he couldn't believe what he saw.
A startling change had come to his old body.
His movement revealed four silver wings and
a long tail. Even as he struggled he felt an
impulse to move his wings. The sun's warmth
dried the moisture from the new body. He
moved his wings again and suddenly
found himself up above the water.
He had become a dragonfly!
Swooping and dipping in great curves
he flew through the air.
He felt exhilerated in the new atmosphere.
Soon he needed to rest on a lily pad. It was then
he chanced to look below to the bottoom of the
pond. Well he was right above his old friends
the water bugs scurrying down below just as he had.
He remembered his promise; 'The next one of us who
climbs up the stalk will come back and
tell us why and where they went.
Without thinking, the dragonfly darted down.
Suddenly he hit the water and bounced away.
Now he was a dragonfly he could no
longer go into the water. 'I can't return!'
He said in dismay! 'I've tried to keep my promise
but even if I could none of my friends
would know me in my new body. I guess I'll
just have to wait until they become dragonflies too.
Then they will understand what happened to me
and where I went.
And the dragonfly winged off happily
into its wonderful new world of sun and air.
Author; Doris Stickney (1997) The Pilgrims Press (for children)
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