HopeTenars' Stories: Jack the Beetle

Jack The Beetle

Once a story, there was a lovely beetle named Jack. 

He loved his garden hide out. There was a pond, with a bridge across it, There were rushes, and giant lily pads to walk across.

One morning, when Jack the beetle, was feeling peckish, he thought he would go further than the rushes, and see what was round the corner.

At first, he stuck to the rushes and was a little timid to go out into the open grass.Then he smelt the air, and it seemed still.  

A little damp, with dew, but all right, no rain this morning.  One leg at a time, he crept out from beneath the rushes into the open plain. 

There was nowhere to hide, in then plain grass.  If anything came along Jack’s dark beetle body,  would stick out a mile, so he was a little wary.

As he crept forward, Jack thought, I wonder if its better food, further away from the pond, maybe nearer the big tree, there will be better leaves.

As he was crossing the plain, he saw that there was a large branch on the grass and he thought, great that will be amazing somewhere to hide, somewhere to seek shelter, some damp wood to feel all safe in and lots of other food to eat. 

He kept crawling on the grass a little faster now that he had seen the branch round the corner, and climbed up on top of the branch leaves and started walking across the branch. This is wonderful Jack thought to himself, I should have come here sooner, should have explored sooner.  Not only was the branch slightly damp, it was also slightly soft, and it smelt woody.  

As Jack crawled up the branch, there was a little dip, in the wood, that allowed for some crawlies, to work their way into.   Would you know it, there was a family of beetles there already.  

Jack thought to himself, I wonder if they would mind me having a look… so he crept forward to see.Then Mama beetle from the tree branch, said … Helllloooo, what’s your name” in beetle speak.Jack startled, said, hhhello, I’m Jack the beetle.  Well you better come on in to our branch home and tell us all about where you come from. 

"Oh I don’t come from far, it’s just across the plain, where the lily pads are. 

So we are practically neighbors.   Tell me Mama beetle, is it just you or are there other beetles?"

"Well, it’s me and Rosie, mostly, but now and again, the Stick insects join us too."

"Wow, that’s so good.  I’m on my own in the lily pad area.  I mean there are other insects, but they all want to eat me.  So I stay away from them.I think I will come here again, or move here where there are friendly beetles to talk to. I never knew you were all here, so close.  It’s a good thing I came out today.  Is Rosie going to say hello, Mama Beetle?"

"Oh! Here she comes,  “Rosie said, Mama Mama, I just saw a lily pad… I did not know what it was at first, but then I heard you talking to Jack and I realized what it was. 

"Jack said "that’s so funny, I explored to reach your tree, and you, Rosie explored to the lily pad… and we meet at your place".

After, that Jack, Rosie and Mama Beetle became good friends. The sticks, did not make an appearance that evening, but Jack felt sure he would meet them soon. 

Rosie said, as Jack was making moves to go home to the lily pad rushes, “You know Mama, it’s funny what you find at the end of your own road, if you just take a new step or two each day. 

Yes, you are right.   She smiled, hugged Rosie and said 

"But not too far that you cant come back in a day, hey. “ Jack left them, hugging and then he said "When I grow up, I want a home just like the branch with a home, and a mama beetle, too."

The end.