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Bedtime stories with Galatea and Litho***

Heart Friends

The light wind brought crisp air and the aroma of wildflowers.

Galatea stopped near the edge of the Chunky River and looked up at the colors of the sky. The sun rays played peek-a-boo through the trees as they descended lower.

Scanning the surroundings she vaguely remembered visiting the Emerald Forest with her family as a child. Picking up a long stick she stabbed into the dirt and dragged it forward. Walking in a circle around the area where they would spend the night she chanted in a soft voice.

“Rise up high From earth to sky Protect all that dwell on the inside.”

When the end came upon the beginning she stopped and opened her pouch. Litho poked his head out and said, “Hello Galatea.”

“Hello right back at you. Litho, look at how beautiful this place is?”

“I am going to eat well tonight!” the green frog exclaimed as he jumped down to the river bank. “See you later, I am hungry.”

Litho settled on a large rock sticking out of the current and a moment later ate a fly. The wind picked up and the bugs disappeared. After a couple of minutes he began to flip over river rocks. On the third rock a black and white striped bug ran out. He zapped into his mouth and just as quickly spit it up into the air as he cried, “Yuck! You taste awful.”

The bug landed in the dirt and turned around and glared. “You tried to eat me! What were you thinking? I am going to tell everyone what you just did to me.”

“I am a frog. I am supposed to eat bugs.”

“Well not this bug. I am a gossip beetle. I am definitely going to tell everyone I see what you just did. Frogs! I am not your dinner!”

“I am sorry. I will leave you alone.”

“Yes, alone is what I want. So much for trying to take a nap out of the sun. Can’t a guy get any peace and quiet these days. I am going up the river. What will happen to me there? Attack by a midnight spider or a chameleon snake. I will probably get squeezed to death by a spiked snake vine. This isn’t my lucky day at all. No, no, no, not my day at all. Don’t even get me started about the weather.”

The beetle kept right on complaining and talking to himself as he moved up stream. Litho stared at him until he couldn’t hear or see him anymore and then lowered his head.

Galatea walked over the river and was picking up some large stones when she saw Litho and walked over, “What’s the matter?”

“I tried to eat a beetle but he tasted awful so I spit him out. And then he made me feel sad for being a frog. He said he was going to tell everyone what I had done.”

She asked, “Was he a black and white striped beetle?”

Litho nodded his head and answered, “Yes.”

“It's not nice that he made you feel that way. Gossip beetles are not friendly. They go around spreading lies about everyone. Most animals of the forest leave them alone. Give me a few minutes and I’ll get the campfire going. There will be plenty of bugs attracted to the fire. You will have something to eat soon.”

Litho touched his stomach and said, “That would be nice because my tummy is rumbly.”

“Come over in a few minutes. I will even make the smoke go up into rings so you can play your favorite game of Bullseye the Bugs.”

“I would really like that,” Litho replied.

Later when Galatea got out her bedroll and sat down she noticed Litho was frowning and asked, “Do you want to talk about how you are feeling? Did you get enough to eat?”

“I am not hungry anymore. I feel sad. I miss my friends from the garden. Why does your heart hurt so much when you don’t see your friends?”

“That is a really good question Litho. You will have friends that will come and go from time to time during your life.”

“Why can’t we all stay together forever?”

“Because everyone needs to find their own journey in life. Real friends don’t leave to hurt you. Remember we left the garden and someday we will go back. We didn’t leave to hurt anyone's feelings.

Litho sat up a little taller and stared at the fire. Galatea looked at the smoke rings floating up into the air.

“I am sure we will make some friends as we travel, which doesn’t mean we should forget our other friends. It is perfectly normal to have different friends during different parts of your life.

Some friends you will have for a short time, some for longer, and some for life even if you don’t see them all the time. Life long friends are your heart friends.

Litho smiled and said, “I have a heart friend.”

“Who?”

“Croque Monsieur! He’s an ember frog who is the same age as me. We have fun playing games and being silly together. I like it when he talks about his adventures with wizard Artis. He makes me laugh the way he sits on top of her hat. He is kind and helps her pick the coffee beans she can’t reach. He climbs up and brings down one bundle of beans at a time. One time I was watching him and he made funny faces at me. I laughed so hard while eating a caterpillar that little green bits flew out of my nose. I really miss him.”

“I can see why you miss him,” Galatea said as she poked at the fire. “When you see him again, will it be like you never left?”

“Oh yes, we will probably stay up all night, play games and laugh and laugh.”

“Croque Monsieur will definitely always have a place in your heart.”

Litho hopped over next to Galatea and smiled up at her, “you will always be my heart friend too. I love you.”

“Yes we will always be heart friends my dear. I love you too. Now it’s time for bed, little one. Good night. Sleep well,” she said while laying down.

“Good night Galatea”, he said as he hopped back over to the fire and watched the rings of smoke.

All was quiet…..until….softly

“Bom bom bom bom Slurp them down

Bom bom bom bom Squishy and round

Bom bom bom bom Wings or feet

Clap clap clap clap

They are a treat

Bom bom bom bom Bugs are yummy

Bom bom bom bom Bugs are sweet

Clap clap clap clap

Tasty…tasty… Tasty….treats

Hm, hm, hm, hm.”

Entered by: 0x7BB5…3E05