Butterfly I’m speaking. When elephants speak it takes them a long time to make a point. You have to listen to every word I use and every…

What if I were a rainbow? I would still be in the sky and just as colourful, but I could get to places faster and see things from high, high above. What do you think?

it’s scary. being alone. what if i were a tiger? or a hippopotamus? or a big elephant? i should definitely be less scared. definitely.  -butterfly

the jungle is a very big place, if you didn’t already know. if you did already know then hopefully the next part of this story will be new to you and keep you interested and your thoughts enticed and ears listening close until the story culminates.

one of the farthest and toughest terrains was a part of the jungle Elephant called home. however, having recently lost touch with the leader of its herd, confused and alone, it began to make its way through the forest. not more than three years old and less, Elephant went to see what was on the other side of the jungle. rather young and still filled with the sense of curiousity it allowed itself to explore such a dangerous place due to an endless amount of energy. knowing very little of the danger before it, the elephant put one leg in front of the other as that was the only knowledge Elephant had of properly getting from one place to another. with its trunk swinging from side to side, Elephant’s thoughts were filled with notions of what sort of things it would see.

way, way, way, way, way on the other side of the jungle was a buttefly. never a kindred spirit with one place to call home, the butterfly fluttered as if dancing to the very sound of wind its wings made. unknown to any tribe or group or family, the butterfly named itself. it was a very long, drawn out, ridiculous sort of name. but to the butterfly it was a game. if a friend came along and couldn’t remember the butterfly’s long, drawn out name then to the butterfly it was not a friend afterall. Elepelatolamela is the butterfly’s name. and it would sing it out loud for everyone to hear the whole day long.

what an unlikely pair of creatures. and an unlikely match for friendship. but when one learns a bit more of the two, perhaps one will learn just how perfect a match for friendship the duo surprisingly is.

-meet up in the middle of the jungle

- “Do you need shade little butterfly?”

“Yes. Do you need a friend?”

“Yes. Let’s go for a walk. I think the worst of the storm is over anyway. The sun will come to greet us soon.”

“Let’s stay friends. Yes, the rain comes and goes.”

- “Let’s have the predictable even in unpredictable circumstances.”

“You mean like a friend to shield you from the rain?”

“Aye, and a friend to keep you just the same.”

And off they walked into the rain.

- Butterfly: “I like the sky. When you walk underneath me, it looks like I’m in it.”

- each one faces a hurdle it must overcome but just the same both are left feeling lonely and tired of being alone. they’re mad at themselves for not being stronger and ashamed because they think everyone else is so much stronger than they are and each wishes they could just grow up and get over it. not realizing that everyone feels just as lonely and vulnerable as they do but on the outside everyone expresses it differently. when they meet this issue comes to light.

the elephant and the butterfly is about two creatures who find themselves alone on opposite sides of a jungle. the butterfly chooses to flutter around while the elephant is lost from its herd, whose leader was beheaded, and must now find its own way.

at some point they meet and form an unlikely friendship…

the butterfly names itself Elepelatolamela because only a true friend will remember. elephants are known for their memories being quite facile. plus it’s fun to say. the elephant on the other hand, being more pragmatic, will only be known as elephant.

i want the story to also touch on elephant culling that happens in zimbabwe. this is why the elephant is alone in the first place.

last night i was eating a big sour key when it’s yummy juices went down the wrong pipe and i started coughing really hard. while i was hacking an idea popped in my head. what if at some point the butterfly goes in the elephant’s stomach to help him out? almost like a pinnochio type thing except it goes in to help the elephant…i’m developing this to see if it takes the story anywhere.

had to decide between a butterfly or elephant tattoo. while i was deciding i came up with a children’s story idea.