Emily and the Ladybug
It was a warm summer’s day in June, when young Emily was twirling about in her mother’s yellow sunflower patch. In the mist of her dancing, she noticed something very small moving around on one of the flowers. As she bent down to take a closer peek, a ladybug flew up and landed on the tip of her nose.
“Why, what are you staring at?” asked the ladybug.
“Nothing,” replied Emily in her small, quivering voice. “I didn’t know that ladybugs could talk!” She said in amazement.
“I am no ordinary ladybug!” the ladybug replied.
“Well, how do you do?” asked Emily very politely. “My name is Emily and this is my mother’s sunflower patch.”
“How lovely,” said the ladybug in a sarcastic voice, “Now go away and leave me be!”
Feeling sad, Emily walked away and headed towards the house. Her crystal blue eyes filling up with tears as she thought to herself, “I tried to be friendly to the ladybug, but she was awfully mean to me. I will try again tomorrow.”
The next day, Emily awoke to the sunshine beaming through her bedroom window. Thoughts of the ladybug still lingered in her head. After a quick breakfast, Emily put on her play clothes and headed outside towards the sunflower patch. Eager to see the talking ladybug once more, Emily called out, “Hello, Ms. Ladybug, are you here?” Once again, the ladybug landed upon her nose.
“I thought I told you to leave me be?” said the ladybug in a not-so-nice voice.
“I just wanted to come by and say hello Ms. Ladybug. I didn’t mean to bother you,” Emily replied softly.
“Why do you care so much as to say hello little girl?” The ladybug asked becoming more annoyed.
Emily answered with a soft smile, “Because you are so beautiful.”
The ladybug seemed amazed, “Me, beautiful?” she asked Emily.
“Everyone else makes fun of me because I am different. There has never been a talking ladybug before and all of the other ladybugs laugh at me.”
Emily seemed saddened by this, “You are the most amazing ladybug I have ever seen and you’re beautiful because you are different.”
From that day forward, Emily and the ladybug became the best of friends and danced and twirled in the sunflower patch together.
Children’s Short Stories
Written By: Tamara Dailey-Keur