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THE CYCLE OF LIFE Part 2. (The life of Cal and Ernest)
Copyright AJ Rodriguez 2007 (AUTHOR/storyteller THEODORE DA BAER SERIES)
www.theodoredabaer.com
One day while Ernest was flying over the swamp, he heard his friends voice calling out to him.
"Ernest, it's so great to see you again."
Ernest quickly looked around. It sounds like Cal's voice, but where is he? he thought.
"Ernest, here I am. Look am I not handsome."
Ernest turned to the voice and there he saw a large butterfly.
"Cal, is that you?"
"Yes, Ernest it is I. I told you that I had a surprise for you and that one day I would be able to fly. My mother was right. Isn't it wonderful? I am so happy. Now we can do everything together. We can fly everywhere."
"Cal, it is wonderful and you are so handsome, why didn't you tell me that you were a butterfly."
"Ernest, I was a caterpillar and now I am a butterfly what difference does it make. We can still be friends can't we? It really shouldn,t matter what I look like. I am the same person as I was before, I only look different."
"Cal, I do not care what you look like. We shall be friends forever and ever."
Spring turned into summer and our little friends spend all their time together. They explored the swamps and meadow. They flew over the roof tops and cities. They took showers in the raindrops that fell from the leaves. Life was good.
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Then one day Cal did not come to the meadow. Ernest was very worried about him and went to see what had happened. He found Cal sitting on a tree looking very sad.
"Cal, why are you sitting there all alone. I have been waiting for you. Come on now it is getting late."
"Ernest, something terrible has happened. My mother has begun her journey home and I am all alone. She told me that one day soon, I too will take that same journey and that she will return for me, when the time is right. I told her I did not want her to go but she said it was her time. Why did she leave me?"
"Cal, I am sure she will be back soon. She said she would return for you, didn't she? Why do you look so sad. Come on now. You have me. We will be together forever. Come on Cal, while there is still light."
"Ernest, you are so young. One day I will have to explain it all to you but not now, your right, we have so little time. Let's go and find an adventure."
"Cal, we are the same age. Why do you think I am young?"
Cal said nothing but flew quickly away with his friend Ernest by his side.
Ernest whispered, "Cal, I do not want this to ever end. Let's fly far away, where it is summer always and we can be happy all the time."
"Ernest, I wish it was that easy but soon I too will be going away."
Summer passed and the misty September rain began to fall on the swamps and Cal came to Ernest.
"I think it is time for us to talk. Ernest, the time has come for me to leave. My mother came to me in a dream last night and told me that my journey here was now over and that I must join her. My friend, I am afraid that I must say goodbye, for now."
"Cal, take me with you. I promise I will not get in your way. I thought we were friends. I want to be with you."
"Ernest, the place I am going to, I must go alone. My journey on this earth is almost over. It is time for me to move on so that another can take my place. It is the cycle of life."
"Cal, don't say that. I will not let you go. Stay here with me. You said we will always be friends and now you say you are leaving me. Why Cal?"
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"Ernest, I do not want to go but I must. In time you too will face this journey. Do not be afraid for I shall return to take you home and we can be together forever but until that time I must say goodbye. Always remember that I love you and as long as you keep me in your heart I shall live forever. Goodbye, Ernest. Remember I will be waiting for you."
"Cal, wait. Wait for me Cal, I want to go too."
Cal tipped his wing in a final goodbye and flew away.
"He will be back, I know he will",thought Ernest. "We are friends he would not just leave me here".
Days passed and each day Ernest watched
for his little friend but Cal never came back to that meadow.
Ernest was very confused. At first he was angry with Cal, but his mother explained that Cal had no choice and had to follow his destiny. Days became weeks and weeks turned into months. Every day Ernest returned to the meadow and looked for his friend.
When Spring arrived, Ernest began to notice new caterpillars. He carefully watched them as they made their way across the ground. He watched them as they changed into butterflies and he watched as they made their final flights. Ernest was amazed by all the changes that they went through and it was then that he realized what Cal had been trying to say. To every living thing there is a time.
A time to be born. A time to grow and change and a time to let go.
Ernest whispered a thank you to his wonderful friend for helping him to understand the mystery of the cycle of life.
Finally Ernest meet a pretty little bird named Betty and they were married. Years passed and Ernest got on with his life. He made many new friends but no one as special as Cal. As the years passed Ernest often took his children to the meadow, where he and Cal shared their many adventures. There in the meadow he taught them about the cycle of life and he shared his stories about that wonderful summer and his best friend Cal. The children loved to hear the tales of Cal the caterpillar and asked to hear them over and over again.
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In time Cal became just a happy memory but each spring Ernest returned to the meadow just to sit and watch the butterflies. Always hoping that one day Cal would return.
"Ernest, it is time for us to be together again. Come my friend."
"Cal, is it really you? I have waited so long."
"Yes, Ernest it is I. Do not be afraid. I am here to help you. Come with me."
Ernest sighed and followed his friend. They quickly flew higher and higher into the sky until they could no longer be seen.
"Cal, why did you wait so long? I have waited and waited for you but I have never forgotten you. You have always been by my side even after you were gone."
"Ernest, I have never forgotten you either. I watched over you as you grew up and got married. I am so proud of you, you had such a good life. I wanted to come for you, I wanted us to be together but your journey was not complete. I waited and waited Ernest.
Now we will be together, friends forever and ever."
"Yes Cal, we are friends forever."
As evening fell, Ernest's wife Betty became concerned when he did not return home and the next day she went to the meadow. There she found Ernest laying in the meadow, where he spent his days waiting for his friend. Betty was not sad, for she knew that Ernest had gone home and that he was now with his best friend. She also knew that when her time on earth was finished, Ernest and Cal would come for her and that they would spend eternity together.
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