Clumsy Caterpillar's Beautiful Change

The sun rose over the big green garden. Clumsy Caterpillar woke up. He stretched his many legs. "Today, I will walk better," he said. Clumsy tried to walk. Oops! He fell down. Clumsy tried again. Oops! He fell down. The colorful butterflies flew by. They laughed at Clumsy. "Silly Clumsy!" they said. Clumsy felt sad. He looked at the tall flowers. "I wish I could reach them," he thought. He tried to climb. Oops! He fell down. The busy ants marched past. They giggled at Clumsy. "Clumsy can't climb!" they said. Clumsy felt even sadder. He watched the graceful butterflies dance in the air. "I wish I could fly like them," he sighed. He tried to jump. Oops! He fell down. All day long, Clumsy tried to walk, climb, and jump. Oops! He fell down every time. The other bugs kept laughing. Clumsy kept trying. He didn't give up. As the sun began to set, Clumsy felt very, very tired. His many legs hurt. His little green body was sore. "I tried so hard," Clumsy said softly. He looked at the soft grass. "I need to rest," he thought. Clumsy crawled slowly to a cozy spot in the grass. He curled up his tired body. His eyes felt heavy. "Maybe tomorrow will be better," Clumsy whispered as he drifted off to sleep.

Clumsy felt very sleepy. He looked up at a big green leaf high on a tall plant. "That looks cozy," he thought. Slowly, Clumsy climbed up the plant. He didn't fall this time! On the leaf, Clumsy made a soft bed. He yawned and stretched his many legs. "Time to rest," he said. Clumsy curled up in his cozy bed. He closed his eyes and fell fast asleep. Clumsy slept and slept. Days went by. Clumsy slept and slept. The sun rose and set. Clumsy slept and slept. In the garden, the other bugs looked for Clumsy. "Where is Clumsy?" asked the butterflies. "We haven't seen him fall down," said the ants. But Clumsy just slept and slept. Pretty flowers bloomed around Clumsy's leaf. The wind gently rocked his bed. But Clumsy didn't wake up. He slept and slept. More days passed. The other bugs forgot about Clumsy. They played and worked in the garden. But high up on the leaf, Clumsy slept on. Then one day, something strange happened. A tiny crack appeared in Clumsy's cozy bed. It was small at first. But it grew bigger and bigger. What was happening to Clumsy? Would he wake up soon? The garden waited to see.

Crack! Crack! The cozy bed broke open. Clumsy woke up. He blinked his eyes. Something felt different. Clumsy looked down. Oh! He wasn't green anymore. He had big, colorful wings! Orange and black, they shimmered in the sun. "What happened?" Clumsy wondered. He wasn't a caterpillar now. He was a beautiful butterfly! Clumsy stretched his new wings. They felt strong. He flapped them once. He flapped them twice. Suddenly, he was flying! "Look at me!" Clumsy shouted. "I can fly!" Clumsy flew up. Clumsy flew down. Clumsy flew all around! The other bugs in the garden looked up. They saw Clumsy flying high above the flowers. "Is that Clumsy?" asked the ants. "He's so graceful!" said the butterflies. Everyone cheered for Clumsy. He wasn't clumsy anymore. He was a beautiful, flying butterfly! Clumsy landed on a flower. He smiled at all his friends. "I changed," he said. "I grew in my own time." The other bugs nodded. They understood now. Everyone changes and grows differently. Clumsy felt happy and proud. He spread his wings wide. "Who wants to fly with me?" he asked. All the butterflies joined Clumsy. They danced in the air together. Clumsy led the way, his orange and black wings shining bright. From that day on, Clumsy was the happiest butterfly in the garden. He never forgot his caterpillar days. They helped him become who he was meant to be.