The little mischievous insect

Have you seen the tiny insects known as Kalanduruwo which live in small families in tiny honeycombs? This story is about one of them.

Once upon a time, a Kalanduru family lived happily in a tiny honeycomb. They were very active; they would get up early in the morning and fly all over the jungle to collect nectar from fresh flowers. They were very friendly with the flowers.

The youngest in the family was different though. He was very mischievous. He enjoyed hurting the flowers after collecting nectar from them. So many complaints were received by his elders from the innocent flowers about his conduct. The father insect advised him time and again not to be mischievous.

One fine day, the weather was nice, the sun was shining bright, the birds were singing songs, the trees were full of flowers and seemed like a colourful painting, and the fragrance of flowers spread all over the place.

The insect family was very happy and started their daily routine. Before setting out on collecting nectar, the father advised the little one, "Please remember not to hurt any flower when you are drawing nectar. We should be very friendly with them.

We shouldn't hurt them when we draw nectar. How long can we live without nectar if the flowers stop giving it to us?" Then the little one asked, "Who says I am bad?" and flew away to the jungle in search of nectar.

The little Kalanduru met a sunflower, which was very nervous when it saw him. "Oh... you're the most careless insect in this area.

Are you going to collect honey from me now? I heard that you are a mischievous fellow; you hurt us when you collect honey.

"The others are not like you. They are very friendly with us and don't hurt us at all. I won't allow you to collect honey from me; you might hurt me as well."

The little insect forgot his father's advice and was very angry with the sunflower and said, "You silly sunflower, I don't need your honey." The little one turned his back to the flower, pulled a petal and took off, jeering at the sunflower.

The sunflower cried, "Uh... you hurt me. Surely, before long, you will learn a lesson yourself as there is nobody to guide you when you are flying alone from flower to flower. Be careful... Don't forget to look before you leap".

One day, while going for nectar, the little insect saw a lonely beautiful flower looking innocently at him. He shouted from afar, "What a nice flower you are. May I collect some honey from you?" The flower said, "Yes, by all means. But I heard that you are hurting flowers in spite of your father's advice."

The little insect was angry about this allegation and intended to hurt her by pulling out her filaments while enjoying the nectar. To conceal his anger, he sat on the flower. singing a song. He drank nectar as much as he could while pulling her filaments from time to time.

Suddenly, the little insect felt as if the sun has set. He thought, "Ah... why is it going to be sunset so early today .... or is it going to rain?" He looked out with excitement and realized that the flower has closed her petals.

Adding insult to injury, he found that his body was entangled among the filaments. He shouted, "Oh flower ......, what are you doing? Don't you see that I am stuck here, please let me go". The flower said. "Hah hah Ha, I am Drosera, I'm a carnivorous flower living in this jungle, I will crush you to pieces if you are so mischievous".

The little Kalanduru started shivering with fear. "Oh ... one day my father advised me to beware of these flowers. I remember that I didn't care to listen to him then. Oh, my god, what do I do now?"

The poor insect cried aloud and appealed, "Oh dear Drosera, please let me go. I promise you that I won't harm anybody again. I was disobedient to my elders, that's why I am in this terrible plight today. Now I realize that when we are mischievous, we don't think much." Drosera said, "Ah ... now you've got the point.

Good... I'll forgive you for this time... Now get back home soon, but remember never to hurt anybody". The insect started cruising home.On his way home, he met the sunflower and described his bad experience. The sunflower said, "All the innocent flowers tolerated your mischief, but there was bound to be at least one from whom you would learn a lesson.

Those who look before they leap won't be mischievous. Let me repeat, 'Look before you leap', This should be a good lesson for you."

Sent by
Duwani Kanchana de Silva,
Highlands',
Kandawala, Katana.