Eddie Echidna, as his name suggests, was an Australian ant eater, one of the best. He was small and round and covered in quills. He had a long snout that he waved about and when he smelt ants it took on a life of its own. His nose would twitch up and down and his tongue would flick in and out. He would whip up an ant and chew it about without even thinking about it.
One day Eddie went to the cupboards, which were really a small anthill just in front of the house. As he approached he waited and waited by nothing happened. His nose remained still without even a twitch. His tongue remained in his mouth and as he shook his head he realised that all the ants were gone. His cupboard was bare.
Eddie then went back into the house and found Edwina his wife. He said, “Edwina, I have something to tell you. You are not going to like this, the cupboard is bare. Feed Edgar and Edith whatever you have and I will go looking for a new source of food.” Edwina looked at Eddie and said, “Alright dear. We’ll see you tonight.”
With that Eddie set off. He walked through the morning and right through midday. He walked through the afternoon and into the night. He could not remember which way he had turned and where his home was to be found. He was hungry and lonely and wanted to go home. The only thing was he did not know which way home lay.
He had travelled all day and his nose had not twitched. His tongue had remained still and had not even flicked. He was tired and hungry and as the moon rose he found a small pool and settled to drink. As he looked at the moon rising and reflecting in the pool he said to himself, “Oh moon what have I done? I have searched all day and did not find any food to take home to my wife and children. In fact, I do not even know where home is.”
With that he sat miserably and looking up he made a wish. “Oh moon; please take me home to my kith and my kin. I will pay more attention to my wanderings next time and will even find food to take to my family. I wish I was at home right now.”
Just as he finished making his wish he felt the presence of another person nearby. He turned to find Edwina coming up to him and behind her he saw Edgar and Edith. He did not know how but by some miracle he had come home. As he turned to meet his wife and children his nose began to twitch and his tongue flicked in and out. His tongue sprang from his mouth and picked up a huge juicy meat ant.
“Edwina did you see that?” Edwina replied, “Yes dear I did.” Eddie was so excited that he had found food and he said, “How are we going to get all this food home?” Edwina replied, “Eddie, do you recognise where you are? You are in your own backyard you silly old echidna. You do not need to bring the food home as it is already here.”
Eddie opened his eyes further, as wide as he could, and looked around. Indeed he was standing in his own back yard. The reflecting pool was gone and the moon was standing high in the sky. Somehow his wish had been granted. Eddie and his family would have food for a long time to come judging by the size of the anthill behind him.
Eddie, Edwina, Edgar and Edith all stood round the anthill with their noses twitching and their tongues flicking, enjoying the nice crunchy and juicy ants. When their bellies were full they all went into the house and went to bed. That night, Eddie dreamt of his grand adventure and wondered about the magic reflecting pool that had answered his wish.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
a very beautiful story to reflect in our lives.
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