Progressive 09
The Tiny Giant
At Meadow Animal School, every animal had a reputation. The grasshoppers were the fastest, hopping across fields with ease. The bees were bossy and busy, always moving from one task to another. Most animals were afraid of their sharp stingers. The worms were slow and quiet, and many animals forgot they existed. The praying mantises looked serious, always holding their hands together. Their other animals did not dare bother them.
Caterpillar was small, slow, and a little awkward. He did not fit in anywhere. The grasshoppers teased him. “Caterpillar, maybe if you jump really hard, you’ll move an inch!” they laughed.
The bees were not kind either. “Do you know how to get anywhere?” they buzzed. “No wings, no speed—how do you survive?” Caterpillar just sighed and kept his head low. He was not fast or flashy, and he felt lonely.
Even at lunch, Caterpillar felt left out. He sat at the corner table, slowly eating leaves. The grasshoppers jumped around showing off, and the bees zipped from table to table, bragging.
One day, Caterpillar stopped coming to school. Everyone noticed, but no one said they missed him. “Guess he couldn’t handle it,” a grasshopper said. “Too tired to walk across the room.” Even the bees felt a little bad. The worms said nothing—they were too slow to respond.
A few weeks later, something surprising happened. In the cafeteria, a new group of colorful bugs appeared. Their wings shined under the lights. Everyone stopped to look.
“Who are they?” asked a grasshopper.
“They’re butterflies,” whispered a bee. “Where did they come from?”
One butterfly with bright orange wings landed on a chair and smiled. “Hello, everyone. Remember me? I’m Caterpillar.”
The cafeteria was full of whispers. “No way!” “Caterpillar?!” “What happened?!”
“It’s true,” said Butterfly, grinning. “I wasn’t stuck on the ground. I was waiting for the right moment to fly.”
The grasshoppers stared. “You can fly higher than us?” one asked.
“Much higher,” Butterfly said, flying to the ceiling. “And we are friends with the bees. They are not so bad once you get to know them.”
The bees nodded. “They are cool,” one said.
Even the worms cheered. The praying mantis gave a slow nod.
From that day on, everything changed. Butterflies were admired at school, not because they were better, but because even the smallest can become amazing. Caterpillar had transformed into Butterfly, showing everyone that it is what is inside that counts.
Comprehension Questions
What animals were fast and strong at Meadow Animal School?
Why did Caterpillar feel left out at school?
What happened a few weeks after Caterpillar disappeared?
How did Caterpillar change into Butterfly?
What lesson did the other animals learn from Caterpillar?
Your Thoughts
Have you ever felt left out like Caterpillar? How did you handle it?
Why is it important to be patient for the right moment, as Caterpillar did?
How can small or quiet people still achieve big things?
