You Are Special

 “Stop staring at yourself in the pond, Ruby dear! You don’t look ugly at all! Don’t listen to Foxy Fox. You have your mother’s looks,” Turtle Wise – One said in his slow drawl, trying to get Ruby Rabbit to cheer up and have breakfast. “Anyway, staring sadly into the pond won’t get you any prettier than you already are.”

Immediately, Ruby Rabbit looked up from gazing into the pond.

“No, no matter how long you stare into that Pond you will never look any prettier than you already are because you already are the prettiest rabbit in the Forest!”

Dejectedly, Ruby turned back to the Pond. She didn’t agree at all.

Ruby drew a deep breath and sighed, walking slowly to the table. As it was a Sunday, Ruby went for her usual ‘whole-day-walk-around-the-Forest’. Along the way, Ruby met Foxy Fox. “Oh hello there, Ruby the prettiest creature in the Forest. Oops. I meant ugliest creature. Ha ha ha ha ha! Do you know what I heard today? Well of course not. You’re way too ugly to be considered any way!” Foxy Fox teased haughtily. “I’ll become the next Miss Forest!”

Without saying a word, Ruby, left the clearing. Strolling around the Forest, Ruby was sad, lonely, depressed and dejected.

“Who did Foxy think she was? Tormenting her all the time and what did she say? Was there going to be a new Miss Forest? Did the current Miss Forest decide to step down to let the younger generation have a turn?” Ruby thought. “Surely it was just one of sly Foxy’s tricks.” Out of the blue, Ruby thought of a brilliant plan.

Looking much happier, Ruby went to her friend, Bella Butterfly. Ruby asked Bella if she would be kind enough to lend her her wings just for the day so she could look prettier. Bella agreed and the swap was completed.

With her new wings, Ruby left to find Percy Peacock.

“Percy, will you lend me your beautiful tail just for today? I promise I’ll give it back to you tomorrow,” Ruby pleaded.

Percy agreed and only allowed Ruby to borrow his tail if he could borrow hers. You see, Ruby absolutely loathed her short fluffy tail but he also hated his long and annoying tail.