In a wonderful forest on a mighty oak tree in a cosy hollow lived a charming squirrel. And she was beautiful in every way. Her fur was sleek, her tail fluffy, and the tufts on her ears were absolutely delightful, and the way she bounded through the trees was breathtaking. Even her name was beautiful — Bella. But the squirrel had no friends. And that was because she kept looking and looking, and couldn't find anyone better than herself.
One day she was walking through the forest. She met a cheerful and nimble rabbit.
Oh, Bella, let's run together. We're going to play tag with the other animals.
No way, rabbit! You're cross-eyed, your ears are long, and your tail is just a little bob, and your name is b-r-r
The squirrel snorted and bounded away.
A name's a name — "Floppy" — my mum gave it to me and I don't need any other
The rabbit thought cheerfully and ran off to his friends.
The squirrel met a little mouse near her home one day.
Bella, please help me, my burrow entrance is blocked with pine cones, and my paw hurts.
Not likely. You're so small, and you seem to be poorly too. No, you'll manage on your own
And she hid away in her hollow.
And one day a white bear cub named Snowball came to visit the brown bear.
The squirrel saw them together and started laughing at Snowball:
Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee. White as snow, and your name's Snowball too. Oh, I'll split my sides laughing, ha-ho-hee, have you looked in a mirror?
Bella mocked him.
Snowball burst into tears, feeling hurt. He'd always been proud of his white fur, but now they were laughing and insulting him.
The animals wouldn't stand for it. And the brown bear spoke in his deep voice:
So what, should we all be squirrels now? And live without friends? Open your eyes and look around: everyone's different, in height, in colour, in talents. Everyone has their own special qualities. The rabbit's cross-eyed, but those eyes help him see all his enemies. But he's fast and cheerful.
The mouse is small but clever. She's always ready to help everyone. And if she twisted her paw, well, that can happen to anyone. But she's so kind. And why do you mock my Snowball? He was born white, you're ginger, I'm brown, and the frog is green. So should we laugh at you? My bear cub won't be seen against the white snow in winter, but your fiery beauty can be spotted from a kilometre away. So which is better?
The bear growled and asked:
Should we all be squirrels then?
And live without friends like this?
Look around you quickly
And perhaps you'll understand.
And the ant spoke as if he were the bravest of all:
There are differences in this world beyond counting, and each one here is just as they are.
The little ant is small, but oh so clever.
The hedgehog is small, but has a big heart.
Though covered in spines, he's not mean at all.
The hedgehog also spoke, though he'd been quiet until now:
A white rabbit, a ginger fox. A green frog is lovely too.
If a grasshopper has a broken leg, that doesn't mean he's bad now.
One is faster, another more agile. One is kinder, another wiser.
There are differences in this world beyond counting, and each one here is just as they are.
The friends all said together:
It's not for us to decide, not for us to judge.
For we must live together in friendship.
