Bugging in the City

Once upon a time there was a curious young ladybug named June who lived in the country, inside a large oak tree, next to a little house, where she had a friend whose name was Mikey. Mikey loved to play with insects. You see, Mikey had a special gift. He was able to talk with insects, in his own language. One morning, while Mikey was kneeling under a tree in his backyard observing anthills, June flew over and sat on his shoulder. “Mikey, how is the big city you often go to, on the weekends with your family?” asked June. “Well June, in the big city there are many tall buildings and different types of people, just like your family of bugs,” replied Mikey. June yearned to go with Mikey one day to the big city, but her mother didn’t want June to leave the country side. Her mother thought it wasn’t good, for a young ladybug to leave home so soon. She feared the bugs in the city were so different from the bugs at home and that something might happen to her sweet daughter. June’s mother knew the big city didn’t have an abundance of trees and it might be difficult for a young country bug like June, to get around. Her biggest fear was she might not ever see June again. “Mikey, where do the bugs live in the big city?” inquired June. “I always see them when we go to the park,” replied Mikey. “The park Mikey, what is a park?” asked June with a curious look on her face. “The park is a place where there are plenty of trees, flowers and grass,” answered Mikey who loved going to the park. He would sit and watch people sail their toy boats, while eating hotdogs and ice cream. His mother always stopped there for lunch, after shopping at the mall. “Mikey, the park sounds like home in the country,” said June. “I wish one day we could go together. Maybe I can eat hotdogs and ice cream too?” Later that afternoon, June decided she would talk to her grandfather and get his advice about leaving home to take a trip to the city. He had been around for over a 100 years and was very wise. So June flew over to the old oak tree by the pond, where her grandfather would often hang out on a limb. He kept watch for the soldier ants that were eating everything in their path. “Oh Granddad, are you up there?” shouted June. “Yes, I am here June,” answered Granddad. June flew up and stood on a limb next to her grandfather and asked if he thought it was a good idea to see the big city, with her friend Mikey. “Who is this friend named Mikey and have I ever met him?” asked Granddad. “No, Granddad you have not,” replied June. “He is a five year old boy, and he is very nice to me.” June thought her grandfather might get upset, because Mikey was a human, but he didn’t say anything. “Now tell me Granddad, if it’s a good idea or not taking a trip to the city?” requested June. “Well maybe June, the city from what I recall doesn’t have many trees,” replied Granddad knowing without them a bug could get lost. “You must stay aware of your surroundings and try to memorize places and things.” Granddad wanted June to clearly understand, how difficult it could be moving around the city. “One more thing June,” said Granddad. “Yes, what is it Granddad?” she asked. “If you happen to get into trouble always remember to pray, that’s what grandfather Praying Mantis told me,” replied Granddad. “What shall I pray?” asked June. “Ask God, to please help you get out of whatever trouble you’ve gotten into,” answered Granddad. “You see God likes bugs, He used us to help His servant Moses punish disobedient humans, by destroying their food supply.” “Is that why most humans don’t like us today?” asked June. “Maybe so June, but I think that’s when they started calling us bugs instead of insects,” replied Granddad. “Anyway young lady you just take care of yourself, so your mother doesn’t kill me if something should go wrong.” Granddad also, knew June was very determined to follow her heart and would go anyway. So he told her to trust no one and make sure to get back before night fall. That way her mother wouldn’t get worried and start looking for June. That night as June was sitting on the edge of her bed; she looked up at the stars in the sky and made a wish on a shooting star. “I wish one day very soon, I could go to the big city with my friend Mikey,” whispered June. The next morning while June was eating breakfast on the front hedges, she saw her dear friend Mikey and his family getting into their car. June thought to herself that maybe they were on a trip to the city. So June flew as fast as she could and went through the car window, before it could get out of the driveway. Once inside, she took her favorite seat on Mikey’s right shoulder. “Hey! Mikey, it’s me!” whispered June. Mikey thought he was hearing things, but the only person in the back seat with him, was his one year old sister Naomi. “Mikey it’s me!” whispered June again. Mikey began to smile, because now he knew whose little voice was calling him. “Hi June, what are you doing here?” asked Mikey. “I’m going to the big city with you,” replied June. Mikey couldn’t believe his dear friend June came along for the ride. “June, how did you know we were going to the city?” inquired Mikey. “Mikey isn’t it the weekend?” asked June. “You said that’s when you and your family go to the city.” Mikey was surprised June remembered, when he was traveling to the city. “Well you are right June,” answered Mikey. “Today we’re traveling to the big city and going shopping for school clothes.” While Mikey was speaking with June, he heard his mother’s voice. “What is with all the whispering Mikey, are you playing with your baby sister?” she asked. Mikey didn’t know his mother could hear him talking with June. “No Mom,” replied Mikey. “I mean yes, Mom!” Mikey, had to change his answer quickly, because his mother didn’t believe he could communicate with bugs. “Are you hungry Mikey?” asked his mother. “Yes Mom,” answered Mikey. “Can we get some potato chips?” “Well, we are going to stop at the store shortly,” replied his mother. “Fruit is really what I had in mind for you and your sister.” Five minutes later, Mikey’s mother stopped at a small gas station for some more gas and snacks. When Mikey’s mother got out of the car, she took his little sister out of her car seat and began to unlock Mikey’s seatbelt. “Do you want to come inside with us?” she asked. “No Mom, I am staying inside the car,” answered Mikey in a hurry. “Well, I am going to lock the doors,” said his mother. “Blow the horn if someone tries to bother you and I’ll be right back.” Mikey’s mother knew she had to rush back, because he was too young to leave in the car by himself. June, staring outside the car window noticed some hedges close by to eat on. “Mikey, I’m hungry and I see something to eat by the side of the store,” said June. “Can we go over there?” “No, I must stay inside the car, but you can go,” replied Mikey. “So please come right back June, or my mother will leave you.” So June flew out the car window and went over to eat some hedges. While eating on a leaf, a gust of wind came by and tossed June off into a sticky spider’s web. “This is dreadful,” cried June trapped and helpless inside in a spider’s web. “I sure hope no spider is home or I will be someone’s dinner tonight.” All of a sudden, June heard a rumbling in the hedges and then an old rusty looking spider appeared. “What, a treat for me?” asked the spider. “I haven’t had a tasty little ladybug like you in years.” June was extremely frightened, but tried to appear brave. “No, I am not your treat, you ugly spider,” replied June. “You better stay away from me!” Suddenly, June heard Mikey’s voice calling her from a distance. She only wished that he would hurry, before the spider would eat her.