Tulips and Worms

            by Lindsay Rotblatt

 

Charlotte, standing 4 foot tall and one inch, loved everything about nature. She loved the bugs that would crawl on her when she played in the sandbox, the bees that buzzed around her head when she picked flowers, and even the worms that would slime around her freshly planted tulips. Charlotte loved tulips too. Especially the pink and yellow ones because she said they brightened up her day. Charlotte loved that her hair was brown like the dirt and that her eyes were blue like the sky and the ocean. Whenever Charlotte walked to school she’d make sure to take the road near the most nature because Charlotte loved being surrounded by trees.

 

 

One day, when she was walking to school, a deer crossed her path. “Hello” she said to the deer, but it said nothing back. Charlotte waved her hands at the deer, trying to get its attention, but instead, the deer bit her arm! “Ouch!” Charlotte cried, “mother deer, why did you do that to me?” But the deer said nothing and just pranced away. If I love nature so much, why did nature just bite me?  She wondered, but kept on walking.  She loved nature so much, but she didn’t understand why nature didn’t love poor Charlotte back!

She arrived at school just in time for the morning’s lemonade and animal crackers, which she was usually excited about, but this morning was different. Charlotte sat by herself thinking about the deer that had bit her arm. “Now Charlotte,” her teacher Ms. May said, “you must cheer up now, we have our day to begin!”

“But Ms. May,” Charlotte responded, “I love nature, but I don’t think it loves me!”

“Now Charlotte, don’t be silly! Today we’re going to learn about butterflies and snakes. Maybe you’ll see by the end of the day that nature loves you.”

 

 

“I guess,” shrugged Charlotte, but she agreed to listen to her teacher and participate.

“Good morning everyone!” Exclaimed Ms. May. “Today we’re going to be learning about different kinds of insects and vertebrates!” Charlotte clapped with excitement, but all the boys stared at her judgingly.

“Eww, Charlotte likes bugs!” yelled out Tommy, “girls don’t like bugs, they like flowers!”

Charlotte again sat confused. “I like flowers, too!” she said, but Tommy paid little attention. Ms. May was upset with Tommy’s behavior, but she decided to go on with the day in hopes that maybe Tommy and Charlotte would be able to work out their differences. Charlotte just shook her head and continued to become excited about the day’s lesson plan.

“We are going to learn about vertebrates today,” Ms. May said, “can anyone tell me what a vertebrate is? Please raise your hand.” Ms. May called on Charlie.

“Isn’t it a kind of animal?” Charlie inquired.

“Good guess, but can anyone be more specific?” Ms. May responded.

“What about a mammal?” Joseph yelled.

“Now Joseph,” Ms. May said, “Please let me call on you. You’re not completely wrong, however, can anyone tell me what a vertebrate is?” Charlotte was apprehensive to speak up in class because of Tommy making fun of her, however, she raised her hand. “Yes, Charlotte?” Ms. May said. “Do you have an answer?”

“I think so,” Charlotte said quietly, “isn’t it any animal with a backbone? Aren’t we vertebrates too?” The class was quiet and Charlotte looked around. “Am I right?” she said apprehensively.

“Fantastic!” Ms. May said. “Charlotte has been reading her books. So now class, we’re going to break up into pairs. Tommy, you’re going to be Charlotte’s partner, alright?”

“Yes, Ms. May” Tommy said in an upset voice. He didn’t like that Charlotte knew more about animals that he did.

“But, Ms. May!” Charlotte cried, “Tommy doesn’t like me!”

“Well,” Ms. May responded, “I think you two should be fine together. You’ll see, just be opened minded about it.” And with a deep sigh from both Tommy and Charlotte, Ms. May began to explain the project to the class.

“Today you and your partner are going to be given a booklet filled with different kinds of animals. If they are vertebrates, color them in! If they aren’t however, do not color them in. Does everyone understand? Please pick one team member to come up to me to get a packet and some colored markers.”

 

 

Tommy looked at Charlotte and said, “You can go get them!” Charlotte stared at Tommy. Taking the higher road, she nodded and went up to get the markers and packet. Charlotte returned to their desk with the day’s materials and gave Tommy a stern look.

“Here, can we just do this civilly?” Charlotte professed.

“Fine.” Tommy responded and they began to color. “So Charlotte, is a bat a vertebrate?”

“Of course it is, Tommy, don’t you see its backbones?”

“Oh, I’m starting to understand this” And Tommy colored in the bat. “Okay, next animal Charlotte, it’s a worm.”

“Tommy, why don’t you try to guess?”

“Okay…” Tommy said nervously. “Is it not a vertebrate?”

“CORRECT!” Charlotte exclaimed, “Good work!”

“Really?” Tommy responded hesitantly, “Do you really mean it?”

“Of course I do,” said Charlotte, “let’s continue.” So Tommy and Charlotte continued to color in the dinosaurs and birds and other vertebrates in their packet.

“Five minutes left,” called out Ms. May, but Tommy and Charlotte had already finished their lesson packet.

“Here Ms. May,” Tommy said, “it is Charlotte and my lesson, is it okay?”

“Good work you two. How was it working with Charlotte?”

“Really nice,” Tommy said, sounding a little ashamed for how he treated Charlotte earlier in the day. “It’s amazing how much she knows about this stuff!”

“I know,” said Ms. May, “Its important though, Tommy, to always respect your other classmates. You never know when you may need their help.”

Tommy shook his head in agreeance. “You’re right,” he said, “Thank you Charlotte! You were a great help!”

“Your welcome Tommy,” Charlotte said. “Would you like to walk with me home today? You live near my house and I could show you all the beauty in nature?”

“That would be really cool,” Tommy responded, “can we play with the worms in the ground and all the bugs?”

“Of course we can!” shouted out Charlotte, “I love worms and bugs. I love nature! Be careful of the deer though. They’re beautiful but sometimes they nibble a little bit, okay?”

“Thanks Charlotte,” Tommy said, “I can’t wait.”