This happened many years ago before heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates and wet slippery, sugary kisses. This is the story of Valen a bug. Valen once over heard a traveler bug talking about a place that must have been many trees away. Words like unconditional, accepting, caring, respect, admiration, and so on were used by the traveler bug to describe this place. He said he had found love.
This sounded grand to Valen. What an idea he thought and this must be quite a journey. He ran home to pack and begin his quest. He took very little and was off. He first ran into a wonderfully brilliant butterfly. Hello Miss Butterfly my name is Valen and I'm on my way to find Love, do you know where it is? Miss Butterfly asked him if he was attractive, stating you have to be attractive to find love. He did know if he was or not or even what attractive was, and asked her to explain.
I was once a caterpillar, she started; now I am a butterfly. Valen still did not understand. I went into a cocoon and came out a butterfly she continued. Do you think I am attractive ask Valen still wondering? Yes Valen, I see the awe in your gaze, and kindness in your smile. Being attractive is not with your body or my wings, it was what held it all together. Valen understood, thanked her and was off.
Next Valen ran into an old Praying Mantis and asked if him if he knew where Love was located. The old Mantis rose from his mediation cushion and walked Valen down to a pond. The wind was still and the water mirror like. What do you see Valen asked the old Mantis? I see water said Valen. What do you reflected by the water asked the old one? I see the sun, trees, plants, birds, and both of us replied Valen. When you look up do you see that the water did not allow something to be in his refection ask the Mantis? Valen looked back and forth and found no difference and said that to his elder. Why is that Valen asked? Why do you think asked the old Mantis? Valen thought long and hard, looked at the water then to the plants, then to the sky. By know the old Mantis had napped, cooked dinner, and was severing Valen tea. The water does not judge Valen asked meekly? The old one smiled broadly and asked Valen to be his guest for the night.
The next morning, traveling was some what lighter. Valen saw things had a missed before. There seemed to be more air. He had been moving for days and weeks when he came to a castle. He stated he was on a quest and had traveled long and far asking to meet with the Princess Belly Bear. Valen was nervous he had never meet royalty before. He bowed before the Princess and said he was trying to find the town of love. Princess Belly Bear asked but had he learned and seen. He said I have seen sunrises and full moons and water looks at them just the same. Why asked the Princess? The water reflects even if no one is there to see said Valen. Why asked Princess Belly Bear? It feels the same about everything. What else have you learned asked the Princess? That being attractive has nothing to do with my or anyone's surface said Valen. Why did Valen what to find this place asked the Princess? He told her of the traveler he over heard. Princess Belly Bear leaned her head over and placed it on Valen chest. Then she placed his hands over where her ear had been and Valen felt his heart beating. That is where you are looking for she said openly. Valen finally understood love had been within him the whole time. The Princess Belly Bear was so overwhelmed that some one so small would take on such large and noble quest she dedicated a day to him. Happy St. Valenbugs Day!
For my valentine Princess Belly Bear Teryn
If you think some one might enjoy this feel free to pass it on
�2003 Daniel J Harris