Stephen Cosgrove - Creole

D edicated to Gage and Hunter Cosgrove. Each overcame amazing circumstances to become the successful young men they are. Grandsons both with an emphasis on grand.

Stephen/GrmPa

Contents

B eyond the horizon in the middle of the Crystal Sea, was a beautiful island called Serendipity. There were forests and meadows and much, much more. More magical than most was the Weezalana Swamp.

It was on a foggy, foggy morning deep in this swamp from a bumpy, speckled egg, Creol was born.

S he was big and very, very ugly. She had warts on her fingers, warts on her toes, bony pointed knees and a big beak of a nose.

But, beneath all of that which made her seem so ugly was the most beautiful heart that had ever beat anywhere on the Island of Serendipity.

Because of her beautiful heart, Creol thought the most beautiful thoughts that could ever be thought. She was gentle as a butterflys wing because her heart was as tender as could be.

Day in and day out she would sit alone sniffing the flowers and talking softly to the trees that grew in the swamp.

O ne day as she was sitting beneath the large knobby-knot tree, Creol whispered gently to the wind, Maybe I should share all of my lovely thoughts of joy and happiness with the other animals that live in the swamp. Maybe that would be a good thing to do.

So, with that in mind, she waddled off to find some of her fellow creatures with whom she could share her love and friendship.

B ut it was not to be as simple as Creol had hoped it would be. As noisy as that swamp could be with all the animals living there, it would fall into a silent hush as Creol walked by.

The birds stopped singing, the possums played dead, and the alligators all slipped away.

For, you see, they thought that because she was so ugly, Creol just had to be mean, too!

C reol looked and looked but nowhere could she find a single creature to share her thoughts and her friendship. Soon it became very apparent that all the other creatures were hiding from her, as if they were playing some mean-spirited game.

Finally, after looking and looking, she sat with a heavy thump on an old rotten stump while watermelon tears slipped down her cheeks.

Why does everyone run away? she softly sobbed. All I want is someone to share my thoughts with, someone that could become my friend.

L arge oily tears rolled down her cheeks, over her belly, and finally landed with a wet ker-plunk on the head of a tiny baby alligator sitting just below. He looked up and saw Creols knee and then her big knobby body and her massive head.

Surprisingly, the little gator didnt run away. Instead he stuttered, Why are you cr-cr- crying on me?

C reol looked down at the little creature sitting beside her. I am so sorry, she sobbed. I didnt know you were down there. The last thing I would ever want to do would be to hurt someone.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Creol realized that the little alligator had not run away. She cocked her head and asked curiously, Why didnt you run away like everyone else? Dont you think Im ugly and mean?

I di-didnt run away because I wawant someone to talk to. The little gator said. The others in the swamp all la-la-laugh at me because I stutter.

Creol look down and smiled I would never laugh at you.

In a flash of understanding they both realized they were exactly what each had been looking for -- a friend.

F or the longest of times the two friends sat talking and talking about this and that. They talked and talked like good friends are wont to do. And then they talked some more.

Its too bad you and I dont have even more friends to share our thoughts with. Creol sighed. I wonder what we could do to convince the others not to laugh at you and not to be afraid of me?

There was no ready answer and so for a while they sat there like two bumps on a log.

Finally, Creol clapped her hands. I know what we can do. Ill hide behind a big bush and you can stand in front. When all the creatures have gathered around, I will tell you what to say. They wont run away because they cant see me. I will whisper wonderful things for you to say.

Reluctantly the tiny alligator agreed.

C reol carefully hid behind a thick-leafed bush and gently pushed a very frightened alligator into the clearing.

The alligator timidly called out for all the creatures of the swamp to gather around. He was so scared, that had it not been for Creol holding him in place, he would have skittered away to hide.

Pu-pu please, he stuttered, they all will la-laugh at the way I ta-talk.