Chapter 1 - Marissa

Out on a tiny twig, at the end of a gnarly limb, of an old apple tree, hung a little cocoon.

A heart was beating inside, ever so faint. It began to wiggle on this shining bright day because it was growing. It’s skin cracked and out came a little pupa, with pieces of cocoon stuck all around it.

“Yeeccch! This is gross.

What a terrible way to wake from a warm sleep. Hey, wait a minute. Where is my caterpillar nose? Where is my black and orange fur? Something’s different here.”

Chapter 3 - I don't do New and Different!

Corky smiled. “Why don’t you try a taste of that flower down there.” pointing to a branch quite some distance below.

“That’s too far! I would have to take the gnarly limb turnpike, to the trunk interstate, deal with all that ant traffic... It would take me a week to crawl down there. Besides, flowers are yucky.”

“Have you ever tried them?” asked Corky.

“No! Flowers are new and different for me and I don’t do ‘New and Different.” Marissa took another bite of leaf but, she could barely chew it.

“Why don’t you try out those new wings of yours? If you don’t like the taste of that flower, you can fly back up and eat some more of this green leaf.”

“Fly? I don’t fly.” At that moment, a strong breeze blew through the air. Marissa’s new wings were like full sails in the wind and off she went. She peeked through her fingers. “Wow, I’m floating.” When she got close, she grabbed at the pink flower and crashed into a cloud of yellow pollen dust. It was not a smooth landing, but it was a soft one just the same.

“Nice job!” shouted Corky. “Bring some of those pink petals back up here.”

“OK, fine! So I flew. I tried it and I didn’t like it.” snorted Marissa. “In fact, flying is a bit over-rated if you ask me.” Dusting herself off. “Mmmm, this pollen dust taste pretty good, but flying isn’t for this Cat-a-what-ever, I’ve become.”

“Well I have a long walk ahead of me and I had better get started if I am to make it back by next week.”

Marissa was still thinking like a caterpillar.

Chapter 4 - Caity the Grasshopper

Along her walk back to the trunk, Marissa bumped into Caity the grasshopper.

“Pardon me, how often do you use your wings?” Marissa asked.

“Quite often.” said Caity, “That is an odd question for a butterfly. Why do you ask?”

“Wings just seem to get in the way and I have six good legs to take me anywhere I wish to go.” said Marissa.

“Well, just where is it that you wish to go?” Caity asked.

“I want to get back to that twig near the top of the tree.” answered Marissa.

“You are a butterfly, with wings, but you wish to walk all the way up this trunk?”

“I am not a butterfly by choice.” said Marissa “I am a caterpillar that’s changed.”

“Maybe you ought to take a new look at yourself, dear. Change can make things easier. Your legs will get you home, but those wings will take you to new places that will change your life.”

“Thank you very much Caity. I’ve had enough new places, and life changes for one day.”

Marissa said good-bye and marched on. “Life Changes, ppff!"

"Pretty fancy talk, if you ask me. Sounds more like that New-Age thinking stuff those Praying Mantis’s were preaching last spring.

"Not for this Flutter-by!

Chapter 5 - Rush Hour on the Trunk Interstate

The next day Marissa finally reached the on ramp to the Trunk Interstate, and it was crowded. “Great. Rush hour.” Marissa hated traffic. Caterpillars were too slow and her legs were tired. “And, those ants, always zooming by with their biting comments.” This was not going to be easy, but she had to get home. When traffic slowed, off she went. She noticed right away her wings were the tallest load on the road. “Why weren’t there any other butterflies on the highway?”

A couple of red ants in the next lane slowed to take a look at Marissa. The first ant yelled,
“Nice wings, But-ta-fly, do they work?” and took off laughing. The next ant shouted, “Yo! Moth, get a leg out!”

“Oooooooh, those ants!” Marissa, just ignored them and looked ahead. There she saw the reason traffic had slowed. In the middle of the road, was a Grandma lady bug.

“I was bumped from behind and lost my glasses.” said the lady bug as Marissa helped her out of traffic. “With out those glasses I can’t see a darn thing.”

Marissa saw the glasses and though traffic was fast and furious, she used her wings like a giant stop sign, to halt traffic, go in and grab the glasses. Sadly, the lenses were cracked.

“Bless your heart. That was very brave. I don’t know what I would have done without my glasses. My name is Dotty.” As she put the glasses on her nose and adjusted the chain a little tighter, she said, “I should have flown in the first place.”

“You still fly?” Marissa was shocked. “Aren’t you afraid?”

“Afraid of what?” asked Dotty.

“I don’t know.” Marissa said, “Afraid of getting blown off course by a strong wind or getting lost?”

“Sure, I’m afraid of a lot of things, but I am not going to let my fears hold me back from where I want to go. Now, I must be off to protect my garden from those pesky little aphids.” With that, she laced up her roller blades and away she flew.

“Me brave?” thought Marissa. “That little old lady bug was the brave one, flying with broken glasses. If she can face her fears, what am I doing?” Marissa took a deep breath and shouted

“Out of my way ants!!! Marissa the walking butterfly needs to get home.”

Chapter 6 - Maggie Magpie

The following morning Marissa had walked up the sunny side of the tree.

A large shadow flew by. There were no clouds. She turned just in time to see Maggie the Magpie flying straight for her. “Yikes!”


Marissa ducked, flattening her wings open as the Magpie missed, but the colors of her wings stopped the Magpie in mid air.

“Wow! You surprised me with those wings.” said Maggie. “At first I thought you were a moth and I was set to bring you back for a quick snack for my little ones. Those wings are beautiful. Why aren’t you using them?”


“It’s a long story,” Marissa said, “If I may ask, how are you going to teach your little ones to fly?”


“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about that. I just fell out of the nest. I would have liked some help. That’s good food for thought. Oops, there’s a fat juicy caterpillar. Got to go.” and Maggie flew off.

Chapter 7 - New Horizons

It had been a long hard road up the trunk of the old apple tree and Marissa was almost home. She was hungry and green leafs were not tasting any better. She heard a voice in the distance. Up above, it was Dotty. She was caught in an old spider web. Corky was there too. He had come down to help cut her free with his sharp pinchers.

“Listen young man, I can get out of this mess by myself.” Dotty scolded.

Marissa saw that Corky had two strands to cut before Dotty would drop free. “Drop?” Where would Dotty land? With her wing wrapped in sticky webbing she would not be able to fly. She would keep falling until she hit the ground.

“Corky! “Dotty!” yelled Marissa, but both were too busy to hear.

Marissa looked around for help, but she was the only one around. “Gulp.” “I am too afraid to fly” as tears formed in her eyes. Corky cut the last strand. Only then, did they realize their mistake. Dotty was falling. Without a second thought Marissa jumped. Her wings spread as she swooped underneath the lady bug to catch Dotty on her back. “Hold on.” she told Dotty and she beat her wings, lifting them both up, to land on the very branch she started from in the beginning.

“Thank you!” said Dotty “I was doomed for sure. I guess I didn’t see that web with these broken glasses and thank you young man.” said Dotty “I’m afraid I’m not going to be the same old lady bug I used to be, flying around, ridding the world of pesky aphids. I’m going to miss those fields of flowers, pollen and nectar.”

To which Marissa offered, “Dotty, I am ready to see some of those places you speak of, that is, if you will accept a lift from me.”

“Marissa that would be wonderful.” said Dotty. They both looked over at Corky.

“Don’t you two worry about me.” Corky smiled, “I kind of like the way things are changing around here. A new family of beetles just moved in next door and I’ll have plenty of work to do. Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing that next little cocoon get ready to hatch.”

Marissa gave Corky a big hug. “Oh, hey! Corky, I brought you something new and different to taste.” and she handed Corky a large pink petal from the flower she landed in down below.

Corky felt all warm inside and hugged Marissa back. “Now that you have grown into your new wings, you come back and visit your old friend Corky, and I do mean often!”

Then Marissa, with Dotty on her back, flew off in search of sweeter flowers and new horizons.