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.
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