The Confident Butterfly
Synopsis:
Common Place is the home to many caterpillars and is ruled by Commander Critic, who prohibits growth and change. One rebellious caterpillar is about to change everything they know. Natalie embarks on a forbidden journey where she embraces her own identity, discovers the truth that has been hidden from her people, and realizes her destiny. She faces many hardships that develop her character, and she must challenge everyone’s long-held beliefs.
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Common Place is the home to many caterpillars. It lies in a quiet valley under the protection of a tall oak tree. It’s indeed a common little city where nothing much happens, and no great accomplishments ever take place. The only thing any caterpillar strives for is being average, comfortable, and safe. Change is absolutely forbidden.
Natalie sat day-dreaming at the edge of her favorite cliff. Beyond the safety of her home, she saw the river caressing the sweet earth below and the mountains joining the sky like lost lovers from a different world.
The wild colors of sunset romanced the dark colors of night. Tangy pink taffy melted into orange sherbert that drizzled across chocolate mountains. Then the wild stain vanished into a canvas of blinking stars.
The beautiful unknown beckoned her. What kind of adventure waited for her in that forbidden world? Then she sighed as reality drank up her fantasy that left her with the bitter taste of sadness. Like every other caterpillar, she would never leave the safety of her home.
As if to reinforce her situation, she glimpsed upon the border signs flanking tall bushes.
Commander Critic, the ruler of their people, arrested caterpillars for even thinking of exploring the other side. She, herself, was in violation of the laws just for coming to the edge of the city where she wrote her poetry and short stories filled with adventure.
Arriving home, Natalie was immediately scolded by her mother. “Have you been up there again scribbling nonsense in your journals? Your father and brother were out gathering leaves for dinner, and you were nowhere to be found!”
Plates clanked loudly as Mamma continued setting the table. No more than a breath passed when she added, “You’ll never be anyone important, Natalie. I don’t know why you’re so delusional in who you think you really are.”
The words stung deep within Natalie’s heart. She could feel the warmth of tears, but blinked them away. She forgave her mother for the comments. Mamma was only repeating generations of belief that infiltrated every mind within her city.
At dinner she quietly munched her leaves. It was best not to argue. She knew her voice wouldn’t be heard, her love of adventure never understood nor accepted. Then she went to bed.
For years Natalie was told her dreams were too big and she’d never reach them, that her stories were unrealistic, and she needed to stay focused on reality. Her peers thought she was a snob; her teachers thought she was a foolish day-dreamer. One teacher actually wrote that on her homework on several occasions and took extra points off. She was even labeled a trouble-maker.
Last year, when they found out about her journals, she was called into Commander Critic’s office and told she couldn’t write her adventure stories because young, impressionable minds may read them and want to leave the city and go on their own adventures. They may be encouraged to break other lawsand could lead to total anarchy.
She was tired of the small life she lived; tired of the small future she envisioned. She knew if she stayed, the sun of her spirit that warmed her dream would no longer shine. The buds of hope would become cold and black with death. And without that dream, she would seccumb to the same fate.
Natalie began devising her plan.
As the sun rose, so did Natalie’s spirits. Today she was graduating. She packed her journals because she was about to embark on the biggest adventure of her life.
After receiving her diploma, Commander Critic gave his yearly speech.
“Now that you’ve all graduated,” his monotone voice resonated through the air, “I’m reminding you to stay within the city. This is for your own safety, of course. After all, the unknown is scary and very dangerous. Those signs are there to remind you of how good your life is here.” Critic smiled. “Enjoy your new lives as leaf-gatherers!”
Everyone was cheering and clapping at his moving speech. It was good to be reminded just how good it was to be in Common Place and to be reminded of who you were.
Natalie looked at the crowd in disbelief. It fueled her desire to leave all the more. Slowly she backed away from her graduating class and headed toward the restricted zone.
Her heart pounded with fear and excitement. The sign, YOU MAY BE EATEN, towered over her. She could hear Critic’s voice in her head, After all, the unknown is scary and very dangerous.
“Oh, shut up!” Natalie yelled. “You’ve never left the city. What would you know?”
The adventure seemed fun until she encountered the dense thicket of branches where only tiny slivers of light penetrated the shadows. Squeezing her way through the crazy madness of branches, undergrowth, and rocks that impeded her path, she soon lost direction.
Her mind, racing with confusion and fear, screamed, Go back! Turn around and go back! She wanted to cry, to turn and run home, but what direction was home? She should have trusted the signs. She should have trusted the Commander because he always knew what was best.
Now she was lost and no one knew where to look for her, and even if they did, no one would dare enter the forbidden zone to rescue her. Maybe there was no other side of this maddening maze, that this was all there was—a labyrinth of lies that summoned her to what she thought was a better future. The unknown really was scary. She found herself longing for the comfortable misery of her old life.
I failed, she thought. The pain of failure reminded her of her mother’s words. Wanting to prove everyone who ever doubted her wrong, she only ended up setting herself up for a long fall. Her hopes dashed, she sat on a branch and wept.
Then the shadows shifted, and light appeared ahead. The branches were thinning ahead, which meant she was almost through. She was going to make it! With renewed energy she dove through the challenges before her and found herself in a beautiful, green field. Leafy stalks crowned with lavender blooms danced joyfully, spilling their scent into the afternoon breeze.
She climbed the tallest stalk for a better view, then sat contently on a leaf, her theater to nature, watching the sky. The invisible brush touched the heavens, transforming downy clouds into cotton candy floating in a scarlet-tinted masterpiece.
With the fading light, Natalie grabbed some leaves and spotted a hollow log for shelter. She ate, quickly settled in, covered herself with a leaf, and fell asleep.
Steady rain and wind jolted her from a peaceful sleep. The eerie wind screamed at the night. Natalie felt alone and afraid. She was wet from the rain trickling in. Shivering, she curled into a ball under the protection of the leaf and eventually fell back asleep.
Gray light peeked beneath the leaf and woke Natalie. Although the rain had stopped, clouds hung low in the air. Chewing her leafy breakfast, she surveyed the land ahead and proceeded to explore the river.
She saw the worms surface in light of the rain and realized the danger—the birds would be coming. Indeed, she may be eaten! Fear sliced through her veins like razors. She had to get back to the log where she would be protected. Then a bird dove from the sky straight for her. She couldn’t move; she couldn’t breathe.
PART II
The Confident Butterfly is available to purchase on Amazon.com
See reviews from readers:
"The Confident Butterfly" is the delightful tale of Natalie the caterpillar, who knows in her heart that she was destined to be more than what her family and friends have told her she will be. Natalie sets out to discover her true calling in life and in her journey, must overcome her fears to become the beautiful butterfly she was destined to be. Natalie's story is one of hope, courage, growth and transformation and is, in reality, the story of what's possible for us all. ~ Don Ratliff, President/Founder, Yes I Can Project.
"Your book imparts hope and courage. It will uncover life long lies, and it will bring forgiveness as well to those who have hurt people and quenched their potential for whatever reasons. It stirs long forgotten and buried dreams and hopes; it empowers you to try again, believe again, hope again. It opens your perspective and gives you a wider view, clearing up the cloudy areas of thought and belief. It is simply a wonderful, wonderful book! I loved it, I laughed and cried and felt like I was being held by Jesus as I read it. Thank you Angela! I love you!" Vickie Close
YES YES!! Everyone be sure to read it, it is precious, you will laugh and cry and be inspired that no matter where you are or how long you've been there, miracles still happen. It inspires self belief. i loved it!!!!!!!! A must for mom's to read to their children, do no pass this one by!!! I believe this book can break strongholds of the mind. I believe it can retrieve dreams long ago that seemed to slip through your hands and it seems possible to you now. It inspires hope long lost… a must read. (Vickie Close gave a second review that was posted on my husband's FB site.)
"I really enjoyed [The Confident Butterfly]! I think it is a fantastic message. Such a great gift that God has bestowed on you, to help others believe, dream & see that they are worth more than they ever thought and to dream bigger than they ever imagined." Esther Gayfield
"The Confident Butterfly is an inspiring little tale with messages galore. It’s a delightful short read that will leave you smiling and nudge you into taking action to make your own dreams come true. I highly recommend this book to anyone over the age of ten. While younger readers may not catch all the nuances, the book will not fail to encourage them toward achieving their own special destiny." Sherry Porter
"The Confident Butterfly, is a story that encourages self-esteem and finding your own idenity no matter what the challenges involved. I found it to be a cute narrative describing a hunger for wholeness of person or in this case, a caterpillar!" Sharon Tabor-Cottet
"Wow, sat down and couldn't quit reading, not just the short story but your book [Making Lemonade - A Spiritual Journey Through Pain and Divorce] also. I had so many inspirations from you short story that I'm going to pray that God will provide you with someone that you will be able to publish this in book form. The e-book is also great, but I envision such a neat little book with that butterfly on the front.... so many audience's...it is an awesome children's book also." Michele Laib
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