“Daniel, will you please come back to the table.”
Daniel did his best to ignore the insistent voice of his mother. He was concerned. The caterpillar had not moved for two days. He had done everything right, as far as he could tell. He’d changed her water, put in fresh leaves every day, all the things he was supposed to do, but with no results.
Yet today something seemed to be different. He was pretty sure she had moved, and that was good. He approached the small terrarium and peered inside.
And he could see, clearly, delightfully, that she was awake, and she seemed to be looking right at him. He suddenly felt the urge to say hello.
“Daniel Bradley, will you please come back to the dinner table!” He knew that note in his mother’s voice. He wouldn’t have much time.
“Hey there,” he said softly, looking down at the little creature. “How are you today?”
And as absurd as it was, he could feel a voice in his head, answering his question. “Hello Daniel,” it said, “I’m quite fine, thank you.”