"A Likely Pair"

© 2025 N.K. Lazarre for The Inspired Bee

Sometimes, the greatest friendships and adventures are closer than we realize. Follow two friends on their journey through nature as one shows the other the importance of pausing to appreciate the little things.

"A Likely Pair"

Kitten was all alone and seeking a friend to join him on an adventure.

He went out for a walk to see who and what he could find.

While on his journey, he saw a litter of kittens.

He approached them to ask if they wanted to join him. After all they were kittens just like him, and he was sure they were adventurous and playful.

" Excuse me ", he said. "I am out seeking an adventure. Would you like to join me ? ".

One of the kittens yawned and sleepily replied, " No. We are tired and want to take a nap ".

Kitten continued on his journey and saw a flock of birds nearby.

He leaped in excitement at the sight of them but before he could ask if they wanted to join him, the birds flew away.

Kitten was confused, but still hopeful. So off he went.

He suddenly stopped when he saw a dog. The dog was on a leash being walked by his human. Kitten did not bother interrupting the dog because the dog already appeared to be on a special adventure.

Discouraged, kitten went on his way until he stopped and sat near a rose garden. He stared at the flowers wondering if he should continue on his journey.

Just as he decided to return home, a butterfly flew out of the garden and landed on his nose.

Butterfly said to kitten, " I am looking for someone to join me in the garden. Would you like to come ? ".

Kitten responded, " Yes ". He then followed butterfly into the garden.

As he followed, kitten observed butterfly moving from flower to flower. Curious, he asks butterfly, " Why do you move from flower to flower ? Don't they all look smell the

same? ".

Butterfly explained, " The flowers provide me with food and in return, I collect their pollen and carry it to other flowers. In this way, they nourish me and I help them grow. Although they look the same, each rose is unique and special. Perhaps you can smell them and see for yourself ".

Kitten followed butterfly from rose to rose taking the time to smell their delightful scent.

When kitten smelled the final rose in the garden, he was thankful for the experience, but wished that he could be like butterfly and help the flowers.

He told butterfly, " I wish I could be like you and help the flowers grow ".

As soon as kitten said this, he let out a big sneeze. Butterfly laughed and said to kitten,

" You too have been helping the flowers ".

" I have ? How? ", kitten asked.

Butterfly responded, " Sometimes the answer is right under your nose ".

Kitten looked down below his nose to his whiskers.

Butterfly continued, " When you took the time to smell each flower, you collected pollen on your whiskers and moved it from flower to flower ".

Upon hearing this, kitten sat in awe of what he had done and the experience that butterfly had shared with him.

Butterfly returned again to rest on kitten's nose and thanked kitten for joining him.

As butterfly flew away, kitten looked out over the garden. And for the first time, he saw the rose garden in a whole new light.