Zorana,
Little owl,
Lived in a beautiful little barn,
Tucked away in the lovely countryside with green fields all around her.
She loved flying.
As soon as she woke up she would bounce up and down on the windowsill,
Waiting for her mama to say it was okay to go outside.
Then she would fly up and down the hills and round and round the trees.
She loved the feeling of the wind in her feathers,
And when it was cold,
The cold air would make her eyes and nose run.
It made her feel alive.
Her favourite place to fly was over the lake that was near her barn.
She could see so many interesting things in it,
Which her papa had told her were called reflections.
The things above her and all around her,
Like the trees and the moon and the stars,
Were then reflections in the water.
Her papa had taught her how to fly,
How to swoop and dive,
And where the best places were to find food.
Her mama had taught her how to be good and kind to others,
And to always say thank you to the great owl for providing food for her and her family,
And she tried her best to remember these things.
One evening she was sat on a tree with her grandpa owl and she was complaining about her friend.
She said she wasn't a nice owl,
That she said nasty things and she was mean.
Grandpa sat very quiet for a moment and then told her that each person we met was like looking in the lake.
It was a reflection.
The same stuff that was in others was in us too.
Zorena didn't like that and told her grandpa that she didn't have any of that in her,
That she wasn't mean or nasty.
Her grandpa listened to her and said,
When there are clouds in the sky and you are flying over the water,
Do you see the reflection of the moon and the stars?
She shook her head and flapped her wings,
Excited because she knew the answer.
No grandpa,
You can't see anything in the water when there are clouds,
There is no reflection.
He quietly nodded,
You are right,
You cannot see the moon and the stars in the water when there are clouds,
But does that mean that there are no moon and stars?
Zorena wondered if grandpa was getting too old and was starting to forget things.
She answered gently,
No grandpa,
That's not it.
The moon and the stars are still there,
But they are hiding behind the clouds,
That's why you can't see them.
Grandpa nodded his head and gave himself and his big strong wings a great big shake.
So that means then that just because you can't see something,
It doesn't mean it's not there.
Is that what you are saying?
Zorena didn't answer.
She knew her grandpa was now talking about her friend being mean.
She realised that it could be that just because she couldn't see meanness inside of herself,
It didn't mean it wasn't there.
She felt really grumpy and decided to go off and fly,
Because she didn't want to think about this anymore.
So off she flew,
Round around the trees,
Up and down the hills and over the lake.
She saw the moon and the stars in the reflection and she saw herself,
Her eyes and her nose running with the cold and her feathers blowing in the wind.
When she got home,
Her mama asked her to clean up her perch where she slept.
Zorena felt tired and still a little grumpy after her visit with grandpa.
Why do I have to do it every day?
She moaned.
It's a stupid job.
We do it so we live in a clean home.
We look after what we have.
It's a thank you to the great owl for providing us with a lovely home and bed.
Zorena scowled at her mama.
It's a stupid perch.
I don't even like it.
Zorena,
Her mama said,
Your grandpa made that perch.
He chose the wood especially for you.
He carved it especially for you.
Why don't you like it?
I just don't,
That's why.
And she flew up to her perch to start cleaning it.
As she was cleaning it,
She looked at the carving that her grandpa had done.
It was a beautiful little owl,
Tucked away at the end of the wood.
She loved looking at it and knowing that it had been made just for her.
She knew her grandpa had spent such a long time choosing the wood and polishing it and then carving this cute little owl on it as a little surprise.
She felt really confused that she had said that to her mama,
Because it wasn't true.
She loved her perch.
She sat on her perch and stroked the little carved owl with her feathers.
She felt very sad.
She knew she had been really mean about her grandpa.
The next day,
Her cousins came to play.
They were having a great time chasing and playing,
Hide and seek in the woods.
And eventually,
After being out for a long time,
They decided to go home as they were tired and hungry.
They went to Zorena's barn where her mama and auntie were chatting and making food.
Her mama said to them all,
Dinner is nearly ready,
But if you are hungry,
Zorena,
You could share some of your snacks.
Zorena pulled her face.
No,
I've got none left.
Her mama looked straight into her eyes.
She knew that Zorena wasn't telling the truth.
She had seen the snacks that morning.
Zorena felt her cheeks going red.
She suddenly remembered what her grandpa had said about the reflection,
That what we saw in others was what was in us.
And she knew then that it was true.
That the meanness she had complained about in her friend was also within her.
She felt very,
Very sad.
After her cousins had left,
She flew over to her grandma and grandpa's barn,
Where they were sat outside enjoying the evening.
She flew over with big tears in her eyes.
Zorena,
What is the matter,
My darling?
Her grandma said,
Wrapping her in her great big feathered wings and drawing her close to her.
Sweetheart,
What is it?
Zorena started to cry.
Great big sad tears were falling down her cheeks.
Grandpa was right.
I am mean.
I was mean about his beautiful perch and I wouldn't share with my cousins.
I am mean.
I'm horrible.
And she cried loudly and hid her face into her grandma's warm chest.
Her grandma stroked her calmly and let her cry until after a few minutes,
Zorena started to settle down.
Her grandpa held his wing out to Zorena.
Come with me,
Little one.
I want to show you something.
Zorena sniffed and wiped her nose and left her grandma to follow him.
He took her to a little corner behind a pile of the hay belonging to the sheep and hidden in a dark corner,
There was a little pile of berries.
Her grandpa put his wing to his mouth and mouthed,
Shhhh.
This is my secret stash.
No one knows about it.
Do you know why?
Zorena shook her head.
Because I don't want to share with anyone.
I don't want to share with your grandma and I don't want to share them with you and I don't want to share with your cousins.
Zorena looked at him shocked.
Do you think that's mean,
Zorena?
She nodded.
Her grandpa laughed.
Yes,
I suppose it is.
He then took her back outside to her grandma.
Have you been showing her your secret stash?
She asked him.
Her grandpa looked shocked.
How do you know about that?
Grandma laughed and shook her head.
I know all your stashes,
You silly owl.
Come with me,
Z.
And her grandma flew off to a tree branch that overlooked the lake.
Zorena followed her and sat next to her.
This morning grandpa was really sad,
Zorena.
Do you know why?
Zorena shook her head.
No.
Why was he sad?
Because I shouted at him.
I said,
Stop asking me stupid questions,
You silly old owl.
I upset him and made him feel really sad.
Do you think that was mean of me,
Zorena?
Zorena didn't know what to say.
She didn't want to upset her grandma,
So she just shrugged her shoulders.
I was.
I was mean.
Her grandma looked across the lake.
Everything that you saw in your friend is in all of us,
Zee Zee.
We are all the same.
We all have meanness in us at times.
You have it.
I have it.
Grandpa has it.
But at the same time,
We have the good stuff too.
What do you love best about your grandpa?
Zorena thought for a moment and then smiled.
He makes me laugh when he's daft,
Doing his funny songs and dances.
He always makes me happy.
Grandma smiled.
Yes,
I love that about grandpa too.
And what about me?
What do you love best about me?
Zorena thought and then answered seriously.
You always listen to me,
Grandma,
And give me good advice.
Her grandma nodded.
And what about your mama?
What do you love most about her?
Zorena smiled again.
She loves me loads and loads and gives the best cuddles and kisses and makes me feel so special.
She gave a big sigh of happiness,
Thinking about her loving mama.
Grandma nodded again.
Yes,
Your mama is the best at loving.
But guess what,
Zorena?
You are all those things too.
All the best bits that you see and love and admire in others,
They are also in you.
They are also your reflection.
Just as you've found the reflection of the meanness in you,
It's time to go on the treasure hunt and find the beautiful and the good things too.
Because they are there.
Zorena listened carefully.
She looked over at the lake.
At the reflection of the moon and the stars.
She remembered all the times she really made people laugh.
Her mama,
Her papa,
Her grandma,
Her grandpa,
Her auntie and uncle and her cousins.
She knew that she could see the reflection of her grandpa within her.
She thought about the times when her friends and her cousins had told her about things that they were upset about,
That they had come to her because they trusted her to listen and the advice she gave them.
She could see the reflection of her grandma within her.
She snuggled up close to her grandma and cuddled her very tight.
Hmm,
Said her grandma.
You give the best cuddles,
Zorena.
And then she saw her mama's reflection in herself.
Her showing of love and kindness was also in her.
Suddenly,
Her grandpa flew towards them.
Budge up,
He called.
Make some room for a little one.
Zorena moved up close to her grandma and left some space for her not-so-little grandpa as he wrapped his huge big wing around her and her grandma.
Zorena looked down to the lake and saw the reflection of all three of them joined together tightly.
We look like one big owl,
Said Zorena,
Laughing.
The great owl,
Said her grandpa.
The greatest owl there is.
And guess what?
What?
Zorena asked him.
We are all a reflection of that too.
Wow,
Said Zorena.
Yes,
Said grandpa.
Yes,
Said grandma.
And they snuggled together silently,
Looking at their reflection of the great owl in their wonderful lake.
