The Bugs' Big Idea

As narrated by Vihaan, 7 years, 2017

Flowers were blooming all around. Butterflies of various hues were having fun playing hide and seek among the flowers.

It looked bright and cheerful everywhere…yes it was “SPRING”.

Scanny, the butterfly, sat watching around her and quickly remembered something.

She whistled out to her friends Belty the beetle and Bonzo the firefly ” Hey guys, come quick. It’s an emergency meeting”.

Dracky the dragonfly and Buzzy the bumblebee joined too.

"Hello, what happened? Hope all is well Scanny” called out Anty the ant.

"We bugs don’t get any respect at all. And the most unsafe people in the whole universe is just us.” Scanny began.

“Ohhh….I agree with you totally” called out Hoohoo the caterpillar, overhearing the conversation.

“Thank you Hoohoo..and now there’s more to say. Please do listen carefully”, Scanny continued.

“We would be having more activity around us as the number of newcomers visiting our valley is increasing fast….which means that there will not only be more of us, more visitors and of course, more danger. Our kids need to know how to be safe and whom to approach if there is danger. We would train all our buddies big and small how to keep themselves safe and help others too.” Scanny finally took a breath.

“You mean, an action manual for the bug buddies??” Dracky sounded excited.

Scanny nodded “Yes, that and something more. Come closer, so that our secret stays with us for now.” Scanny whispered.

"So here’s the plan. We need to set up a Headquarters and Command Centre for the good of our family, friends and neighbours.”She told the others.

"Hmmm..I agree. Sounds like a good idea” squeaked Anty the ant.

"Yes, yes, that sounds fun” the others agreed.” Tell us more about it”

"Here is what I have thought of” continued Scanny. "The Centre needs to be a very safe place where any of the insects can approach for help."

"I know one such place” said Bonzo excitedly,” It’s in the Greenhill.”

“Green hill, wow that’s a beautiful place” said Belty.

"Do you remember Sabu the rabbit has found himself a new home. We can use his old one for our centre.” Bonzo continued.

"Oh, that old burrow. It’s so dark even though it is big” Anty sounded disappointed.

"That won’t be a problem. I know what we can do”. Bonzo’s eyes lit up.

And when the headquarters opened that week, all that everyone could say was “WOW”

Anty had her team of ants as doorkeepers and service staff.

The defender force had Buzzy, Dracky as the leaders. Buzzy had the most powerful weapon – his sting and Dracky came up with a creative idea. He filled broken toothpicks in cut straws. He would blow them against attackers.

Anty and her team were trained to make small cannonballs of clay and they collected wooden spoons for shooting them while Scanny and his butterfly team had nectar lasers to be used in case of need.

But how did they light up the Centre?

Bonzo ‘s firefly team came to the rescue in the night when the moon was not shining.

And it was so bright inside during the day. Thanks to Lily the Ladybug.

She loved to look at herself in the mirror everyday and had a large collection of mirrors. She was kind to give away 10 of her large mirrors, 100 medium and 1000 small mirrors when the bugs requested her.

The baby bugs had a good time scrubbing and cleaning all of them and glueing them up together to make the glittering front wall.

Belty and the beetles were incharge of the spying periscope placed above the burrow entrance.

That night, Scanny stood proud near the beacon tower light that lit up the whole sky with the words “Bug Co-op Centre”.