Story 52: Simona the Brave

Simona set out to walk a bold new path.

She found the way wild, but she didn’t turn back.

With a bright brave face and a cape, ruby red,

She sang about home as her heart raced ahead.

“Beware of monsters,” said Mouse, full of fear.

“Monsters?” shouted Simona, so all could hear.

Creatures appeared–scaled, spiked, and one with one eye.

Mouse ran away, but Simona said, “Hi.”

“I don’t see monsters. I see friends to be made.”

And she played with the monsters, so unafraid.

When night came, she hugged them each and kept walking.

She sang about home, but didn’t dream of stopping.

“Beware the forest,” said Frog, full of fear.

“Forest?” said Simona. “I want to go there!”

It was lovely and green, with trees rising high.

She frolicked in the wood and danced among butterflies.

“I don’t see a dark forest. I see a playpen.”

She climbed trees and shook leaves, again and again.

When night came, she hugged the trees and kept walking.

She sang about home, but didn’t dream of stopping.

“Beware the mountain,” said Mole, full of fear.

“Mountain?” laughed Simona. “Sounds fun. Is it near?”

He led her to the base, then came to a stop.

She went on up saying, “Think what we might see from the top!”

“I don’t see a scary peak of sharp rocks and deep mines.”

She chuckled and said, “I see a way to walk in the sky.”

When night came, she blew a kiss and kept walking.

She sang about home, but didn’t dream of stopping.

Then all the creatures appeared–Mouse, Frog, Mole, and their friends.

“Aren’t you afraid? You should be,” they said.

“Fear is a choice,” she replied with a smile.

“You don’t need to fear. It’s rarely worthwhile.”

“Every day I decide to be gentle and brave.

And every day, friends, you can decide just the same.”

Just then she skipped to a field with a brave pitter-patter.

Her presence made the snarfs and fiddlebums scatter.

She looked all around for the source of their fear,

But there wasn’t a monster or mountain or dark forest here.

“What are you scared of?” Simona asked. “What can I do?”

After a long quiet pause, a whisper said, “We’re afraid of you.”

Simona was sad, but then a thought crossed her mind.

She couldn’t believe that it took this much time.

She realized just saying, “Don’t be afraid,” will never quite do.

You have to make a person feel safe and show them it’s true.

So instead of telling the snarfs and fiddlebums to not be afraid,

She reached her hand out and smiled, determined to patiently wait.

It didn’t happen right away, but it happened nonetheless.

The snarfs and fiddlebums slowly crept out of their nests.

They sniffed and they pawed and they circled and spied.

And eventually crawled to Simona with her arms open wide.

She thought of her forest friends she passed getting here.

She now understood how to help them conquer their fear.

Simona returned to the animals, took them by the hand, and just then.

Instead of just words, she showed them the true love of a friend.

She climbed the mountain with Mole and helped Frog face the wood.

She introduced Mouse to the monsters, like a true friend should.

Though they were fearful at first, they chose just once to be brave.

Simona stayed by them each moment, and the next day the same.

One foot in front of the other, one step at a time.

One choice to be brave, and one friend by their side.

Soon the animals had overcome their fears.

They looked at Simona and said, “You have courage beyond your years.”

Simona smiled and answered, “I see now I didn’t become brave all alone.

I’m only brave now because of all the love back at home.”

When night came again, she hugged her friends with all her heart,

Then bravely marched home to those who made her brave from the start.

“Thank you for the songs that you taught me and the love that you show.”

She said, “It’s because of you I can be brave wherever I go.”