All is Different - by Sara Keam

Today was what I thought would be a normal day in the jade green forest that blankets the mountains of my home, but it wasn’t the case. The musty scent of the morning dew, still speckling the leaves of the midsummer afternoon, only remained from hiding away from the sun’s harsh rays by shade. The loosely packed earth under my feet absorbed my weight at each step. The birds in the branches overhead chirped boisterously, each singing their own song so unique in every note, pitch, tempo, and tone. Each flower, although they look the same as the one beside it, are unique, just like each of us. Little Ishmael, most would say, looks just like his brother. But they are not the same; Ishmael is a clown unlike his brother. He has more energy and often runs about around us. His brother, Dafari is more curious and has been known to get into all sorts of trouble because of it, and as usual today was the same case. I brought my family out walking like we normally d at this time, stopping to eat a few snacks here and there when suddenly our small group joined another. Or more like their group joined us. I will be honest, being the father, that I had my speculations about these strange beings. I knew what they were capable of. I had heard from many tales that have been passed down from my great grandfather to my grandfather and from my grandfather to my father. And in turn, he told me these stories of yore. I was too lost in thought to have realized that my son, Dafari had gone up to one of these strange beings that were traveling in the back, with odd black things around their necks that they pointed at us. Although they didn’t seem to be doing any harm, I still didn’t want my son, first born of the twins, to be going right up to one. Reluctantly, I watched as he sniffed the peach-being who sat there motionlessly, unmoving and unnerved. I walked up to the nervous being and just like how I would comfort my own children I sat down behind him, pushing my son gently t sit down as well. We sat there for a while and after some time the being seemed to relax, while the others around us seemed greatly stunned, pointing their odd objects at us. I wouldn’t blame them. I would be too it I was in the presence of my stunning glory, with my sparkling silver back and rugged build. And after a bit, with a soft grunt, I told my family that it was time to head back home. And with that, we got up and I left them behind. These beings, are different from the stories just like each bird’s songs, the flowers that bloom in the jungle around us, and my family. And just because some of their kind may have done something wrong in the past does not mean that I should blame these particular ones, and perhaps I shall be a role model for them. Unlike most, I know how to see the uniqueness of this world. I cant help but smile as I lead my family back into the thick underbrush as we leave these friendly beings behind. They are my friends...and we are theirs. We are all a part of this world, so we must share it and live with our differences, else there’s no way that we will all survive.