Artificial Boy

Kids5B exhibit Bedtime Story Indoctrination Camp - by Sokmunky Rutabaga, Alton Icarus (39, 125, 23). Today Sok read us The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

I thought this story was supposed to be in David’s Starry Nap room inspired by that story, but instead it was at Sok’s display. That’s okay. I found it.

I wandered in and found a seat as Sokmunky began the story. My little brother David held up the book and showed it around to us whenever there was an illustration. Twelve kids were there, sitting in comfortable cushion chairs. And…

Crap Mariner was there! She hovered over the story area rather than sitting with us. I think she was worried about our lungs. I like her because she is a mecha like me. …even though she makes me cough.

I can see why Sok read this story — it has sheep in it! A sheep with the power to destroy the universe!

“The flowers have been growing thorns for millions of years. For millions of years the sheep have been eating them just the same. And is it not a matter of consequence to try to understand why the flowers go to so much trouble to grow thorns which are never of any use to them? Is the warfare between the sheep and the flowers not important? Is this not of more consequence than a fat red-faced gentleman’s sums? And if I know– I, myself– one flower which is unique in the world, which grows nowhere but on my planet, but which one little sheep can destroy in a single bite some morning, without even noticing what he is doing– Oh! You think that is not important!”

His face turned from white to red as he continued:

“If some one loves a flower, of which just one single blossom grows in all the millions and millions of stars, it is enough to make him happy just to look at the stars. He can say to himself, ‘Somewhere, my flower is there…’ But if the sheep eats the flower, in one moment all his stars will be darkened… And you think that is not important!”

He could not say anything more. His words were choked by sobbing.

During Kids5B, you can catch more story-times like this at the following times:

• Saturday, 27 June 6am SL- Short stories, including Sam the Fire Cat
• Sunday, 28 June 7am SL- Stories about ducks!