Irene’s Gift

Irene who’s 10 loves butterflies. She sculpts them out of Play-doh or clay. Sometimes she even makes them by adding rhinestones to them.

“Mom, I’m going to make some butterflies today,” said Irene.

“That’s great sweetheart, let me see them when they’re done, ok?” said Lily, Irene’s Mother.

“Yes Mom,” said Irene.

Irene got busy creating her butterflies. All of the sudden, one with rhinestones on it began to move its wings. Irene didn’t notice this at first, but then after it moved into the air, she did.

“Hello there, I am Hazel the butterfly. I came to life because you love us so much,” said Hazel with her rhinestones shining on her wings while slowly flapping her wings in the air near Irene.

“Wow, a talking butterfly I created! I’m Irene. Nice to meet you Hazel,” said Irene.

“I want to give you a gift. You will now be able to talk to and understand butterflies,” said Hazel gently touching Irene with her wings and then flying back down to Irene’s art desk.

“Wow, thank you Hazel!” said Irene picking up Hazel and holding her in her hand.

“Let’s go outside now. I want to show you your new gift. Follow me. I know where a lot of butterflies are at,” said Hazel.

“Ok Hazel!” said Irene.

Irene and Hazel go outside. Lily has a butterfly bush outside and Hazel takes Irene to it. There are all different kinds of butterflies! There are mostly swallowtails and monarchs though and those are Irene’s favorite kinds.

“Just say hello to them Irene and they should start talking to you,” said Hazel.

“Alright Hazel,” said Irene.

“Hello butterflies!” said Irene anxiously and loudly.

The butterflies became frightened and all flew away but one. Hazel wasn’t too happy about this. She knew that Irene spoke to them too loud and that’s why they flew away like that.

“Irene, you must speak softly to them. Try talking to the one that didn’t fly away,” said Hazel.

“Yes Hazel, I will, sorry Hazel,” said Irene sadly.

“Hello butterfly. My name is Irene,” said Irene softly.

“Well, hello there. My name is Opal,” said the swallowtail butterfly while landing on Irene’s left shoulder.

“Wow! I can talk to you! This is wonderful!” said Irene making Opal now crawl on her right hand to look at her better and admire her beauty.

“I love to sip the nectar from these flowers the most,” said Opal.

“That’s great. I love to smell these flowers,” said Irene.

Irene spent the rest of the summer enjoying her new gift. She told her Mother about it and she believed her because they didn’t fly away from her whenever Irene talked to them. After Irene used her gift for that summer, Hazel sat on Irene’s art desk and didn’t move or talk to Irene anymore. Hazel was really being made move and talk by Irene’s Grandmother who died that was a good witch. Hazel was only talking and moving like a butterfly because that’s how Stella, Irene’s Grandmother chose to talk to Irene.

The next summer, Hazel still didn’t talk to Irene. Irene was missing Hazel. Stella had to stay on the other side. She only contacted Irene to show her that she had the gift of being able to talk to butterflies. She had the gift because she was pure of heart and loved butterflies.