'The Flutterbye Garden'

ONCE upon a summertime in a garden filled with flowers, two butterflies danced fitfully through lazy sunlit hours.

One of them had bright pink wings with black spots here and there.

The other butterfly was blue with brown spots everywhere.

Together they floated, spiraled and twirled out in the bright sunlight.

And then one day, from across the way, came a visitor black as night.

The pink butterfly was curious and fluttered down to see.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, as he spread his wings on a tree.

"I'm visiting in your garden," he said. "Do come and play with me."

"I certainly won't," said the pink butterfly. "You're as ugly as can be."

"Neither will I," said the blue butterfly. "You've no pretty spots like me."

The black butterfly fell silent and stayed where he was on the tree.

Then two little girls came out to play, Sally and Alyce Lee.

Bees buzzed stories to morning glories and gentle breezes sang.

While out in the lovely garden, two childish voices rang.

The butterflies were startled and flew high in the air.

They whirled and fluttered and danced and spiraled almost everywhere.

"Look!" cried Alyce, clapping her hands. "The flowers have come alive!"

"Not flowers," sister Sally laughed. "They're only butterflies!"

"They're flutterbyes," the small girl cried. "I'll catch them if I can."

And in and out and round about the garden paths she ran.

"You can't catch me!" called the pink butterfly.

"Nor me!" cried the fluttering blue.

"I'm lonely," sighed the black butterfly. "I'll come and play with you."

But the little girl didn't hear him. "They won't stay still," she said,

Then she sat down upon the path and shook her golden head.

"If we're real quiet they might come back," big sister Sally said.

Eagerly hopeful, Alyce asked, "Oh, do you think they will?"

When Sally nodded, both little girls sat very, very still.

The black butterfly grew curious then and turned back in his flight.

No little girl's cries disturbed the skies, and he quite forgot his fright.

He wondered what was going on and circled back to see.

I'm ugly and nobody likes me, he thought, I don't care what happens to me.

He touched his toes to the tip of a rose-colored ribbon in Sally's hair.

Then dipped his wings to flutter a bit and settle dejectedly there.

Alyce clasped her hands beneath her chin. Her eyes grew big and round.

"Don't move, Sally," she whispered low. "Don't dare to make a sound.

The most prettiest, beautiful flutterbye is sitting on your head!"

Then Sally's eyes grew big and round. "Oh, goodness me!" she said.

Both little girls sat very still in the noontime's golden light.

It sparkled and gleamed on ebony wings of a butterfly black as night.

"He's the prettiest flutterbye I ever saw," whispered Alyce in delight.

The loveliest butterfly of them all heard what the small girl said.

He lifted his wings and flew once more high over her golden head.

"I'm pretty!" he cried, and they heard him, those other butterflies.

Then they all three danced together through the summer scented skies. While two little girls watched happily with wide and wondering eyes.

This story will be on The Times' website at latimes.com/kids.