SOS: Seekers of Spirit – 5 - 8 years old
For beginning and intermediate young reader, these stories are a little longer and are filled with fun characters and situations that help teach empowering decision-making skills. Parents and kids read these stories together and use the questions at the end to start a conversation!

Being Different

If you walked into Wee Wisdom Village and saw us all, you would have been shocked!  Imagine, there we were, the five of us. A skunk, an owl, a cat, a squirrel, and a young girl, laying in a circle with our heads toward the center, looking up at the clear, beautiful blue sky, talking about life.

“Take a deep breath, and then let it out, and when you exhale let out all the stress, anger or sadness from the past week,” said Kiera.  “Okay, another deep breath in, and then out it goes...”

“I’m feeling kind of funny,” Spunky the Skunk said as he sat up.  

“What’s going on Spunky?” Willow the Owl asked with concern.

“I don’t know.  I just feel a little dizzy…but, well, I guess it’s more than that.  The other day I was coming back from our hike, and it was getting dark.  I saw two other skunks I know, and they were laughing and talking about me.  When I got closer, they stopped.  I asked them what they were talking about but they didn’t say anything, they just looked at each other.  

Finally my friend Stripe said, “I’m going to tell you Spunky.  I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but the other skunks think you’re weird because you spend so much time with that squirrel, owl, cat and the girl!  That just isn’t normal.  Is there something wrong with the way we skunks are?  How come you can’t hang out with your own kind?”

“I felt so bad,” Spunky said.  “At first I just sat there and said nothing.  Then, I took a deep breath, just like Kiera has been telling us to do, and I breathed out my sadness.  I tried to listen to my heart and hear what I should say.  Then, I said, “I know it’s different for a skunk to be friends with an owl, a cat, or whatever.  But, I’m sad because I want to be free to choose who I spend time with, without being judged for it.”

“What’d they say?” Cheeky the Squirrel asked curiously, while the rest of them waited for Spunky’s reply.

Spunky continued, “The other skunk, I don’t know him very well, but he started laughing.  ‘An owl!  I didn’t know you were friends with an owl and a cat!  I mean, you could be their dinner!  That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard’.”

“So what did you do, Spunky?” Kiera asked.  

“I looked at them both and smiled,” said Spunky.

“You smiled?  Don’t you think that might have sent the wrong message?” Allie the cat asked.

“Well, I must say it shocked them,” Spunky said.  “So I just kept smiling.  And it actually felt really good.  Finally, when they asked why I was smiling so much, I told them that I had enough love in my heart for all of them and all the animals in the forest.  Then I thanked them.”

“Thanked them!”  Cheeky squeaked.  “What were you thankful for?”

“I was glad to hear how they felt.  I could see that when someone is different, it makes other people uncomfortable, maybe scares them a little.  I’m glad we could talk about it and start to understand each other better.  At least I understand what they are feeling.  I don’t have to hold it against them.”

“I am so proud of you Spunky,” Kiera said.  “You really spoke from your spirit!”

“You know, I can’t imagine saying this, but you sound like Willow at her wisest!  I’m impressed,” said Allie as she yawned.  

“Well, Spunky, I’m inspired by your story!” Kiera said.  “And, just think that this came up as we were doing yoga and breathing!  It’s funny how when we take the time and give ourselves some space, important things like this come out to be discussed.  Now, are we ready to go back to a little yoga and breathing? Take a deep breath in, and breathe in peace...”

Question for Kids: Is there anybody who you are friends with, or would like to be friends with, that your other friends may not like or understand?  Have you ever gotten made fun of for the people you choose to be friends with?

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