Elias and the Bubbles
Elias lived by a wide river. Every day he had to cross the river to collect supplies for his family. He paddled his small wooden boat, watching the water move and the clouds drift above him.
Floating on the river were strange, shimmering bubbles. Each one held inside a toy or a treat. Something exciting and new.
Whenever Elias saw a bubble, he reached out and pulled it into his boat.
“I want this,” he said.
“And this.”
“And this too.”
“Look at all these wonderful things I now have”
At first, the bubbles felt light, but as Elias collected more and more, his boat began to sit lower in the water.
The river grew choppier, paddling became harder. The boat creaked and groaned.
Elias looked up and saw the far shore, it was calm and green and safe, but no matter how hard he paddled, he could not reach it.
That was when Badger appeared, standing quietly on the riverbank.
“Why are you struggling so much?” asked Badger.
“My boat is too heavy,” said Elias. “But I need these bubbles, look at all of the new toys I have”
Badger leaned closer and gently said
“Try letting one go”
Elias hesitated. Then he lifted one bubble and let it go. The boat rose a little higher. He let another go, and another.
With each bubble released, the boat became lighter. The water felt calmer. His arms felt stronger.
Soon, Elias was gliding toward the shore, his boat riding high in the water.
When he reached land, he looked back at the river. The bubbles were still there, floating by.
The river carried them on.
He smiled.
