Butterflies: It's a nervous life for me
New Standalone Bedtime Story!
Salut!
I must confess it’s been a while since the last post! It’s good to be back.
We’re back today with another standalone story. It’s based around a topic I am very familiar with: anxiety and ego! Sometimes two peas in a pod.
I hope you’ve been liking the recent standalone approach. I feel like it’s a good way to keep the stories accessible to new readers. Not that I don’t love a good serialised story too!
As always, if you’re new here, please do stick around.
If you want to read more standalone stories, there is also the new standalone tab:
Now, please enjoy today’s new story!
From the moment the school sports carnival was first announced, Frankie had felt his tummy immediately begin to turn. It was like he suddenly had the flu. It was like he was suddenly standing way up high on a tight rope in the wind.
The horrible feeling surprised him at first. His best friend George actually patted him on the back when the carnival news was announced.
“Another gold medal for your trophy cabinet!” George told him.
It was true, Frankie was known as the fastest boy in his grade. He had won the 100 metre sprint last year and everyone was expecting him to win it this year as well.
And yet Frankie’s tummy was swarming with skittish butterflies.
A few days passed and Frankie’s funny feeling remained. The carnival was getting closer and Frankie’s nerves were getting worse.
He found it hard to think about anything except for the carnival. He couldn’t focus on anything.
More days passed. At school, there was more conversation about the carnival. Banners were being set up. Students were practising at lunchtime. Long jump in the sandpit, sprints across the oval.
Soon enough, it was the night before the carnival… and Frankie was feeling absolutely wretched.
He stayed up as late as he could, lying in bed, never staying still for too long, rolling from side to side. He knew that once he fell asleep, it would then suddenly be the morning of the carnival. No more avoiding the inevitable. How horrible?! No, he just needed more time. He was going to take any and all possible extra time he could get.
As he getting more and more tired, he eventually sat up in bed, trying to force himself to stay awake. The nerves in his tummy were worse than ever. He just kept picturing the race, seeing himself lose over and over again.
Frankie then felt a rumble in his tummy. He opened his mouth and let out a great big buuuuurp!!
With the burp, to Frankie’s wide-eyes surprise, a butterfly came suddenly flying out of his mouth.
The colourful butterfly fluttered for a moment in front of Frankie and then turned around to face him eye to eye.
Shining under the moonlight through the window, the butterfly’s wings were a mix of blue and black. Its expression was very calm as it stared at Frankie.
“Hi Frankie,” said the butterfly.
Frankie was still in shock.
“You know you could really use a renovation in that belly of yours,” said the butterfly. “Maybe add a TV and a couch. It can get a bit dull in there.”
There was a long pause.
“Who are you?” Frankie finally asked.
The butterfly answered calmly. “I’m one of the butterflies from your belly. You’ve been quite nervous lately, haven’t you, Frankie?”
Frankie was still adjusting to the bizarre situation.
“I suppose so,” he said. “But I don’t know why.”
“Sure you do,” said the butterfly, almost cheerfully.
“Well I know it’s because of the sports carnival, but I still don’t get it,” said Frankie. “I’ve always won my races at the sports carnival.”
“Exactly,” said the butterfly. “That’s why you’re so nervous.”
“What do you mean?” asked Frankie.
“You’re scared of losing. Being fast is what you’re known for. If you lose, what will you be known for then?”
It felt like an emotional punch.
“I’m too attached…” said Frankie finally.
“Your words, not mine,” said the butterfly.
Frankie looked strangely sad.
The butterfly noticed.
“Frankie, do you remember that school speech last year? The one for English?”
“Yeah,” said Frankie. “But wait, how do you know about that?”
The butterfly continued on. “Do you remember what your mum told you just before the speech?”
Frankie nodded. “What will be, will be.”
“She’s a clever lady, your mum,” said the butterfly. “You had your time to train. There’s only so much you can do now.”
The butterfly then turned away to start making its way to the window.
“Wait!” said Frankie. “What’s your name?”
The butterfly smiled.
“The same as yours, of course.”
He then flew out through the window and into the night.
It took a while, but Frankie gradually settled back down. Soon enough, without realising, he was fast asleep.
For the first time since the sports carnival was announced, Frankie woke up the next morning to a peaceful tummy. His body had calmed itself down.
He got out of bed and ate breakfast and got ready for school. He was still nervous, but the world was no longer ending.
The morning moved quickly. After roll call, all of the students went out to the oval to begin the sports carnival.
Frankie sat with his friends and cheered on the other students. George had brought a big tin of cookies. Frankie was having a good day.
When it was time for the 100 metre sprint, Frankie hopped out of his seat and made his way to the start line. His heart was beating quickly.
He remembered the butterfly’s words…