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The Misfits and the Magical Pond

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Chapter One

Miss Mia Buttercup owned a small farm outside the city limits of Birmingham, Alabama. She was born and raised on this farm. She never married, maybe because she was always too busy taking care of all the animals that called her farm home, not to mention the whole new family she had gained two summers ago at her pond.

She always knew there was something special about her pond. She spent countless hours adding flowers and beautiful rocks, which she would collect every time she would go on a special weekend trip with her girlfriends. Everywhere they'd travel, she would find the perfect rock to bring back and place in a special spot around the pond to remind herself of how wonderful the trip was. The pond was like heaven on Earth to all who came to visit. That's just what the lovely Miss Lilly Ladybug thought the day she flew in to take a rest and freshen up before continuing on to her final destination.

Where her destination was, she wasn't quite sure, but she knew she had to be far enough away from the people who had always treated her differently in her old hometown of Beetleville. You see, Miss Lilly didn't look like all the other ladybugs in her town, because she was born with stripes on one side and polka dots on the other. That just wasn't normal, and the ladybugs of Beetleville weren't very nice to her because of it. She stayed in Beetleville for quite some time because her momma was very ill and she needed to take care of her. When Miss Lilly's mom passed away, it was time for her to leave Beetleville and find a new place to call home. On the morning of her departure from Beetleville, she felt a sense of sadness about leaving the only place she had ever called home, but there was also a feeling of relief to be moving on with her life.

That morning, the air was warm and there was not a cloud in sight. There was a slight breeze that left a lingering smell of honeysuckle in the air. The farther out of sight her hometown became, the better she started to feel. She flew for hours, it seemed, and needed to stop and rest awhile. Miss Lilly sat down to take a rest on one of the rocks next to Miss Buttercup's pond. While she was trying to cool down from such a long flight and was not paying attention, Miss Buttercup knelt down to get a closer look at her pond's first visitor of the summer and must have startled Miss Lilly. What a beautiful ladybug she was. Miss Buttercup couldn't help but to move in closer to get a better look at her. Her brilliant red color stood out with the unique markings of polka dots on one wing and stripes on the other.

"Why, aren't you the sweetest thing to stop by my pond in quite a while!"

"Who, me?" Miss Lilly said nervously.

"Why, yes, my dear," Miss Buttercup said calmly.

"Ah! Oh, um, you mean you can hear me?" Miss Lilly asked, thinking that maybe she was delirious from the long journey.

"Yes, I can hear you just fine, my dear," Miss Buttercup responded.

"Oh, um, I thought humans couldn't hear animals, insects ... you know, things like that," Miss Lilly said, not sure if she had hit her head on one of the rocks on her flight in. Could this really be true, a human hearing what animals were saying? I must be dreaming. Yes, yes, I'm dreaming. That's what this is. Wake up, Lilly! Wake up!

"Dear, are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"No, I'm fine. Just trying to understand all of this," Miss Lilly said softly.

"You see, my dear, it is true that most humans can't hear animals or insects, but those are the ones who don't believe in the magic of my pond."

"Oh, I never knew anything like this ever existed," Miss Lilly responded, intrigued.

"Yes, you see, my dear, here at the magical pond, I can hear laughter and chatter from all who visit."

"Wowee, you must hear a lot then." Miss Lilly was eyeing the large pond and its surroundings.

"My name is Miss Mia Buttercup, and this here is my pond, farm, and the place I call home."

"My name is Miss Lilly Ladybug, formerly of Beetleville," Miss Lilly responded every so nicely.

"Formerly? Why, where on Earth do you call home now, my dear? Is that a suitcase you're carrying?" The suitcase was leaning up against a small rock just behind Miss Lilly. It was a small baby-blue suitcase with little daisies embroidered all over it.

"Yes, ma'am, it is. I was just passing through and I spotted this lovely pond and thought it looked like a great place to rest for a moment before I continued on. I hope you don't mind. I won't overstay my welcome here." Miss Lilly was trying to look cheerful by smiling while the tears were beginning to form in her eyes. She was on this journey to get as far away from her hometown as possible, but she had no idea where she was headed.

"Are you on your way to see family or friends?" Miss Buttercup asked.

"No, not really." Miss Lilly didn't want to bring up the whole story of why she left Beetleville in the first place. But just as quickly as the thought entered her mind, the story just seemed to slip right from her tongue.

"You see, ma'am—"

"Please, dear, my friends call me Miss Buttercup."

"Yes, ma'am ... Miss Buttercup." Miss Lilly caught herself.

"I actually left my home town after my momma passed away from a long-term illness," Miss Lilly began to explain.

"Oh dear, I am so sorry." Miss Buttercup felt the sadness because she knew what it was like to lose someone so dear.

"Since there was nothing left for me there, I decided it was time to move on," Miss Lilly continued.

"Don't you have friends there who will miss you ever so much?"

"No, I think my stay there lasted much longer than I could bear. I just never quite seemed to fit in with the other ladybugs," Miss Lilly explained.

"My word, dear, why ever not? You're lovely and beautiful."

"My momma always told me I was special and that the other ladybugs were just jealous of the gift God had given me, but I didn't feel that way. I wanted to be normal like all the other girls in Beetleville." Miss Lilly looked up to the sky to keep the tears from falling. "So when my momma passed away, I knew it was time for me to fly," Miss Lilly spoke softly.

"Oh, my dear. Well where will you go?"

"Somewhere where these ol' wings of mine can rest and I can just sit back and enjoy the rest of my journey here on Earth." Miss Lilly closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of all that was around her.

"I have a great idea. Why don't you stay here at the pond, with me? There's plenty of room, and I can sure use the company."

"Here? You want me to live here, at this beautiful pond? Ah, well, are you sure?"

"Yes, Lilly! Yes! Oh please say yes. It would be lovely to have you around, and there is plenty of space around the pond, so you can pick and choose where you would like to settle in. You can stay as long as you like."

"Really? Yes ... oh, yes, that would be lovely." Miss Lilly was now circling around Miss Buttercup's head, dancing about, eyes beaming with excitement.

"Then it's settled. Miss Lilly, the lovely and beautiful ladybug, it would be my honor to have you stay here with me."

"How can I ever thank you, Miss Buttercup, for this generous gift?" Miss Lilly was still fluttering about Miss Buttercup's face.

"You can thank me by being my friend and loving all who come to visit my pond."

Chapter Two

Miss Lilly had been living at the pond for almost a year now, and with Miss Buttercup's help, they had the pond looking spectacular. The flowers were large with bright, vibrant oranges, reds, blues, yellows, and violets. Miss Buttercup brought home flats of annuals from the local greenhouse two houses up from hers and began planting them all around the pond as Miss Lilly flew alongside me, helping her pick out the perfect spot that needed a little color. Spring had finally come, and the tulips and daffodils were in full bloom. The warmth of the sun was refreshing and inviting after a long winter. The smell of sweet honeysuckles and fresh manure filled the air. There is something about those two smells, when you live out in the country, that kind of go well together.

Miss Lilly decided to venture out to the pasture for some supplies to patch the roof of her little place around the pond, which had taken a beating over winter. As she was searching for supplies, she noticed a tiny butterfly standing on a nearby fence post. Her name was Miss Bella, and she was waiting patiently for the right moment to sneak up on Miss Snottynose Wings and give her a piece of her antennas. Miss Snottynose was a beautiful and very colorful butterfly. Her wings were the colors of the rainbow. Her tiny structure made gliding through the air with such grace seem effortless.

Ever since she was little, she had been picking on Miss Bella for all sorts of reasons. She would tease her and get others to join in. You see, Miss Bella wasn't your typical butterfly with perfect colors and dainty little wings. Nope, not Miss Bella. She was born with crooked wings. One was smaller than the other. Her colors were not so vibrant; her wings were brown with a tinge of yellow in them. Actually, the only colors on her were the striped leotards she wore to cover up her knobby knees because she crashed all the time. Miss Bella was not very graceful, because of the size difference in her wings. That was why she was out there sitting on the fence post, waiting for the perfect opportunity to confront Miss Snottynose Wings. See, Miss Snottynose Wings and her Fab Five were always fluttering past Miss Bella, whispering and giggling. They would make fun of the way she looked, the colors in her wings, and how one wing was smaller than the other. They were always trying to bend her antennas. But on this particular day, Miss Snottynose was alone and unaware that Miss Bella was close by, watching and waiting.

Miss Snottynose wasn't all that without her Fab Five to back her up. Bella thought for sure her plan would work this time. Her opportunity to face Miss Snottynose was minutes away. That is, until Miss Lilly came up to the fence where Miss Bella was waiting for her golden opportunity. As Miss Lilly moved in closer to get a better look at Miss Bella, she could see Miss Bella had one hand on her hip and a milkweed hanging out of her mouth. She was chomping at it furiously and tapping one foot rapidly as if she were anxiously waiting for something to happen.

"Why, what's that awful look you have on your face, young lady? You look madder than two hornets fightin' over a honeycomb." Miss Lilly flew right up to where Miss Bella was still standing.

"Excuse me, but could you please keep your voice down. I don't want her to spot me!" Bella whispered as loud as a whisper could possibly get.

"Who don't you want to spot you, dear?" Miss Lilly lowered her voice.

"Shhhh." Bella put her wing up to her mouth, giving Miss Lilly the universal sign to be quiet.

"Miss Snottynose Wings," Bella whispered back in her raspy little voice, pointing to a tree in the distance.

"Snottyhose what?" Miss Lilly asked.

"Not Snottyhose—Snottynose," Bella answered back in frustration.

"Snottynose!" Miss Lilly said, not realizing how loudly her words came out.

The sound of Miss Lilly's voiced traveled through the trees and landed right in Miss Snottynose's antennas. Up went the antennas. Miss Snottynose immediately flew away. She, too, knew that without her Fab Five she didn't stand a chance against Miss Bella.

"Oh great! Now you done did it," Bella snapped at Miss Lilly.

"Did what?" Miss Lilly said, still not sure what Bella was all upset about.

"Miss Snottynose heard you and spotted me, and now she is going to call in her Fab Five to come back here and taunt me like they always do," Bella barked.

"Snottynose and the Fab Five?" Miss Lilly questioned.

"Oh, forget it; you won't understand," Bella said, throwing her wings up in the air.

"Well, dear, why don't you tell me about it. Maybe I can help," Miss Lilly encouraged. "I have an idea. Why don't you follow me back to the pond for some sweet tea and you can tell me all about it," Miss Lilly suggested.

"And why on Earth would I want to do that?" Miss Bella snapped.

"Well as I see it, my dear, you can either wait around for Miss Snottynose and her Fab Five to show up or you can join me for a glass of sweet tea. The choice is yours," Miss Lilly said, leaving the decision in Miss Bella's wings.

Bella knew Miss Lilly's offer was much better than waiting around to see if they would show up. Seeing that her choices were limited, she thought it would be best for her to get down from the fence post and take Miss Lilly up on her offer.

"Listen, I don't know why you're being so nice to me, but I am quite thirsty, and a glass of sweet tea sure sounds nice, so I'll take you up on your offer ... this time," Miss Bella said.

The two of them journeyed back to Miss Lilly's place behind the rocks around the pond.

"Wow, you live here?" Bella looked around in amazement.

"Yes, this is home, sweet home. Please, have a look around and make yourself at home while I go fix us some homemade sweet tea. Sweet tea always makes me feel better when I'm a little blue," Miss Lilly said. "So, dear, what shall I call you?" Miss Lilly called out from the kitchen.

"What do you mean, call me?" Bella hollered back.

"What is your name?" said Miss Lilly

Miss Lilly returned with two cups of sweet tea.

"Oh, sorry. People like to call me Bell, but I prefer Bella, ma'am," said Bella.

"Then Bella I shall call you," said Miss Lilly. "What seems to be all the fussin' with that there knobby-knee-wings or whatever you call her and those four flyin' crazies?" Miss Lilly asked, looking confused.

"It's Miss Snottynose Wings and the Fab Five!" snapped Bella.

"Again, dear, whatever their names are, it makes no never mind to me," said Miss Lilly

"Well for starters, they're always calling me names and making fun of me whenever they're flying past!" Bella screeched, raising her voice louder and louder.

"No need to yell. I'm right here and not yet hard of hearing," whispered Miss Lilly

"Sorry," sighed Bella.

"That's okay. Please continue," said Miss Lilly

"Ooohhhhhh! They just make me so mad, I can't even speak about it anymore because I just get myself all upset," Bella said, trying to keep her voice lowered.

"Why, dear? Because they say things that aren't true?" asked Miss Lilly.

"Yes!" Bella blurted out. "They say I'm ugly, that my wings are dirty, and that one wing is shorter than the other. They say I will never be like them and that I resemble a moth. A moth! Can you believe the nerve in their wings to call me a moth? I'll show them just what a moth can do," Bella said with her one hand on her hip and the other hand swinging wildly in the air.

"What ever are you going to show them, my dear?" asked Miss Lilly.

"Oh I don't know, but one of these days, I'll show them. They haven't seen the last of Bella the bully butterfly!"

"Ha ha ha. Oh, sweet child," chuckled Miss Lilly.

"What are you laughing at?!" snapped Bella

"I'm not laughing at you, my dear. You just remind me of someone I once knew very well," said Miss Lilly.

"Who!" demanded Bella.

"Why, me," said Miss Lilly.

"You?" Bella's eyes widened.

"Yes, me. I was once your age, you know. I, too, had other ladybug acquaintances who weren't very nice to me because I was different than all of them."

"Yeah, right. You? Made fun of? I doubt that!" Bella said.

"It's true, dear; I once had those same angry thoughts. I felt alone, deserted, unwanted, and unloved," Miss Lilly said in almost a whisper, as if to even admit those feeling was still too hard to bear.

"So what changed?" Bella asked.

"I did," Miss Lilly responded

"What do you mean?" Bella asked with her wing under her chin and her eyes searching Miss Lilly's.

"After my momma passed on, I knew if I stayed in Beetleville that I would never be happy, so I decided to move on and find a place where people loved me for me. The choice I made was to love myself first, because if you can't love yourself, how do you expect others to love you?" Miss Lilly continued.

"So you mean if I learn to love myself and surround myself with others who love me also, then Miss Snottynose Wings will just go away?" Bella responded.

"In so many words, yes. It's not something that happens overnight. You have to work at it and truly believe that what's inside is what really counts.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Misfits and the Magical Pond by Tina Orr Copyright © 2012 by Tina Orr. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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