The MISSING Friend

Munchy caterpillar and Beady centipede were best friends.

- Dr K Rani

They both had several legs and loved racing each other among the lush green grass. Their other friends—Anna ant, Solo snail, Lulu ladybug, and Greeny grasshopper—often joined them on their adventures.

One day, resting under a tree, Munchy asked Beady, “Hey, don’t you find it difficult to walk with so many legs?”

“You have plenty of legs too!” Beady chuckled.

“Yes, but mine are fewer and much smaller than yours.”

“Having so many legs helps me move fast, and I never get tired!” Beady said proudly, flexing his legs.

“Plus, you can use your legs on trees and even on the ground,” Munchy said, sounding impressed. “I don’t go that far.”

Just then, Solo snail and Anna ant arrived, and the friends ran off to play. They loved exploring new places—climbing tall trees and hiding under giant leaves.

After playing in the clearing for a while, Beady excitedly said, “Let’s go deeper into the forest and feast on exotic fruits!”

“You go ahead, Beady. I like it here, and I’m not that hungry,’ Munchy said.

Beady asked others to join him, but none of them were willing to venture that deep into the forest.

“Alright, I’ll go alone and be back soon. You all have fun in the meantime!” Munchy said cheerfully before heading into the dense undergrowth.

But rather than feasting on exotic fruits and returning, he wandered so far that when he finally looked around, he had no idea where he was. He walked around for days, trying to find his way back, but the thick forest made it difficult.