It was a bright and sunny morning in the savannah, and Shanti the dung beetle was already hard at work. With a cheerful whistle, he rolled his ball of dung across the grassy plains, his tiny legs pushing with all their might.
As Shanti trundled along, he passed by a group of elephants enjoying a refreshing mud bath. “Hello, Shanti!” called out Jerry the elephant, waving his trunk.
“Good morning!” Shanti replied, a big smile on his face. “I have so much to do today, but it’s always nice to see my friends!”
“Busy as ever, I see!” chuckled Pombo, another elephant, as he splashed in the mud.
Shanti nodded, feeling happy about his work. But as he continued on his journey, he overheard the elephants talking among themselves.
“Do you know what Shanti does all day?” asked Jerry, his trunk pointed in Shanti’s direction.
“Roll dung, I suppose,” replied Pombo with a laugh.
Shanti’s heart sank. He had always loved his job, but now he couldn’t help but feel a little sad.
Later that day, Shanti met Asko the butterfly fluttering nearby. “Hey, Shanti! Ready for our game?” Asko chirped.
But Shanti couldn’t muster his usual excitement. “I don’t know, Asko. Maybe I’m not really useful after all.”
Asko gently landed on Shanti’s shell. “Nonsense! You play a really important role in our ecosystem. Without you, there would be no one to recycle all that dung!”
Shanti sighed. “But the elephants said—”
Asko interrupted with a twinkle in his eye. “Ah, but they don’t know the whole story. Let me show you!”
With a flap of his delicate wings, Asko led Shanti on a magical journey through the savannah. They soared over lush greenery and sparkling rivers, witnessing the beauty of nature in all its wonder.
“Look, Shanti,” said Asko, pointing to a herd of antelope grazing peacefully. “Thanks to you, the plants grow strong and healthy from the recycled nutrients in the soil.”
Shanti’s eyes widened in amazement. “I had no idea!”
As they flew on, they came across a family of birds building their nest in a tall tree. “And there,” continued Asko, “your hard work provides a safe and fertile environment for new life to grow.”
Shanti beamed with pride, realizing the importance of his seemingly simple task.
Back on the ground, Shanti rolled his dung ball with renewed determination. “I may be small, but I have a big job to do!” He declared.
The elephants, noticing Shanti’s newfound confidence, cheered him on with trumpets and stomps. “Go, Shanti!” they called.
And so, with a skip in his step, Shanti continued his journey, knowing that he played a really important role in the circle of life in the savannah.
From that day on, Shanti embraced his purpose with joy and happiness, spreading smiles and laughter wherever he went.
And as the sun set on another day in the savannah, Shanti rolled his dung ball into the sunset, his heart full of pride and his spirit soaring high.
For in the eyes of his friends and the beauty of nature, Shanti found his true purpose, shining bright like the sun in the African sky.
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Nande Thomas Sakaria Kamati is a 30-year-old Electrical Engineer from Grootfontein, Namibia, currently residing in Windhoek. While his professional background lies in engineering, Nande’s true passion lies in writing captivating children’s fantasy stories set in Alkebulan, Africa as it once was. Drawing inspiration from his bantu, khoekhoe and Christian heritage, he seeks to transport young readers to enchanting realms filled with adventure. In his spare time, Nande enjoys indulging in period dramas and exploring the depths of literature.
Read – My, Oh My! – A Children’s Literature by Ainembabazi Lindah – Uganda
Sometimes people/friends may try to pull you down but what you shouldn’t forget is that there’s always that one person/friend/brother/sister who won’t turn their back on you. They will always light your day with their soothing words encouraging you to push on. Shanti needed this. He needed Asko to lift his spirits up. I loved reading every bit of this masterpiece🥰