Flexi and the Glass Bead
The following illustrated story was published by ‘Pampers’ to promote the sale of a new product. The images are by Fabrizio Cali (a Maltese Artist) and the text is by Ursula West.
Once upon a time, Flexi the Caterpillar, thought he was the ugliest, silliest, insect in the whole garden.
He looked into the glass bead which had fallen into his cabbage patch and shook his head.
Flexi stuck his nose right against the glass and his nose looked HUGE!
“Ooh!,” he squealed and jumped back.
“I look terrible!”
Flexi moved slowly out of the cabbage patch with his head nearly touching the ground.
“What’s wrong with you?” chirped Quigly the worm. Belinda the beetle scurried over to see what was happening.
Flexi lifted his head and dared to look at them. “I’m ugly,” he said.
“Who told you that?” squeaked Belinda.
“The glass ball in my cabbage patch.”
Quigly looked at Flexi – let’s see this ball! How dare it say such a thing to you.”
Belinda, the beetle, ran into the cabbage patch and returned with the glass bead – pushing it in front of her head. She was laughing very loudly.
Flexi looked at Belinda and then he looked at her image in the round glass ball. Now he understood.
Her face looked so silly and out of shape.
“Oh!” he said softly, “so that was not really me!” And he burst out laughing.
They all took turns to make funny faces in the glass ball and had a great time, laughing and laughing till the sun went down. Then it was time for all of them to go to bed.