Catherine Croy
Stories (1/0)
The Short Life of George the Mayfly
One cool spring day, a mayfly was born in a small river on a leaf. His name was George. He was born with many other mayflies on that same leaf. When he came to his senses, he went around asking where his parents were. The other mayflies simply answered with, “They’re all dead George.” George was simply flabbergasted and kept asking, and continued to find the same answer. George wanted to know why his parents died before he was even born. He asked one of his sisters and she said, “George all mayflies live one day, lay eggs, and then die. It’s how it always goes.” George asked her why all of the mayflies only have one day to live, to which his sister replied, “I don’t know George, leave me alone.” George sat on the leaf and contemplated his short life which was getting shorter and shorter. George didn’t want to live such a short life and was very sad. George decided to take a walk and think about his fleeting existence. As George was flying along a trail in the woods, he found a log that was facing a swamp. He decided to sit there where it was quiet and no one could bother him. As he was sitting there thinking, a frog leaped out of the swamp and attacked him. George managed to dive out of the way just in time, and started flying away. George flew as fast as he could, but the frog wouldn’t let up. Soon George found a hollow tree stump and hopped in, hoping the frog didn’t see him. The frog hopped by, not noticing George. George breathed a sigh of relief and started the walk back to the river. As George was flying, he realized that he shouldn’t focus on how short his life was. Instead he should focus on trying to make the best out of the time he has left. And that he should simply celebrate his existence while he still has the time to. George, with a newfound view of life, flew happily back to the lake and told all his sisters and brothers that they should have a party while they still can to celebrate their lives. At the party, George had a lot of fun enjoying his life and talking with his brothers and sisters. George played games and talked a lot with his closest friends and family. After the party, George realized how little time he had left. He was happy he had come to peace with the fact that his death was very soon. George went back to the swamp where that fateful frog encounter had happened. Luckily the frog was not there to end his already short life even sooner. He stared into the murky water trying not to think about the shadow of death that had hung over him the whole party. George had come to terms with the fact that he was going to die, but it still didn’t make it any easier for him. Death is not an easy concept to grapple with. George decided to spend his last couple of hours saying goodbye to his friends and his family. As he was saying goodbye to his sister that had started all of this, she said, “I will make you a grave because you opened my eyes to the fact that we’re all going to die and that I should just make peace with it.” George was touched by her motion of kindness, but kindly refused her offer. He said, “ I want to die just like my parents died, just like every other mayfly has.” So he bid her goodbye and flew back to the leaf he was born on. He laid down and was finally at peace for the first time in his life. As he felt the cold hand of death reaching towards him, he said goodbye to the world and breathed his final breath.
By Catherine Croyabout a year ago in Families