Storytime

There was one particular cartoon I loved watching when I was a child. I think it's a Japanese production and the episodes were all about a particular bee called Maia and the other inhabitants of the woods. They're airing the episodes again on Italian TV and this morning, during breakfast the story of this particular episode, one I had never watched before, enchanted the writer in me in its perfect simplicity.

On one of their nature walks near a stream, a bee named Maia and her friends, another little bee and a grasshopper named Flip, come across a Mama snail trying to convince her three sons that they are now grown up enough to leave on their own. Around her, a group of insects protest that Mama snail is too hard-hearted to insist when the three little snails cannot stop crying and are begging her to let them stay.

Even the ugly old spider, who plays terrible music on a violin to confuse her prey and attract them into her web, says so. Mama snail is indignant at the accusations from the other insects, but wiser, and remains of the opinion that her offsprings must leave.

When Maia asks Flip why this is happening, Flip says it's the natural way of things. Children are born and their mother takes care of them with love, but there comes a time when they must leave the nest and strike out on their own. To hold them back would be a mistake. They must learn to face the world independently, for their own good as their mother will not always be there to protect them.

Maia tells the tiny snails that she, too, is still a young bee, but she faces the woods on her own, with the help of her friends. The three snails, however, are too afraid to leave their mother's side. They do not trust the unknown.While this discussion is taking place, a human throws a lit match into the scrub nearby and the woods catch fire. All the insects are trapped between the fire on one side and the spider's web on the other.

Mama snail starts inching towards the spider's web. If the spider eats her then she'll be satisfied and her children can pass through. But the idea seems too cruel to Maia. Flip is angry at the spider and accuses her of being heartless. But the spider says that if she felt sorry for every insect who appeared before her web she'd starve and be dead by now. Another of nature's undeniable truths.

Maia looks around for a solution and after much debate with her friends, she notices that a natural dam of sticks and leaves is blocking the stream water at one point. They work together to remove it and the water overflows the banks, putting out the fire. The woods are safe once more.

The insects rejoice in Maia's quick thinking. And the three little snails begin to hope that the world cannot be so cold out there if there are friends like Maia who will help them along the way. The fact that Maia is so independent makes them realize that they, too, must leave their mother's side and fend on their own.

Maia gives them hope and courage.

Fascinating!