I: Carrots

The humans returned to the garden, but by that time, all the carrots had fled the Earth in search of midget trees to climb. They search many planets, including even Pluto! And when they find no midget trees, they decide to search another solar system. After 10 excruciating minutes of relentless search, they finally find a small planet resting by the side of Heaven. In it are millions of midget trees bearing exotic apples of red and green colour. The carrots reach up with their tiny carrot arms and slide up the trunks of the magical trees. When they reach the top, they spread their leaves and jump... Floating to the ground on a gust of cool wind. When they land, they decide they will never return to Earth in fear of being eaten, so instead they eat each other and cross the nearby barrier to the golden gates of Heaven: never to be seen again.

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II: Paper Chains

I pick up the paper chains and wrap them around a tree. I grab hold of one of the colourful paper loops and jump, determined to make a nest in the rough branches of the apple tree. I slam into its trunk and feel blood trickle down my face. I wipe it off with my sleeve then stop still. I stare at my now red sleeve with wide eyes for a second longer before punching myself in the face and falling to the ground unconscious. When I open my eyes again, I am no longer next to the tree and I cry at the loss of my magnificent paper chain. Somebody has moved me to a hospital! This is worse than before. At least when I was subjected to life in an enclosure I was free to roam! Now all I have to comfort me is the sign on the wall saying: 'Great Oak Mental Institution For The Psychologically Unstable' and the handcuffs around my wrists. So I smash my head against the wall.

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III: Butterflies

Butterflies like to fly, but they do not look like butter. Instead they have beautiful wings, and they sit on beds of flowers. Pretty little things. And yet some people find it fun to hurt them. Rip of the pretty little wings, or pin them to a board. I know that ants aren't very pretty, but why do people burn them under a microscope in the sun? Humans are cruel. They get it from life. Life is cruel and unforgiving. And so we take it out on others. It was so much simpler years ago, when we all lived in caves and hunted for food. No school or expectations. Just survival. Life is strange and complicated. And so we don't know what to do. Hide away, or make yourself known? In books it's so much simpler: whatever happens, however badly you mess up, there will always be a happy ending... Well not always. Some books have very sad endings. But at least they've ended. With life, however sad, you have to keep going. "Be strong!" they say. But what if I'm not? Then I might as well hide away. A butterfly has wings and can fly away. But I don't. Maybe I could write a book about a butterfly who doesn't fly away? Or maybe I should just lay low and try to survive as best as I can.

I am not a butterfly. I do not have beautiful wings, and nor do I sit on beds of flowers. I am not pretty. But people still find it fun to hurt me. Why are humans so cruel?

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