The Lioness and Mrs. Ladybug

Lc 01,39-56

Author Cecília Pellegrini and Rafaella Pellegrini

Mrs. Ladybug is in the backyard of her house, humming while she puts the washed clothes in the clothesline. She is very happy, because in spite of being a senior she received the miracle of being a mother, an old wish of her and of her husband.

A beautiful little Bunny, the neighbor's daughter, arrives bringing a piece of cake for the Mrs. Ladybug.

Jumping, she calls - Mrs. Ladybug, can I get in?

Mrs. Ladybug, always smiling, answers - Of course, Little Bunny, get in! I am here in the backyard.

Mom asked me to bring this piece of cake for you, Little Bunny said.

The Mrs. Ladybug salivated with the smell - Hum... This smells good!

As soon as she ate a piece, she saw several ants - Hey! You don't have to be with those ringworm faces because I will share it with everybody. See Little Bunny, those ants decided to build their anthill here in my backyard. They know that I am already old, I never had offspring and they make me company.

The bunny questions - But you will have fledglings now, right?

Mrs. Ladybug confirms - Oh yes. I am so happy! I could not have offspring, but now, even being in the old age, I will have a descendant. See the wood toy that my husband made for our nestling... Don't you want to play?

Little Bunny accepts immediately and Mrs. Ladybug goes back to the backyard to finish placing the clothes in the clothesline.

Soon afterwards, Little Bunny hears a knock in the front door; she pries through the keyhole and opens wide her eyes, because she doesn't believe what she is seeing. She calls Mrs. Ladybug.

To poor bunny was voiceless for having seen Mrs. Lioness and could only point to the door.

Mrs. Ladybug looks at the door and didn't see anything - Little Bunny, I don't see anything. Why are you so worried?

The bunny says - Right there!

Concerned Mrs. Ladybug says - What’s there Little Bunny? Are your ears crooked? She looks at her and doesn't find anything wrong - No, they are not crooked, they are kept. Are you seeing things? No, you are not.

As little Bunny could not speak, she had the idea of feigning a lion.

Mrs. Ladybug thinking that Little Bunny was playing, she feigns a lion also - Oh, I got it, it is an imitation game. You know that I love to play with you, but see how much clothes I still have to put in the clothesline.

She goes back to the backyard to finish her work.

Little Bunny pretend to be a lion again and Mrs. Ladybug surrenders - well, well. I will play a little bit.

When she sees that the ants are looking at them, she invites - Hey, ants, do you want to play with us?

One of the ants answers - I can’t, I have to work.

Another says - I can’t, I have to visit my friend fly that caught dengue.

Mrs. Ladybug then says to Little Bunny - Can you see Little Bunny, all have something to do. What does your mom always say?

Little Bunny says with accuracy - First duty, then pleasure.

Mrs. Ladybug then shows how much clothes she still has in the bucket and she says that she has work to do.

Little Bunny lowers her head and is very sad, then the Mrs. Ladybug thinks about making an exception - All right, all right, but, we will play a little bit and later I will care for the clothes again. Imitate the lion again.

Little Bunny makes the lion sound again and of course Mrs. Ladybug gets right - It is a lion!

Mrs. Lioness knocks on the door again.

Mrs. Ladybug asks Little Bunny to see who is.

Little Bunny says - But, Mrs. Ladybug I...

Mrs. Ladybug, already half serious it replies - Please, see who is it, Little Bunny!

Little Bunny knowing that it is Mrs. Lioness, feigns a huge lion roar.

Mrs. Ladybug already impatient says - Now, please stop playing. I already got it right, don’t you remember? Let’s see who is knocking at the door.

When she opens the door she smiles - What a satisfaction Mrs. Lioness! The two embrace in a warm hug while Little Bunny speaks - Mrs. Ladybug that was that I was trying to say that Mrs. Lioness was here.

Mrs. Ladybug smiled with the mix-up - Excuse me, Little Bunny, I thought that you were playing.

Then she speaks to the visit again - Blessed you are you among all the females of the forest and blessed it is the fruit that is in your womb, our prince Lion.

Curious Little Bunny asks - What is a womb, Mrs. Ladybug?

The Mrs. Ladybug explains - It is the belly of the Lioness that carries the baby. Mine also has a nestling, see.

The Lioness explains her visit's reason - I knew that you are also waiting for a nestling and I came to make you company and to help you. Take, I brought some things for you. She gives a basket full of food and Mrs. Ladybug is very grateful - Thank you Mrs. Lioness, thank you very much. We are really almost without any food. Why the honor, the Mother of our future prince came to visit me?

Then Mrs. Ladybug feels that her nestling moved inside of her belly - See, my nestling moved, he recognized the full of light presence in our simple house.

Mrs. Lioness asks - And how your nestling will be called, dear Mrs. Ladybug?

He will call himself John, the proud mother says.

Little Bunny likes the choice - Mom Mrs. Ladybug and son John, John and Mrs. Ladybug... It sounds good!

The Lioness also approves - John, what a beautiful name! He will be my son's friend.

Mrs. Ladybug complements - They will not only become friends, he will be the follower of the Prince, I am sure he will follow King Lion's steps.

When the forest’s animals learned about the arrival of Mrs. Lioness, they ran to the door of Mrs. Ladybug.

Can I open the door, asks Little Bunny.

Of course, says Mrs. Ladybug.

The first to arrive was the Elephant - Mrs. Ladybug, Mrs. Ladybug.

Come in, my friend, she invites.

The Elephant anxious says - They told me that the Mrs. Lioness is here.

Mrs. Ladybug confirms - Yes, today our humble house is blessed. Mrs. Lioness, who is so hard-working, who helps the poor so much, has left her burrow so far away from here, she traveled through the desert, the mountains and came here to be with me and to help me.

Mrs. Lioness says that she will be helping for three months.

Mrs. Ladybug thanks and very moved hugs her friend.

There were more knocks at the door. There was more animals arriving.

The very happy Little Bunny ran to the door saying - I will welcome the newcomers!

A giraffe and a monkey asked - Is Mrs. Lioness here?

Mrs. Lioness, always kind, receives them - Friends, it is a great honor to meet you.

The excited monkey says - We are very happy because we know that that nestling that will arrive will bring a lot of happiness to our forest.

The Giraffe speaks - The prince Lion is arriving to help us all.

The Elephant also wants to talk - A new time of peace, union and love for each of us.

Mrs. Lioness confirms everything that they said of her nestling that is coming - Yes, my son will come to bring light to the world! On this exact moment, Mrs. Ladybug and the Lioness put the hand in the belly and they say together - He has moved!

All of the bugs laughed a lot at the coincidence of the two nestlings moving at the same time and spent several hours with the two blessed moms.