“Psst,” I heard. I looked around to see who it was. Then I heard, “I’m up here in the tree, stupid.” Up in the tree, there was a koala, chewing a eucalyptus leaf scampishly.
“You are talking!” I cried. “Yeah, tell your mama that a koala is talking to you, like she would believe THAT!” said the koala. That is exactly what I did, and mom followed me. I pointed at the koala, but he pretended to be asleep. My mom said “Yes, I believe you. But let’s be quiet now, he is taking a nap.” As soon as my mom left, the koala opened his eyes. “You are so mean,” I said. He stuck his tongue out at me. Irritated, I stuck my tongue out back at him, but he grinned as if he was entertained.
This ridiculous story is about my first experience conversing with an animal when I was five years old in Australia. It may sound like a joke to you. If it does, then you will probably dismiss what children say about monsters under the bed as excessive imagination. Since I had an experience that not many people dare to believe in, however, I listen to children from the heart. I believe that what they say comes from the most innocent of minds. My purity could have been lost if my parents overlooked my stories for how crazy they sounded. Instead, they asked me what the animals said and encouraged me to befriend them. Thanks to their support, I grew up to be an adult with a pure mind just like- or similar to- what I had when I was little.
I not only believe in what children say, but also write stories based on them. I sincerely hope that someday, they will be shared and most importantly, believed.