Chapter Thirty-five: Peas in a Pod.

Once upon a time, there lived a single little pea in a pod. 

Now then, this little pea grew up snuggled comfortably against mama-pod and papa-plant, who fed it and nourished it till round and full it grew. For many years, the little pod stayed close to mama-pod and papa-plant, and did not dare to venture out into the great wide world, for fear of being eaten.

Now then, the time came for the little pea to roll out of mama-pod's embrace and find it's own way in the world. And so tearfully mama-pod and papa-plant sent the little one on its way.

And so the little pea happily rolled along.

Along the way, the little pea met a pin lying across the path. Now then, the little pea took a fancy to the pin, and told it so. But alas, the pin liked not how the pea looked, and hopped up to prick it hard, causing the pea to bleed and shrink into a wrinkled little ball. Crying in dismay, the little pea stumbled away as best as it could, while the snail, centipede and spider watching nearby laughed at it.

And so it rolled on.

Now then, this time it rolled into a fresh garden patch, in which there were many other peas growing. Pleased to see a fellow pea, the others welcomed it cheerfully into their midst. Here the little pea was happy, for it'd made new friends, and life felt good. Fond it was of another pea, who took charge of it, and showed it around, taking it to visit the other pods and plants. And thus they grew to be close friends, for are not such friends as close as peas in a pod?