This ocean lies in the mist.
Lady Penelope lives there.
She’s full of freedom.
She’s wild and free.
She’s cold, but she doesn’t mind.
Cold water is good for her body and soul.
It nourishes her in plentiful ways.
It provides an excellent drinking source.
This place is really peaceful.
Something else is special about Penelope.
She’s expecting a baby.
The nutrition is provided in the jungle.
There’s lots of fresh fruit there.
It not only feeds Penelope.
It feeds her baby too.
Fresh water quenches her thirst.
It also hydrates her baby.
Penelope cares for her child gently.
She tells her stories.
She sings in a soft voice.
She does everything she can to protect her.
She is a woman of the water.
Her unborn baby is safe.
Then one day….
She was going to give birth.
No one was there to help her.
Penelope worked hard.
She pushed….
She screamed!
Until finally…
Out came a beautiful baby girl.
Me.
That’s right, I’m her baby.
I was so sweet and innocent.
My eyes sparkled blue.
My hair was soft and brown.
Penelope was in tears…
Emotionally happy tears.
“Welcome to the world, little one.”
She bathes me in the cool water.
“Darling, isn’t the water lovely?”
I smile.
It felt like I was in the womb again.
I am cleaned of the sticky body fluid.
Penelope cleans herself too.
We gaze at our reflections.
“We’re so alike,” Penelope says.
Then, I yawn.
I snuggle into Penelope’s arms.
“There now.”
Penelope gives me a soft, gentle hug.
She anoints me with the clean water.
She gives me a name.
Whatever she named me is the perfect name for me.
Later, Penelope goes back to her cave.
She settles on a bed of moss.
I snuggle in her warm arms.
Penelope needed some rest after all.
For four months, Penelope rested.
She regularly fed me and hydrated me.
During month 4, Penelope no longer felt tired.
She had more energy to move around.
On this day, she carried me to the ocean.
It was sunny and hot.
A perfect day for a swim.
Penelope gently walked into the water.
She held me close.
She was waist deep in the water.
She let me go.
She watched me swim.
She taught me how to swim.
I kicked and crawled.
I splashed Penelope.
We both giggled.
It was such fun.
Penelope lay on the water.
She laid me on her tummy.
We both relaxed.
It’s very peaceful.
It’s very quiet.
I feel very chilled out.
Just us two on the water.
Minutes later, we head into the jungle.
Penelope comes to her favourite fruit tree.
She picks some grapes.
She feeds some to me.
She keeps some for herself.
The grapes are bright pink.
They taste so delicious.
They’re as sweet as Heaven.
They’re so juicy.
Suddenly, I hiccup.
Penelope knows I’ve got trapped wind.
She thumps me on my back.
I burp.
“Ooh,” she giggles gently.
She lifts me in the air.
I giggle loudly.
She laughs with me.
She nose-kisses me.
She hugs me gently.
A blue butterfly lands on my nose.
Its wings feel tickly.
I sneeze a little sneeze: “A-BISHU!”
The butterfly lands on Penelope’s fingers.
Its feet feel light and thin.
Penelope lets it crawl across her chest.
The butterfly’s feet tickle.
Penelope giggles.
The butterfly flies away.
We head back to the rocky shore.
Penelope finds a long stick.
She draws on the hard, rocky ground.
She has drawn a stallion.
I clap my tiny hands.
Penelope draws another image.
It’s a slow, slow tortoise.
I’m confused.
Penelope’s fingers walk slowly along the rocky ground.
She is telling me how slow a tortoise is.
Then, she makes her fingers JUMP!
She curls her fingers up.
The tortoise is now in his shell.
She next draws something else.
This time, it’s a lion.
She roars softly, not too loudly.
I try to roar too.
Penelope giggles.
“Someday, you’ll meet these animals,” Penelope says.
She explains each animal’s symbol.
The horse symbolises courage.
The tortoise symbolises pace.
The lion symbolises strength.
I am amazed by all this.
“I am a horse,” Penelope explains.
“I embody courage.”
“You’re just a small tortoise.”
“Soon, you’ll grow to be a lion.”
“These days, you’re using pace.”
“Growing up, you’ll get stronger and stronger.”
“You’ll be as proud and wise as a lion.”
It’s getting dark.
It’s time we headed home.
We head into our cave.
Penelope holds me close to her chest.
She snuzzles me.
She cradles me in her arms gently.
She cuddles me softly.
She hums a gentle, ancient tune.
Soon, I fall asleep.
Penelope falls asleep by my side.
I am safe and protected.
“I’ll always love you,” whispers Penelope.
3 years pass.
I grow into a small, healthy toddler.
Take this day for example.
Penelope and I are swimming in the sea.
I can swim properly and good now.
Penelope and I splash each other.
We laugh loudly.
Penelope picks me up.
She whirls me around.
I giggle loudly.
Later, we were on the grassy shore.
We were having a well earned nap.
It is very peaceful.
I am snuggled next to Penelope.
It is also very quiet.
A tortoise slowly plods by.
I wake up.
I curiously follow the tortoise.
Plod, plod, plod.
What slow steps he takes.
Plod, plod, plod.
I reach out to touch his smooth shell.
POP!
Into its shell it goes.
I am confused.
The tortoise peers out.
Peekaboo!
It plods off.
Plod….plod…plod.
I feel a bit sad.
Penelope finds me.
She chuckles at my antics.
I find myself giggling too.
She picks me up.
She cuddles me.
“You are a growing tortoise,” compliments Penelope.
“Soon, you’ll be a strong, brave lion.”
Later in the jungle, we play together.
We swing on jungle vines.
Penelope pushes me.
“Wheeeeee!!!” I cry out.
We slide down a waterfall.
We pretend to be lions.
Suddenly, we hear a loud roar echo in the distance.
I am confused.
“Someday, you’ll find out.”
Penelope and I return to our cave.
Penelope snuggles on her mossy bed.
I cuddle with her.
Penelope hums the tune she always hums to me.
I yawn, and fall asleep.
Penelope falls asleep too.
3 more years pass.
I am now 6 years old.
I have a lot of energy.
Penelope is swimming in the sea.
I run in and jump into the water.
SPLASH!
I emerge all drenched!
Penelope and I laugh.
We dive underwater and swim together.
We take turns diving off rocks.
It is such great fun.
Then Penelope speaks.
“It’s about time you knew what you are.”
“What?!”
“You’ll see in a minute.”
Later, we head off on our journey.
It takes a long time.
We find ways to entertain ourselves.
We play hide and seek.
We play tag.
We pretend to be zebras.
Until…
We find ourselves in the desert!’
“NEEEEEEEEEEEIGH!”
What’s that?
We hear the galloping of hooves.
It’s a stallion!
A real stallion!
It’s coloured a beautiful yellow and brown.
Its mane is silky smooth.