The Camel and Jupiter

Once upon a zany time, somewhere between Realityville and Imaginationland, a Camel was throwing a proper, first-class pity party for one. "Aw, man! Look at Mr. Bull over there, the big show-off," the Camel sighed, "He's got pointy horns that could pop a balloon!"

"And don’t even get me started on Wild Pig," the Camel went on, "He’s got those cool tusks like he’s a pirate or something!"

"And the lion and the tiger? Forget about it! They've got claws and teeth like they’re in a superhero movie!"

Feeling sadder than a rain cloud, the Camel thought, "Alright, this can't go on. Time to take my problems to the boss!" So he stomped his hooves and went to see Jupiter, the King of all the Planets. Yup, he’s the big cheese in the sky.

Camel got there and made a big show of clearing his throat like he was about to sing the loudest song ever. "Hey Jupiter, you’re the king of everything! Listen to my grumbles, okay?"

Jupiter, looking really chill, leaned back on a cloud and adjusted his super-cool sunnies. "Hey there, Mr. Complainy-Pants. Ever thought that maybe you’ve got something special, too?"

The Camel looked surprised. "Something special? Is that like a hidden toy or a magic trick I didn’t know about?"

Jupiter laughed, "You’re funny, but you need to chill on the complaining. So here's a little change." Jupiter snapped his fingers, and whoosh! Camel’s ears started to get tiny.

"Hey, wait a sec! My ears are shrinking! They’re baby-sized now!"

Jupiter took off his sunnies and said, "Well, maybe now you’ll stop listening to the grumbles and start hearing how awesome you are. You’ve got a hump full of water! You’re like a walking water bottle in the desert!"

Camel blinked and thought, "Wow, I never looked at it that way." His ears might have gotten small, but his smarts got a whole lot bigger.

From that day on, Camel stopped worrying about being a show-off or a superhero. He was the Camel, the best water carrier in the desert, no matter how tiny his ears got.

And so, Mr. Camel learned that sometimes you lose a little to find out you’re really, really awesome in your own special way. And with his little ears and big hump, he was ready for any adventure that came his way!

In a desert, sandy and grand,
Lived a Camel, sad in the land.
"He's got horns, she's got might,
What do I have? Oh, it's not right!"

Camel sighed, his eyes full of gloom,
"No one fears me, I've got no room!"
He looked at Bull, and Pig, and Lion,
Each one strong, like a metal iron.

So off he went, with hope anew,
To Jupiter, who'd know what to do.
"I feel so weak, they're all so grand,
Can't you give me a strong, fierce hand?"

Jupiter gazed at the complaining beast,
"You've got gifts, to say the least!
Stop your fuss, and you will find,
You're unique, one of a kind."

"But since you grumble, don't you see,
I'll change you, to help you be
Thankful for what makes you you—
Smaller ears will give you a clue!"

Camel blinked, a thought in mind,
That he was special, one-of-a-kind.
With smaller ears, he learned that day,
To love himself in a brand-new way.