It was so small, so long ago; a simple reference to a caterpillar in a pickle jar. Of course, the children on the bus were talking about a simple action of collecting in the name of science and curiosity. It was certainly not in the name of adult beverages; you know, the worm stuck on the bottom of an alcohol bottle.
I, of course, pipe in with some ridiculous response like: “Yum! Delicious! Or, how was it?” Their response was equally simple, the four children at this point: “Eeeeeewww! Yuck!!”
And then, the division began. Snickering, the two boys on the bus started in with references to sandwiches and picnics; exhaling loudly, the two girls shouting: “Gross! Ick!” I decided I had to seal the growing chasm, silence the increasing opposition. So I mentioned that everything fashionable to eat, drink, and wear had to possess a catchy name. This elicited a large number of names, a list of things, that once agreed upon, would seal the distance between the parties. And so, once we came to silence, a treaty had been formed. It had become the consensus known as....caterpickle.
Yep, the pact was struck; “new food” reference and all. There wasn’t a day that went by that I did not hear the word of unity: Caterpickle. But after a couple of weeks, the word disappeared from the bus’s vocabulary. I thought the whole movement had died. But like some movements, both social and political, it had gone underground where it started to grow. Then, in glorious rebellion and loud fanfare, this little blonde-haired girl announces to the entire bus that it was National Caterpickle Day! And the rally began! There was a whole lot of speech making: a little of “caterpickle this” and “caterpickle that.” A small band had created an anthem for the movement. I even think there was an amusement ride based on “Caterpickle,” though “Wiggle Wart” came to my mind. With all the laughing and giggling and merry dancing, it was quite the convention.
So, now, I’m happy to report that, posted proudly in front of the bus, directly above the driver’s seat, there is an edict, signed by the school’s Principal, declaring April to be National Caterpickle Month. Isn’t it amazing? A simple movement, started with a simple reference to a caterpillar in a pickle jar, grew legs. Now, there is no stopping it. “Onward and upward,” the children say. “We are on the move!! Hurray!!!” Yes, hurray. Congratulations are very much in order. Now, please, if you don’t mind, we need to sit down in our seats and calm down. So, the bus can march us home.
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