"Jeremy the Jaguar"

September 17, 2018; Children's Story

Jeremy the Jaguar looked kind of funny. His legs were straight like sticks, his body was a tube, and he always looked surprised. He really was a funny looking Jaguar.

None of the other animals at the zoo liked Jeremy, “He looks too weird!” they said. Jeremy played alone, but he couldn’t have any fun. He asked Theresa the Turtle if she’d play with him, but she told him “No! You look too weird!”. Jeremy walked towards the lion cage and again asked if any of them wanted to play. “No! You look too weird!” said Louis the Lion. Jeremy the Jaguar didn’t feel very funny.                                     

Jeremy the Jaguar went back to his cage, sad. He cried, “Why does everyone think I’m ugly? Why won’t anyone play with me?” But still, no one liked Jeremy the Jaguar. That night he went to sleep, but still, he didn’t feel like a funny jaguar.

In the night, very late, so late that no other animal was awake, Jeremy woke back up. Outside of his cage was a janitor, mopping the floor. He was whistling a happy tune, dancing with his mop.

“Hello!” Jeremy said though he expected him not to answer.

The janitor, still smiling, turned around and said, “Hello Jeremy!”

Jeremy was surprised, but still a little sleepy. “What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m old Jim, the janitor. Y’all are all asleep by the time I show up,” the jolly janitor responded.

“Do you want to be my friend?” Jeremy asked. A friend! Jeremy the Jaguar who looked kind of funny would have a friend!

“Sure Jeremy!” the janitor exclaimed. Jeremy danced around in his cage, jumping for joy.

Jeremy paused and frowned. “None of the other animals want to be my friend. They think I look weird. Do I look weird, Jim?”

Jim propped his mop up on the wall and took a seat on the bench in front of Jeremy.

“You do look kinda funny, Jeremy, but that just makes you unique. You’re a funny looking Jaguar, but I think that’s all right. All the other animals look sort of funny too.”

Jeremy thought about the other animals. He thought about Theresa the Turtle and Louis the Lion. He supposed that they did look kind of funny. Theresa’s shell was a little too big, and Louis’ mane hadn’t ever grown in.

Jim the Jolly Janitor was right. Everyone looks a little funny, and Jeremy thought that was okay.