By Matt Lit.
Gather round and let’s all read a story. Together.
It’s an ageless story from years ago. And ever-so apt now don’t you know? A Dr. Seuss tale with a moral that’s hale, a story to learn from, a story to share, a story meant to help us realize that we’re all one beyond pale.
It’s a story of Star-Belly Sneetches haves and Plain-Belly Sneetches have-nots. It’s a story of “they” it’s a story of “us.” It’s a story with a moral if you’ll not put up a fuss.
For the Star-Bellies had stars and the Plain-Bellies did not. And so, the haves shunned the have-nots. And some of them could not and some of them would not see that they’re really all the same.
But alas, those with the stars wouldn’t budge. Not for any reasoning. Not for any nudge.
Now in the story comes along a Fix-It-Up Chappie, named Mr. McBean. Through wile and wit McBean took advantage of their ongoing snit.
You see, McBean had a machine and a diabolical plan. And with his machine he sold Plain-Bellies stars telling them with they’d go far. And this led the Star-Bellies who already had their stars by right to look down upon the new Plain-Belly stars with a feeling of might.
And so the haves having stars still felt they were best — that is till they realized that not having that star would again make them the best by far. So, they all at once passed through another McBean machine and removed their stars to prove that they were still “us” and the others still “they.”
Sneetches being Sneetches and therefore very, very Sneetch-like were not really very happy about their new lot. And sure enough, when the have-nots who now had and the haves who had not went through the machine over and over again and so many times that no one really knew who was a have and who was have not.
And away back down T-Road drove the one with the star-belly giver machine and the star-belly taker machine with a pocket full of all the Sneetches’ money. “They will never learn. No. You can’t teach a Sneetch!”
Well, strangely it didn’t take the Sneetches all that long to see and together they realized that it could be easy to agree, that Sneetches are Sneetches no matter the star. And Sneetches together could go very far.
Well, that ends today’s story time if you’ll pardon the rhyme. I hope you’ve all listened for there’s a moral afoot. A way to move forward and a new way to gather. A new chance for community if you’ll comprehend my blather.
To read the original, unbutchered version of The Sneetches, by Dr. Seuss visit:
www.fliphtml5.com/nlsuk/qqsb/basic or www.bowmanatbrooks.weebly.com/uploads/8/3/8/3/8383240/the-sneetches.pdf.
Be sure to enjoy the April Fools elsewhere in this issue.
Humor is the great healer.