WONDER

Ami thought they might be a bee, but decided it wasn't possible because bees were busy and they weren't busy. 

They considered they might be a stick insect, and dismissed this idea quickly because their great aunt once pointed to a stick insect and said it was the devil's darning needle, sent to sew up the eyes of sleeping children. Ami had no desire to sew up the eyes of sleeping children and therefore couldn't possibly be a stick insect.

A ladybug fluttered past Ami's curious eyes and landed on a nearby leaf. 

Ami glanced downwards at a tickle. A stream of ants marched over them. Ami wondered if maybe they were an ant. They thought for a long while that they could very well be an ant. Ami liked sugar and being social, although they were never able to be uniform in manner. They liked to wander their own path at their own pace. 

Ami whispered to the ladybug, 'Do you know what I am?'

The ladybug said nothing at first, but Ami could tell it was thinking. 

A bird flew overhead, fluttering and tweeting softly.  The Wren bounced along a branch. Ami thought they must be a Wren because they love heights, trees, and singing. 

Ami smiled at the ladybug as they told it, 'I am a Wren.' 

The ladybug fluttered onto Ami. 'No,' it said, 'you would be trying to eat me if you were a Wren.' 

Ami watched the Wren flutter away. They agreed, they couldn't be a Wren because they liked the ladybug, and didn't want to eat it.  

'I think I am a fox.' Ami said.

The ladybug was silent. Ami nodded their head, certain they were a fox. They thought about how they liked running and jumping, and staying up late. 

Ami noticed the ladybug contemplating. They asked the ladybug what was on its mind and agreed they couldn't be a fox because they like to sleep at night and play during the day. 

The ladybug fluttered to Ami's hand as a flash of orange passed. The neighbour's cat settled under the bush on the garden's edge, as it did every evening. 

The ladybug suggested Ami might be a cat.

Ami carefully considered this. It was very likely they were a cat. They loved to sit under bushes to relax. 'Yes.' Ami said, 'I think I am a cat.' 

The two sat silently, sure that Ami was a cat. 

The cat made a small squeak, the same as every evening. The jarring noise meant something, and neither the ladybug or Ami could remember what. 

A sound crunched on the grass. 

The ladybug fluttered to Ami's nose. 

They watched the leaves part, revealing a grin. 

'Your friend is back.' The words softly swam out of the grin. 'It's dinner time, sweatie.' 

Ami heard the ladybug laugh as it made its way to a leaf within the bush. 

The two remembered Ami is a human, with a mind that beautifully stretches the boundaries.