Sammy the mouse was a little late waking up today - he wasn't sure if he needed to get up to do something or if he should get back to sleep. Then, Gerald the Giraffe rushed by, seemingly on the way to something important. Sammy called out, "Hey Gerry, where ya rushing to?" Gerald turned back and shouted as he sped off, "To the Sacred Place! He's back one last time to paint!"
At that, Sammy gasped! He had forgotten all about the Painter! And if he misses this time round, he'll never be able to get any colors!
You see, the world started out all black and white, no colors existed till the Painter came when he announced that he shall give every thing (who so wishes to) some colors till he runs out, so that the world may become more vibrant and exciting. And today, the Painter would be back with his last batch of paints.
Sammy panicked, and immediately prepared his breakfast of white toast and grey butter. Then he thought, "This is no time for breakfast!" and dashed for the door. It was going to be a really long trip, but he had to make it or he will remain all white forever.
As he started for the Sacred Place, Sammy passed Randy the Rhino, "Hey Randy, the Painter's here today, aren't you gonna hurry?" To which Randy answered uninterested, "Nah, don't think I need any colors..." Sammy thought for a while, then waved goodbye and carried on his way. Did I mention Randy had always stayed grey ever since?
Then Sammy spotted Philippe the Peacock: "Hey Phillipe! You didn't ask the Painter for more colors?" Philippe moaned at Sammy, "Oh Sammy, my dearest Sammy, I was the fifth in line, of course I asked for all the colors!" With that, Philippe spread his wings and wiggled his long tail, fanning it open in a myriad of the most delicate paintings ever done! Sammy's eyes nearly popped, and he told himself he better hurry!
It must have been an hour before Sammy finally reached the entrance of the Sacred Place - it was amazing! The Sacred Place was all shades of dark grey and black, but after the Painter did the place up, it looked like the root of a rainbow - vibrant, colorful, and shiny in the now golden sun.
Sammy couldn't wait, and he dashed right in, but the queue was still long. Sammy would have to wait a while before he could get his turn, and peering from behind, he could see the Painter working on Chuck the Cheetah, "Perhaps you need some nice spots to go with on this yellow body, just to spot a difference from Leo, the lion. What you think?" To which Chuck was elated, "That's a good idea! Spots then!" And the Painter picked a darker brown and started drawing spots on Chuck.
Next, Perry the Parrot started her requests, "I was thinking, perhaps some red would be nice on the tip of the feathers, but I'd like a dash of blue on the top, and some green at the bottom...oh, could you please put some yellow at the beak and perhaps a sprinkle of purple on the neck..." But before Perry could continue, the Painter laughed, "Hahaha...okay Perry, how about if I add a little of everything, but still tidy you up with white as the base?" Perry was happy, and started yacking away again.
Sammy was getting worried, if everybody asked for all the available colors, what would he be left with?
But Sammy was in queue, so he couldn't hurry anyone up. The only thing he could do was to wait, as he watch the Painter paint Gerald the Giraffe (who got ahead of Sammy), Linda the Ladybird, and even Henry the Hippo, who was shy and asked for earth tones so politely, to which the Painter decided to add some gradients to the short fur, tail, and hooves.
Many hours passed before Sammy finally got to the front of the queue - well, actually, he was the last second in the queue. Sammy asked politely, "May I have some colors?" By now, the Painter had almost exhausted his supply of paint, but managed to squeeze a bit more out of the tube of red. "I'm so sorry Sammy, the only colors I have left are Blue and Red..." and the Painter's eyes welled up in tears.
Sammy was rather disappointed, but not wanting to even miss a single color, he proposed, "That's okay! Just paint me in whichever way you can!"
The Painter's heart ached when he heard that, then he thought for a while. Right behind Sammy was the spirit of the sky, and that gave him a briliant idea. The Painter told the spirit, "Can I offer you the most brilliant blue ever, like sapphire that burns the deepest blue high up above the rest, so that you, and the deep green sea, can let all other beings have a chance to be spotted?" The spirit smiled and nodded, and the Painter got to work in no time. Within minutes, the spirit was done, and the whole world was forever covered in the deepest blue anyone has ever seen - cool but not straining to the eyes. A true sapphire gem was born.
Then the Painter turn to Sammy who is now getting worried - he could not possibly be covered in red? How awful would that be? And certainly he cannot be covered in spots of red? That would make him look like he was sick!
The Painter patted Sammy on the head, and said in the most gentle voice, "Sammy, because you gave me a chance, and that you didn't give up, I shall offer you the last drop of my most precious paint!" To which, he gave Sammy the most fiery ruby red in the eyes, and the shiniest white sheen over the furs. "And Sammy, that is all the paint I have..." The Painter said sadly.
"But what about Randy? And Zach? They can't be grey, or black and white forever?"
The Painter smiled warmly, "Sometimes, not everything needs color. As long as their heart beats a loving beat, it does not matter what colors they are in. The colors I have painted are to add that dash of beauty and excitement for everyone, but deep inside, each and everyone is gold in color - the heart is always golden!"
Sammy smiled and nodded at that wisdom, and the Painter started packing. "Goodbye Sammy, may I be able to make more paints to paint everyone with more colors the next time!" And the Painter made his way out of the Sacred Place.
That night, Sammy's neighbors surrounded him in awe, all admiring that sheen that was never painted on anyone else.
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