Embodied Science Stories

Parental Advisory: It is advisable that guardians read this story to their children and explain how and why such situations may arise in life

A herd of elephants was resting in the cool waters in the scorching month of June. As Tango, the elephant with a mole, was pouring the water on his head, he remarked, “Have you seen the new couple?”

Rajah, the elephant with an always serious face, smirked in an angry tone. “Huh, I don’t understand why these animals keep coming over to our jungle.”

Milo, a baby elephant, was listening in the corner. She squealed, “I think it is always nice to meet animals from a different place. I get to learn so much, and it’s always fun.”

“Fun? Are you kidding me? They only cause trouble,” the voice came up from one of the branches hanging up. From the one who always poked his nose and created a nuisance. He was Doomtail, the Monkey.

“You are right, and I don’t feel comfortable with them here. They look so different with their poking quills and ferocious-looking eyes,” supported Rajah, the elephant, with an always serious face.

They were all talking about the new siblings, Pip & Poppy, a beautiful pair of porcupines who just moved to this forest. Their home forest did not have enough twigs and flowers to eat. So their family sent them to look for other places where at least their growing children could live well. But moving here hasn’t been easy for them. They had to leave all their friends, family, and familiar surroundings behind and enter a world that did not necessarily welcome them with open arms. They did try their best to belong. Participating in all events of the forest, always wishing and checking in with the neighbors, and sharing their treats with others. But it was hard to convince some.

Unluckily for them, they were just passing by the pond when they heard the group of animals speaking about them. Pip gave out an audible sob, making the animals turn their heads.

Milo, the baby elephant, was the first to react. She whispered, “Oh, no! They heard you.” Then gathering herself, Milo waved her trunk and greeted them, “Hi Poppy, Hi Pip, how are you today?”

Poppy gathered her courage and replied feebly, “Umm…umm, we are good, thank you. Sorry, we were just passing by…carry on.”

Doomtail, the Monkey, took his chance and pounced forward. “Why the hurry, wait, let us talk and get to know each other”, he chuckled, a sly laugh.

“So, how are you liking this forest? Is it better than your home back there?”

“Yeah, it is good…we are happy and grateful to be here with new people and the environment. But we do miss our forest and…”, replied Pip, now that he had consoled himself.

“Oh, is it then why don’t you go back? It is anyway difficult with the number of animals here as it is”, Doomtail cut short Pip’s speech and smirked.

“And why are your quills like this? and your skin…I can barely see you…You are very different from us,” Rajah dominated.

“But, we are the same,” came Poppy’s quick reply.

“What? Are you joking? How are we the same?”, Doomtail joined in.

Even before Poppy could answer, Pip, who had gotten teary-eyed again, nudged Poppy to leave. Both of them ran away from there. Pip glanced back and saw the group of animals laughing.

Back at their tree, Pip was very sad. He suggested, “I think we should go back. We will never be accepted.”

Poppy cut Pip back and said, “Don’t say that. Just because a few people push you back doesn’t mean the entire jungle is bad. And they say these things because they are scared.” Even though Poppy spoke these consoling words to Pip, she herself wasn’t sure. She, too, was considering moving back.

Just then, they heard a knock on their tree’s bark. Both of them were startled. Poppy peeped outside. She saw Milo, the baby elephant, and a few others from the jungle. Hippy, the rat, Wanky, the snake, and Daisy, the giraffe. “I am sorry, did we startle you?” Milo, the baby elephant, spoke sweetly.

“Umm, yes, I mean, no. We just didn’t expect anyone, so…,” replied Poppy with Pip hanging closely to her.

“Oh, we are sorry. I just wanted to bring in some friends to say hi. We didn’t get a chance to interact with you, so we were wondering if you would like to join us on a night walk near the lake?”, said Milo.

“And yeah, these are my friends. This is Hippy, this is Wanky, and Daisy“, Milo pointed to the other animals standing nearby.

They waved their limbs and heads to say hi.

“So, are you coming? We would love to have more company and it is a fun trek. We touch the moon in the water, swing on the trees and hum around. It will be fun.”

“I think we would love to, only if it won’t be a trouble to anyone…”, replied Pip and Poppy.

“Of course not, let’s go. “ Milo led them all towards the spot.

It was a serene night. The trees were still, and the gang of little animals could hear themselves walking in silence. The insects chirped cheerfully, and Wanky the snake kept hissing, its sound tearing through the darkness.

They kept plodding through the violet night as the wind picked up speed. The wind brushed past their skin, helping them enjoy the walk more. Pip and Poppy almost forgot what had happened earlier and were now easing into this mindful walk that they were taking with their new friends.

They finally reached the lake. Daisy immediately jumped in, Wanky glided into the water, and Milo stood beside Pip and Poppy.

“There, that is the moon, you can go in and touch it, we do it every other day. And it looks different every day,” Milo pointed towards the moon’s reflection and squealed excitedly. “Go ahead”

Pip was hesitant, “I don’t know. It is scary. What if it breaks?”

“Haha, it will not break like you expect. It tears apart and then rejoins immediately. You will see when you touch it,” shouted Daisy as she was enjoying standing in the water.

Pip and Poppy steadily ventured into the water. It was pitch dark, but the moonlight served enough light to make the surroundings visible.

Now all of them, Milo, Wanky, Hippy, Daisy, Pip and Poppy were having a good time. They were splashing water on each other and singing jolly songs.

Just then, Poppy felt someone looking at them. It was the Jungle’s leader, Jack, the Lion.

In fear, Poppy let out a few spikes into the water. Milo, the baby elephant, noticed and exclaimed, “What’s wrong, Poppy?” Milo turned towards the direction Poppy was looking.

“Oh, good evening sir Jack, how do you do,” Milo bowed down.

All the animals greeted Jack, the Lion.

The Lion roared, “What are you guys doing here in the middle of the night?”

“We were just walking and playing around, apologies if we were making much noise,” added Daisy

Even before Jack could reply, Rajah, the elephant with an always serious face, Doomtail, the monkey, and Tango, the elephant with a mole, entered the scene with Doomtail prompting, “Oh, my, these newcomers have started making a nuisance, Your majesty.”

Pip and Poppy immediately stepped closer to one another. The cheerful atmosphere around the lake disappeared in an instant.

Jack looked around calmly. “A nuisance?” he asked.

“Yes,” replied Doomtail. “They are making a noise and disturbing the jungle.”

“We were only playing,” said Milo. “Just like we always do,” added Daisy.

Jack remained silent for a moment. Then he pointed towards the muddy bank beside the lake.

“Everyone, come here.”

The animals gathered around curiously.

“Look at the ground,” Jack, the Lion, pointed towards the ground.

The soft mud was covered in footprints and tracks.

There were giant elephant footprints, tiny rat footprints, winding snake trails, giraffe hoof marks, monkey handprints, and the small footprints of Pip and Poppy.

Jack asked, “Can anyone tell me which footprints belong to an animal that values friendship?”

Nobody answered.

“Which ones belong to an animal that misses home?”

There was no reply.

“Which ones belong to an animal that feels afraid?”

Again, nobody could answer. Jack smiled.

“You cannot tell, because feelings do not leave different footprints.”

The animals looked at the muddy ground more carefully.

Jack continued, “We may look different. Some of us have trunks, some have tails, some have quills, and some have scales. We come from different places and live differently. But we all feel happy when someone is kind to us. We all feel sad when we are left out. We all feel afraid when we are alone. And we all hope to find friends.”

The night grew quieter, accompanied by the melody of the rustling leaves.

Then Jack turned towards Rajah. “You say Pip and Poppy are a nuisance. Why?”

Rajah opened his mouth but could not answer immediately.

“Well…” he hesitated. “Doomtail said they were.”

Jack then turned towards Tango.

“And you?”

Tango shuffled his pillar leg. “I heard Doomtail saying they would create trouble.”

The animals turned towards Doomtail. But Doomtail was no longer standing there.

“Where did he go?” asked Milo.

Everyone looked around. The lakeside bushes were empty.

The rocks were empty. The trees nearby were empty.

Just then a branch rustled above them.

The animals looked up and caught a glimpse of Doomtail leaping from one tree to another before disappearing into the darkness.

“He left?” asked Daisy.

Rajah lowered his head. Tango looked embarrassed.

Neither of them had actually spent any time with Pip and Poppy.

Neither of them had any real reason to dislike them.

They had simply listened to someone else’s words and repeated them.

Jack spoke again.

“Sometimes misunderstandings spread this way. One person says something without knowing the truth. Others repeat it. Soon everyone believes it without ever finding out for themselves.”

He paused, then looked across the group.

“And there is something else you should remember.”

The animals leaned carefully.

“This land… the forests, the lakes, the sky above us… it was never truly divided.”

A chilling breeze swept the trees, and a few ripples appeared on the water from the fallen leaves.

“We only drew lines in our minds. We settled in one place, stayed there, and began calling it ours. But the earth itself does not belong to one animal or another.”

Jack’s softened his voice.

“It belongs to all of us who live on it.”

“That is why no one has more right to it than anyone else. Only the responsibility to share it, and live kindly with whoever comes and goes.”

Rajah looked at Pip and Poppy. “I am sorry.”

Tango nodded. “So am I. We judged you before we got to know you.”

Pip looked surprised. Poppy smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

The tension that had filled the air disappeared.

Soon, the animals were talking again. They shared stories about their homes, favorite foods, and adventures.

Pip and Poppy told everyone about their old forest, the flowering bushes they used to climb through, and the twigs they loved to collect.

The others listened eagerly.

Far away, hidden among the branches of a tall tree, Doomtail watched everything unfold.

For the first time in a long while, he did not feel clever. He felt lonely and ashamed.

The next morning, the sun shone brightly over the jungle.

Birds sang from the branches, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh jasmine flowers.

Milo was the first to spot Doomtail sitting alone on a high branch.

“There he is!” she squealed.

Soon Rajah, Tango, Daisy, Hippy, Wanky, Pip, and Poppy gathered beneath the tree.

Doomtail immediately tried to climb higher.

“Oh no, not again,” he muttered.

“Come down,” said Rajah.

“We only want to talk,” added Tango.

Doomtail looked down suspiciously. Pip stepped forward.

“We were wondering if you would like to join us.”

“Join you?” Doomtail blinked.

“For berry picking near the hill,” said Poppy.

Doomtail was confused. “You still want me to come?”

“Of course,” replied Milo. “Friends do things together.”

For a moment, Doomtail did not know what to say. Then he slowly climbed down the tree.

When he reached the ground, he looked at Pip and Poppy.

“I am sorry,” he said quietly.

The animals waited for him to finish speaking his mind.

“I thought it was funny to make comments about others. I never stopped to think how it would make you feel.”

Pip smiled. Poppy nodded.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Doomtail smiled back, filled with a new sense of self.

Then Milo wrapped her trunk around everyone.

“There,” she declared proudly. “Now everyone is friends.”

The animals burst into laughter.

Even Rajah’s serious face softened. Even Doomtail laughed.

And from that day onward, whenever a new animal arrived in the jungle, nobody asked where they came from, what they looked like, or how different they were.

Instead, they asked: “Would you like to join us?”

Because the animals had learned something important by the lake that night.

Different footprints may cover the ground.

But kindness, friendship, fear, hope, and belonging are felt by everyone.

And in that way, they were all much more alike than they had ever imagined.

WHERE’S THE SCIENCE? Click to find out

• Reflections on Water

When Pip and Poppy touched the moon in the water, they weren’t touching the moon itself. Light from the moon travels all the way to Earth and bounces off the surface of still water, creating a mirror-like image. This is called reflection. Still water acts like a mirror because its flat surface bounces light back in an organised way. Moving water scatters the light in different directions, which is why the reflection disappears!

• Footprints

Every animal in the story left a different footprint in the mud because every body is shaped differently. Footprints are formed when weight presses down on a soft surface like mud, sand, or snow. Scientists called wildlife trackers can study footprints to learn which animal passed by, how heavy it was, how fast it was moving, and even which direction it was heading.

• Empathy

When Milo noticed that Pip and Poppy had overheard the hurtful words, she immediately felt concern for them. That ability to sense and share someone else’s feelings is called empathy. Scientists have found that humans and many animals have special cells in the brain called mirror neurons that activate both when we do something and when we watch someone else do it. This is partly why we wince when we see someone get hurt or smile when we see someone laugh.