Wanda Worm

“I’m tired of being a worm,” said Wanda one day. “People step on me. They say I am slimy. They say I am gross.”

She sat in the mud and cried. She thought about what life would be like if she were pretty like a swan, or strong like a horse.

“Worms are important, too,” said Wanda’s friend William. He led her out to a trash pile in the backyard. “Watch this!” said William, and he began to eat. He ate melon rinds and apple cores and old moldy lettuce. His body turned the trash into rich black dirt. “People can use this dirt for planting,” William said.

“They can plant melons and apple trees and lettuce, thanks to us.”

Wanda smiled and began to eat an old carrot. “You’re right. Worms are wonderful!” she cried.