The Kindness Book

on his face. “I clean up the world’s mess by finding food and
taking things like leaves and fruits that have fallen onto the
ground into my nest for my family to eat.”
“That sounds useful, Roger. But do you know what I am
supposed to be doing?”
Of course Roger did, because ants are very smart and their
brains are super big even though their bodies are teeny tiny!
“Your job, Virginia, is the same as mine only a little bit
different!”
Virginia buzzed excitedly.
“Your job is to clean up rubbish!”
“Rubbish? You mean I’m a garbage girl?” she asked, looking
even sadder than before.
“Yes, but your job is more important now because you clean
up after humans and animals, too! You see, everything that
goes onto the ground needs to be digested in order for it to
go into the soil. Then, when that soil’s is full of all of that
goodness, it makes more trees and plants and fruits for
humans and animals and ants and flies to eat!”
“So, my job is not just to fly around that light bulb? You and I
actually help the whole world all the time?”
“That’s right,” said Roger. “Isn’t that great and important?”
“Wow, yes, it is!” Virginia said.
“Sure is,” said Roger. “But I’ve got to go back to work now. I
heard my thirty-fifth cousin yelling that an avocado fell off the
tree in the back yard and it isn’t going to clean up after itself!”
“Hey, I can help!” said Virginia. “Hop on, let’s go!”
Roger jumped quickly onto her back and off they flew – and
Virginia had a new zip in her zag and a big wiggle in her
bottom.
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