The Butterfly

The wild wood can be beautiful in the dappled light of a summer’s day. But it can also be a very scary place especially when there may be goblins about, up to no good! What lies in wait for a weak and fragile butterfly, just on the point of emerging from her winter home? Her destiny is to seek a mate. But for this she must learn to fly and then take off into the unknown. Danger may be hidden in the shadows. Or it may come from the air, or from on the ground, or from behind any tree. So it’s no surprise she insists on remaining in her winter home! Can the sun help her overcome her fear? Can she gain the strength to take off and fly? And what strange and terrifying experiences may lie in wait for her? On her journey she makes friends with the sun and the flowers and a bee called Alf. But can they save her? And will she ever find her mate?

Ray Fuller taught psychology for 40 years at Trinity College, Dublin. He has published extensively on human risk-taking although he did venture briefly into the psychology of humour, appearing in a line-up with the comedian Ken Dodd at the first-ever international conference on humour. Now retired from academic life, he lives in SW France where he builds stone walls, makes furniture, the odd short film and enjoys writing in prose as well as verse.