Colour of Friendship

Once upon a time, the colours of the world started to quarrel. All of them claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favourite.

Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all the animals would die. Look over the country side and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth. Consider the sky and the sea. It is the basics of life. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled, "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety and wamth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow. Every time you look at the sunflower, the whole world will start to smile. Without me, there would be no fun."

Orange was the next to blow her trumpet. "I am the colour of health and strength. I may be sacre, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamin. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes and papayas."

"I don't hang around all the time, but when i fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking until no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could no longer stand it so he shouted, " I am the ruler of all of you. I am life's blood. I am the colour of danger and bravery. I am wiling to fight for a couse. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the eartn would be as empty as the moon. I am the colour of passion and love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height. He was very tall and he spoke with great pomp. " I am the colour of royatly and power. Kings, chief and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. people do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally, Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination. "Think of me. I am the colour of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me, all of you become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colours continued to boast, each convinced of each of his or her own superiority. Their quarelling bacame louder and louder. Suddenly, the was a startling flash of thunder. Thunder rolled and boomed and rain started to pour down rentlessly. The colours crouched down in fera, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamour, rain began to speak, " You foolish colours, fighting among selves and trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

With heads bowed, the colours came out to reach others. Rain continued:

"From now on, whenever it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in great bow of colours as a reminder that you all can live in peace. Rhe rainbow is the sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, after a godd shower has washed the world and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.