Theme: Family Ties, Friendship

Pepe and Pipo

On a fine day on the farm, two beautiful chicks were born. Mother Chicken called them Pepe and Pipo. Pepe was born from a larger egg, and so was a large, long-legged, feathered chick. Pipo was smaller and thinner.

As the two brothers grew, Mother Chicken noticed other differences between them. Pepe was prouder, walking around the farm puffing his feathers and wanting to be a big, handsome cock like his father when he grew up. Pipo was curious, he liked to discover new things. He was friendly and always talked to the other animals on the farm.

Mommy recommended that they were always together, be friends and companions.

- You are brothers and you can be each other's best friends - she said.

But Pepe ignored his brother. Sometimes, scratching, they found corn grains on the floor, and Pepe quickly ate the grains, without bothering to leave some to his brother. Other times, Pepe climbed a large rock and jumped out of there flapping his wings, just to show he was more agile than Pipo.

When Pipo stopped to talk to someone, Pepe left quickly. The proud chick was not kind enough to greet anyone. While Pipo devoted himself to discover more about the nature and life of the farm, Pepe walked alone, just thinking about himself.

But one day, when the two chicks were scratching in the yard, they saw a furry animal with a long snout, a large tail and four legs coming toward them.

Pepe was very frightened. He had heard about the dangerous foxes and was very afraid. He ran as fast as he could to a bush, where he hid himself.

Pepe suddenly realized Pipo wasn't with him.

- Oh no! What now? Pipo was left behind! My poor brother! He will be eaten by the fox! - Shouted the chick, who began to cry in despair.  

Pepe was chirping so much and so loud that he caught the attention of everyone nearby.

Pipo, hearing his brother's shouting, hurried over to meet him, thinking that he had been injured.

Seeing Pipo, Pepe was surprised and relieved to see his brother alive, gave him the tightest hug he'd ever given in his life.

- Thank God! How did you get away from the fox, Pipo? - Asked Pepe.

- But what fox? - Said Pipo.

- The one that was coming to meet us in the courtyard. I ran away but assumed you were eaten because you can't run as much as me! - Said Pepe, who was moved again and hugged his brother other time.

Pipo then, understanding the confusion, clarified:

- It wasn’t a fox, Pepe! That was Toto, Ms. Delilah's puppy, the farm dog, Mommy and Daddy's friend!

Pepe, embarrassed, couldn't say anything and Pipo continued:

- I've known Toto since I was little. I would go to their little house to visit Toto and his brothers. Now their mother is already letting them walk. Toto was pleased to see me and came to call me to play.

Calmer now, Pepe understood what had happened and could see the dog, which was waiting from afar.

Pipo then called Toto and he came gladly.

- Toto, this is Pepe, my brother - said the chick.

- Hello Pepe! How are you? Nice to meet you! Pipo is my friend and a very nice guy! If you are his brother, then you are already my friend too! - Said Toto, wagging his tail.

Pepe realized how much Pipo was beloved by this animal, which was even from a different species, and whose friendship Pipo had managed to conquer with his thoughtful way of being. He was proud of his brother. He understood that Pipo did not have the same physical features as him, but possessed other qualities, also valuable, that he did not have.

He also found out how much he liked his brother and how much he would suffer if something bad happened to him.

Pepe hugged Pipo with one of his wings and said:

- It's nice to meet you too, Toto! And, being my brother's friend, you're my friend too! Let's play?

From that day on, Pepe started to respect Pipo. He began to help him instead of competing with him. And that's how they became, besides brothers, great friends as well.

Text by Lívia Prada Seneda.

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com