The Sloth and the Rainbow

Once upon a time there was a Sloth that lived in jungle somewhere in South America. He was, by all accounts, a rather happy Sloth, who spent most of his days hanging by his three toes from one of the mangroves, and lazily chewing pieces of grass as he slumbered through from early morning to late afternoon, and then on into supper and early evening, before repeating the cycle anew at the start of each sunrise.

One morning, after a particularly heavy rainstorm, the Sloth was sheltering under some dense foliage, when he looked up and saw the most beautiful thing that he could ever have imagined.

What is that? Asked the Sloth, to no one in particular.

That my dear friend Sloth, said the Crocodile who was never far from the temptingly hanging Sloth, that my dear friend is a rainbow.

A rainbow? Replied the Sloth, questioningly. What is a rainbow?

A rainbow is a truly magical thing indeed, said the Crocodile. It is a celebration of the true beauty of nature; nothing in this world is purer than a rainbow. And shall I tell you something else?

Yes, said the Sloth, who was by now hanging on the every word of the Crocodile.

Well, began the Crocodile, who could see that rather unfortunately the Sloth was still hanging securely from his tree. They say that if anyone ever reaches the end of a rainbow then they will be blessed with treasures beyond their wildest imaginings.

Is that so? Asked the Sloth. Well I don’t know anything about treasures, but I sure would love to see that rainbow close up.

You would? Asked the Crocodile.

I would, replied the Sloth.

Well then, said the Crocodile, what’s stopping you?

Nothing, said the Sloth, and with that he was off.

By lunchtime the next day the Sloth had managed to make it all the way to the tree at the other side of the river, a feat that had previously eluded him all his years of existence. He felt exhausted, but at the same time he felt strangely elated.

Goodbye, Crocodile, called the Sloth later that evening as he disappeared into the nearby undergrowth, thanks for everything.

Goodbye Sloth, called the Crocodile. Do take care that you don’t go falling into any rivers or anything; he smiled maliciously with his toothy grin, before slinking off further up the river to look for less enlightened pray.

The Sloth began to make even better progress, he was using muscles that he had never even known existed, and pretty soon he was out of the forest altogether and on the edge of a beautiful and seemingly endless plain. Just then the heavens opened, and the Sloth took refuge on the fringes of the forest, waiting for it to pass. When the rains had subsided he ventured out of his hiding place to see that the whole plain was being illuminated by a gigantic rainbow.

The Sloth ran out to great the rainbow, to dance in its splendour and to try and catch a glimpse of it up close, but no matter how fast he ran, or how much distance he put between himself and the forest he was never able to catch up with it.

For many years the Sloth roamed the vast and distant landscapes, having plenty of adventures and making many friends along the way, but no matter where he went the rainbow remained tantalisingly beyond his reach.

Finally, when the Sloth was really very old indeed he realized that he needed to sit down and have a rest. He took the time to reflect back on all of the good times that he had since he left his old riverside home, and was grateful for the many opportunities that had come his way and the wonderful experiences that he had been fortunate enough to enjoy. He was feeling really very sleepy, and so he lay down and gently closed his eyes for peace; the many images of his plentiful life flashing gently before him in a wondrous and magical mirage. And then out of the corner of his eyes he saw it, and he knew that the Crocodile had been right all along.