Once in a land where paintbrushes lived, there was a young paintbrush named Helpin. He had come from a family of great artists. The time had finally come for Helpin to leave home to make a name for himself in the outside world. His mother and father wanted him to follow in their painting footsteps. They would miss him dearly, but they knew he was ready to find the greatness that awaited him. He had always dreamed of one day becoming a great artist. Helpin packed his case of colors. He hugged his parents and said good-bye. Helpin could not wait to see what he could do on his own.
The first place Helpin went on his journey was to a big city. The bright flashing signs and big colorful billboards made him more excited than ever. While walking through the city, he saw an art studio with a sign on the door that read: “Artist Auditions”. They were looking for artists. Helpin thought, “This is my chance to finally show someone what I can do.” He decided to go in. While waiting to be called, he met a paintbrush named Jazzy. Jazzy was a cool paintbrush with dark shades and jet-black bristles.
“Look at my long silk bristles, I am going to get this job,” said Jazzy.
Jazzy began to paint on a blank wall in the room. Helpin watched as Jazzy’s colors came to life as a beautiful butterfly in a field of flowers. Helpin began to paint on the wall too, but it was not as good as Jazzy’s painting. His painting had no life to it. Helpin was disappointed because he could not paint like Jazzy. He left the audition with his head down. Helpin did not know where to go next. As he walked away from the studio, he looked up and saw a bird flying high in the sky. “This is a sign,” Helpin thought.
“I won’t stop trying until I know where I am going just like that bird,” said Helpin. He began smiling and with new hope continued on his journey.
As he whistled down the road, a little girl passed by him with her hand in a brace. Her hand was paralyzed and she could not move it.
“Come on Karena,” said her mother, but Karena was busy listening to the tune that Helpin was whistling. It made her happy. She began smiling and started to whistle the tune with Helpin. Her mother began to whistle Helpin’s tune too! All of a sudden it began to rain. Karena and her mother ran to find shelter from the rain. Helpin ran over to a store where they made traffic signs.
He went inside and met some pencils that were standing around doodling. They made all kinds of circles, shapes, and sketches. Helpin was very interested in their drawings and introduced himself.
“Hi, my name is Helpin.”
The pencils laughed and joked about his name. “What kind of name is Helpin?” “Where are you from?” they asked.
He told them that his destiny was to become a great artist.
The pencils then asked Helpin, “Show us what you can do.”
Helpin began to draw like them. He tried to make their perfect circles and shapes, but his lines were crooked and his shapes slanted. Helpin could not understand why his drawings did not look like the pencils. It looked so easy when they did it. Helpin was embarrassed and became sad.
Seeing how bad little Helpin wanted to be a great artist, the pencils told him, “Don’t give up Helpin, one day you will find what you are good at and you will be a great artist.”
Helpin picked up his suitcase and waved goodbye to the pencils.
“Thanks for all your help,” said Helpin.
“Take care Helpin, good luck,” replied the pencils.
The rain had stopped, so Helpin continued on his journey.
He kept thinking to himself, “One day my moment will come to impress someone or somebody.”
Helpin walked for a long time and then he came to a little cottage in the country. Small colorful flowers on the side of the walkway made Helpin feel welcome. Their petals looked like small fingers calling him inside the cottage. Helpin was not sure if he should go in.
The flowers spoke and said, “Don’t be afraid Helpin, knock at the door.”
Helpin gave the door a good hard knock and the door opened. Karena saw him and immediately remembered the whistling they did together in the city.
|