The elephant said, “I’ll get the best fruit, so fresh it would still be on the branches... And lay them at her feet.”
Everyone had something beautiful or wonderful to offer on the great day.
Everyone, except a little grey squirrel, who talked sadly to himself, “What does a little grey squirrel with black stripes have to offer?”
The palash said, “The forest will be ablaze with my beauty. Though late, I’ll save some flowers.”
“And though early, I’ll make some flowers bloom,” snapped the gulmohar.
The beautiful trees and creatures had started competing and fighting.
“My mangoes are ready,” announced the mango tree.
The peacock said, “Emeralds and turquoises are my feathers.”
The lark trilled, “I’ll sing a song, beautiful and moving...” The dove cooed, saying the Great One would love her soft notes.Gifts and beauty abound, thought the squirrel in despair. He thought and thought. “But I will do what I can do best,” he decided. He found hollow branches and filled them with as many nuts and seeds of different trees as he could find.