How Granny Willow Went to the Sky: A Story About Dealing With Loss
Once upon a time, in a lush savannah filled with acacia trees and vibrant bird songs, lived a family of elephants. Papa Tusker, with his long ivory tusks and wise, deep-set eyes, Mama Trunk, with her gentle touch and nurturing presence, and their two lively calves, Ella and Eddie, who were known for their playful antics and joyful splashes in the watering hole.
One sunny morning, Papa Tusker announced, ‘‘Ella, Eddie, today we’re going to visit Granny Willow!’’
Ella and Eddie trumpeted with delight. Granny Willow, the oldest member of their family, lived at the edge of the savannah in a grove of ancient baobab trees. Her stories, filled with wisdom and adventure, were legendary in the elephant community. Ella and Eddie were aware that their granny was very old and that lately, she was in a lot of pain.
They lumbered across the savannah, weaving between tall grasses and greeting their neighbors along the way. When they reached Granny Willow’s home, they found her nestled among soft leaves, her skin wrinkled from age.
Granny Willow’s eyes sparkled as she greeted her grandchildren. ‘‘Ella, Eddie, my dears, come closer!’’ she rumbled, her voice weak but full of love.
They huddled around her, enjoying the shade of the baobab trees. Ella, noticing her grandmother’s slow movements and tired eyes, asked, ‘‘Granny Willow, why are you so quiet today?’’
Granny Willow smiled faintly. ‘‘My dear Ella,’’ she began. ‘‘Sometimes, as we get older, our bodies grow tired and quiet. It’s like a river slowing down at the end of its journey.’’
Eddie, not understanding, looked up at his father with worried eyes. ‘‘Will Granny Willow be able to play with us again?’’ he asked.
Papa Tusker knelt beside them; his eyes filled with gentle sadness. ‘‘No, Eddie,’’ he said softly. ‘‘Just like the leaves fall from the trees in winter, sometimes life comes to an end. We call it going up to the sky.’’
Ella and Eddie exchanged confused glances. ‘‘Up to the sky? But won’t Granny Willow ever come down?’’ Ella asked.
Granny Willow took a deep breath. ‘‘Not in the way you think, my little one,’’ she said.
“Think of it like this – our bodies, like our strong hides, can get tired over time. But inside each of us,’’ she patted her chest with a frail trunk, ‘‘there’s a
special light, a soul that never gets old and tired. When it’s time, that light floats up to the sky, a place filled with warmth and happiness where there is no pain.’’
Ella liked these words; she was happy to hear that her Granny wouldn’t be in pain anymore and that she would be taken care of in the sky.
A couple of days later, the news came that Granny Willow had passed away. Ella and Eddie were sad but somehow comforted by the words their Granny had said the last time they visited her.
However, that evening, Ella was still a bit confused and asked her mum about the light within that Granny was talking about. Mama Trunk, ever comforting, explained, ‘‘The light, or the soul, is the part of us that loves, remembers, and feels happy. It leaves the body and goes up to the sky. It’s a beautiful place.’’
Eddie joined, still sniffling and looking up at the vast blue sky through the window. ‘‘Do all elephants go up to the sky only when they’re old?’’ he asked.
Mama Trunk smiled. ‘‘Sure. And not just elephants, Eddie,’’ she said. ‘‘Everyone, zebras, birds, even the big brown lion we saw last week, all have a light inside. And whenever their light is ready, it joins the others in the sky.
True, it usually happens when bodies are old, but somehow it’s when the soul is ready.’’
Ella’s eyes widened with wonder, with ever more questions: ‘‘Can Granny Willow see us now from the sky?’’
Mama Trunk chuckled. ‘‘She can indeed, my little sunshine. The sky is filled with light, and Granny’s light is there, watching over you. Whenever you feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, remember it’s not just the sun. It’s the light from the sky, from Granny and all the loved ones who have gone
before us, sending you love.’’
Eddie’s lip trembled with regret and a pinch of anger. ‘‘But I wanted to hug Granny and say something important to her while she could still hear me!’’
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Ella and Eddie talk to Granny Willow at night, even though they can’t see her anymore. Do you think people who have died can still hear us? Why
or why not? (This question delves into readers’ understanding of death and the afterlife, allowing them to express their own beliefs in a safe space.)