Some children are just like the mudlark in this story. They have a strong emotional intelligence and will share the joys and burdens in life. They are extraordinary children and unwavering in their support for others.
When Mudlark was a little fluffy chick just out of the nest, she loved rolling in mud and playing in the mud-pool. Sometimes she would play all day but by late afternoon, the mud pool would be cold. Mudlark would shiver and her beak would make a funny chattering noise.
‘What is that strange sound?’ said Sun one day.
‘It’s me,’ said Mudlark. ‘I’m freezing.’
Sun looked down, but all he saw was a ball of mud.
Mudlark wiped the mud off her face. ‘See,’ she said.
Sun laughed at the little bird. ‘I will warm you up,’ he said, and he did. From then on Mudlark and Sun became good friends.
One day Sun started to become angry. He woke up angry, he went to bed angry and he was fiery all day long. Sun’s anger increased day after day. Soon Sun was so angry he hardly set at all. The animals were getting tired because there was too much light and heat to sleep. They were worried that one day Sun might set the land on fire. They didn’t know what to do. The water was disappearing and even Mudlark’s favourite mud pool was turning to dust. Something had to be done. The days had become so hot, the animals had started living underground.
Mudlark knew Sun hadn’t always been like this. Sun used to be the best sun in the universe. Something must have happened, thought Mudlark.
‘It can’t be very nice for anyone to be feeling that way all the time,’ said Mudlark to all the animals. ‘Perhaps I should try and talk to him.’
‘You do that,’ said the animals. ‘We are fed up and want Sun to go away.’
‘Sun,’ Mudlark called out. ‘Sun!’
Sun wasn’t listening. Solar flares kept firing off all over the sky, sometimes leaving hot burning coals to fall to the ground. Mudlark threw mud-pies at Sun to get his attention but as soon as they got close, they were burnt into dust and blew away.
Mudlark decided she needed help. That night, she went to talk to Sun’s oldest friend, Moon.
‘Do you know why Sun is so angry?’ Mudlark asked Moon.
‘Well, he has always had a hot temper, you know,’ said Moon, ‘but I don’t know what is wrong with him. He keeps making me wait later and later to rise in the evening and then he gets up very early. Sun was always determined, but he never used to be this angry. Perhaps you should ask his cousin, Comet. Comet visited Sun not so long ago. Maybe Comet knows what is wrong.’
‘Thank you,’ said Mudlark, ‘but how am I to find Comet?’ Comet only visited the earth every few years. Mudlark had no idea where he would be now.
‘I could ask the stars,’ said Moon. ‘They stretch for miles and are always gossiping about what is going on across the universe, so they might know where he is.’
The stars sent a message out through the constellations and soon everyone was chattering about Comet.
It didn’t take long for Comet to hear what was happening. Comet quickly turned around to pay Mudlark a visit.
Mudlark woke with a startle to a bright light hovering overhead. Mudlark and Comet talked for ages. Comet had known Sun since the beginning of time. Comet told Mudlark that when the universe was created there were so many children of the sun parents, there was little time for play. The little earth sun was always worried and had trouble settling to sleep. Everybody was concerned he would burn up the whole universe. His grandmother, however, adored him and would often tell him stories and play games to teach him how to be a good earth sun. She even wrote him a special lullaby which she sang every night to help him settle and create the most beautiful sunsets before going to bed. He really loved his grandmother.
‘When I visited recently,’ said Comet, ‘I had to tell Sun some sad news. His grandmother had set for the last time. He was heartbroken.’
‘Now I understand,’ said Mudlark. ‘Can you teach me the lullaby?’ she asked.
Mudlark and Comet practiced the lullaby all night until she sang it just right. The next day was so hot no one could go outside at all, so Mudlark rested until late in the afternoon. Then Mudlark gathered up her last bit of water to make some mud and covered herself with a thick coating.
Sun was at the edge of the earth but was refusing to set. Mudlark flew towards Sun, covered in her mud coat so she could get as close to Sun as possible without getting burnt. Mudlark started singing the lullaby as loudly as she could. Sun stopped immediately when he heard the song and just listened. The fiery flames started to dissipate and the harsh light softened. The temperature started falling and suddenly rainclouds rolled across the sky. Rain poured out all over the land, filling the rivers and lakes and the mud pools. All the animals came out to see what was happening. Mudlark stood fast and kept singing. As the storm passed over, Mudlark was finishing the last verse of the song.
All the mud had washed off Mudlark and her feathers glistened with raindrops. Sun looked down.
‘It was you singing, Mudlark,’ said Sun with great joy.
‘Yes,’ said Mudlark. ‘Comet taught me your lullaby. I am so sorry about your grandmother.’ ‘I was trying to be strong and hide my grief,’ said Sun, ‘but I didn’t realise what I was doing. The rain was my tears for my grandmother.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Mudlark. ‘We don’t always understand or know what to do with our feelings, but you can always talk to me, Sun.’
Mudlark was still dripping wet and getting a bit cold. Sun shone just a little brighter to warm her up, then cast a beautiful rainbow overhead. It was the most magnificent sunset the world had ever seen. All the animals were overjoyed to see Sun back to his usual self.
From then on, every evening and whenever Sun requested it, Mudlark would sing him his grandmother’s lullaby. In return, Sun warmed the mud pool for Mudlark every afternoon so she could play happily all day.