The Environment Bug

Six year old Sally was sitting on the grass in the park, eating a bag of potato chips. When she was finished with the bag, she threw it onto the ground.

“What did you do that for?” asked a little blue bug that happened to be sitting right beside her.

“Who are you?” Sally asked the bug.

“I am Environment Bug,” said the bug. “I help keep the environment clean.”

“Well,” said Sally. “I’ve never heard of Environment Bug before.”

“That’s because I’m new,” said Environment Bug.

“Really,” said Sally. “You are a brand new bug?”

“Yes,” said Environment Bug. “I am a brand new bug.”

“So,” said Sally. “What exactly do you do?”

“Well,” said Environment Bug. “I go around the world and try to keep the environment clean.”

“That sounds like a tough job to do,” said Sally.

“Yes,” said Environment Bug. “It can be a tough job at times.”

Sally looked over to where she had thrown her empty chip bag.

“I guess I should pick that up,” said Sally. “I guess I shouldn’t litter, should I?”

“No,” said Environment Bug. “Littering is bad for the environment. It is also bad for the animals too. What do you think would happen if say a dog or a cat picked up that bag and tried to eat it.”

“Gee,” said Sally. “I never thought of that. They would probably die if they tried to eat it.”

“Now,” said Environment Bug. “You don’t want that to happen do you?”

“No,” said Sally. “Definitely not! I love animals.”

“Then please don’t litter anymore,” said Environment Bug.

“Okay,” said Sally, picking up the bag and standing up. “I’ll put this in the garbage.”

“That is a good girl,” said Environment Bug. “You learn quickly.”

“I’m sorry that I littered,” said Sally. “I just wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay,” said Environment Bug. “As long as you have learned not to litter again.”

“Oh,” said Sally. “I won’t litter anymore.”

“Good girl,” said Environment Bug.

Environment Bug left Sally alone and watched her put the chip bag into the garbage can. Sally saw a young boy, about the same age as she was. He was drinking a juice box and when he was finished with it, he threw it on the ground in front of him. Environment Bug saw this happen. He stayed hidden for the time being.

Sally went right up to the boy and shook her head at him.

“Why are you shaking your head at me?” asked the boy.

“Why did you throw your juice box on the ground?” asked Sally.

“Because it was empty,” said the boy.

“Do you want to kill the animals in the park?” asked Sally.

“No,” said the boy, totally confused. “Of course not.”

“Well did you know that if a little dog or cat came along and picked that juice box up and then tried to eat it they could choke on it and die,” said Sally.

“Oh,” said the boy, bending over to pick the juice box up. “I never thought about it that way.”

“You did great!” exclaimed Environment Bug to Sally a few minutes later.

“Thank you,” said Sally.

“Well this job is finished,” said Environment Bug. “Onto the next.”