In the northern wetlands lived Tossie
the mozzie. He was the smallest of his kind. He was discontented with his job.
“You have to work hard if you want to become a strong mosquito as your dad”
said Tossie’s mum. He didn’t like his occupation; people often hurt mosquitoes
when they try to extract blood from their bodies. In fact, there are some
stories from the old times that say that many mosquitoes were killed by humans in
their noble odyssey of extracting human blood for transforming it in sweet
juice for the starving mozzies of the northern wetlands.
One day, Tossie the mozzie
was flying near the riverside when he noticed a group of people living in
tents. They wore dirty and torn clothes and they seemed skinnier than the
average people. “I think I should go there and try to get some blood”. So
Tossie went and saw a small and defenseless child whose eyes were covered with
tears. “I might use some of my happiness toxin while I’m extracting that
child’s blood. It can make him feel better, I think”. So he put his proboscis
in the child’s arm and poured the happiness toxin. For his surprise, the child
noticed Tossie’s presence and looked at him astonished. “Why are you doing this?”
said the child. Tossie, ashamed of what he was doing- because he hated stealing
human’s blood- answered: “Because I have to! I need to
collect all this blood for providing sweet juice for the starving mozzies of
the northern wetlands; they need it for their health and strength. Besides, it
doesn’t hurt. We use a special toxin that makes you feel no pain at all”. “I
don’t mind to give you my blood. My father always says we have to be kind with
everyone” said the child, who knew well what hunger was. So from that day on,
Tossie the mozzie went where the riverside people lived and extracted the
child’s blood. Every time he went there, they spent hours and hours talking.
They were even like friends.
After some weeks, the child
was getting worse and worse because of his underweight. “I wonder why you are
so skinny” Said Tossie the mozzie to the child. “It’s because my family is too
poor and we don’t have enough food for all of us”. “But, you have people who
takes care of you, don’t you?” Said Tossie shocked. He thought that humans were
so intelligent and generous that nobody would be hungry or cheerless. “Well,
for many people we are not important, or even unwanted. That’s why we have to
live here in the riverside”. Suddenly, Tossie felt so miserable and helpless
that he decided to offer himself as food for the child. “I know that I’m too
small and that I probably won’t be enough for you but It’s the only thing I can
give you for providing me your blood for the starving mosquitoes of the
northern wetlands”. So the boy ate Tossie and satisfied his hunger just for a
moment.
