Drops of Life. Esko-Pekka Tiitinen

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      Drops of Life

      ESKO-PEKKA TIITINEN · NIKOLAI TIITINEN

      Drops of Life

      Text © 2010 Esko-Pekka Tiitinen

      Illustrations © 2010 Nikolai Tiitinen

      This edition © 2011 Cuento de Luz SL

      Calle Claveles 10 | Urb Monteclaro | Pozuelo de Alarcón | 28223 Madrid | Spain | www.cuentodeluz.com

      Original title in Finnish: Kyyhkyn kysymys

      English translation by Fleur Jeremiah

      English edition published by agreement with Tammi Publishers & Elina Ahlback Literary Agency, Helsinki, Finland

      This work has been published with the financial assistance of FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange

      ISBN: 978-84-15503-33-0

      All rights reserved.

      The strong give the weak the power to do more when the wind is behind them!

      The fable written by Esko-Pekka Tiitinen and illustrated by Nikolai Tiitinen is a warm and happy tale about the importance of cooperation. The Drops of Life is also a well-known children’s play and has been performed in over eighty countries. The play, also written by Esko-Pekka Tiitinen, supports the environmental campaign of ENO’s (Environment Online) net school. During the campaign, school children have planted millions of trees all over the world.

      ESKO-PEKKA TIITINEN · NIKOLAI TIITINEN

      Drops of Life

      Even though the town had grown large, the old owl still sat in the Town Hall tower, reminiscing about his youth when his friends roamed the meadows and he was able to scare them with his swoops.

      “In those days we played wonderful games!” The owl sighed. “You spread your wings and life was one big celebration. Hoo! Hoo! Is there anybody left down there?”

      At that very moment, a small bird thudded against the owl’s side and sang out, distraught: “Help me please, kind and wise owl. Show me the way to Africa, I have to get back there immediately.”

      “Am I kind, am I wise?” the owl savored the dove’s words.

      “Well, you’re kind if you are helpful,” said the dove. “And you are wise if you understand when there is trouble. A sand storm flung me here and now I want to go back home.”

      “How can I help you when all I can see properly are my memories?” the owl asked. “My wings have grown heavy, I haven’t even got the strength to move them.”

      “You’re covered with sand,” the dove observed. “Let me clean you up.”

      “Thank you,” said the owl. “You help me and then I’ll help you. It’s as simple as that.”

      “That’s right,” said the dove. “We’re wise and simple.”

      The dove spent all night cleaning up the owl. At dawn, the owl scrabbled to his feet and sighed happily. “I had a wonderful dream. An angel was floating over my head telling me a beautiful fairy tale.”

      “That was me,” the dove cooed cheerfully. “Now try your wings.”

      The owl spread his wings and flapped them.

      “Thank you, little one, for cleaning my feathers,” the owl exclaimed. “I feel as light as a feather. Now we’re ready to start looking for your home.”

      The owl and the dove flew over the city roofs, over villages, valleys and mountains. But when a vast ocean appeared below them, the old owl started feeling tired.