The Happiest Storm Cloud - Not for resale Copyright belongs to D. Poe Written by Tamara Forge 2015 Page 1 (Earth surrounded by all different kinds of weather?) If you look up into the sky during the daytime, you are bound to see some weather. Whether it’s sunny weather or windy weather; whether it’s dismally soggy or stormy weather… You can be sure you will be under the weather, wherever you are. What you may not realize, is that each and every sort of weather hot or cold, wet or dry - has a very special part to play. In fact our lovely planet could not thrive without it! ~~~ Page 2 (Nimbus rumbling around in the sky above the village having a stormy tantrum. Cirra and Archia looking on from the edge) Nimbus was a particularly dark and moody storm cloud. He thundered about in the skies, casting out huge bolts of lightening, here and there. Nimbus frowned all the time, saying he simply couldn’t deal with the pressure of being a storm cloud. “Why can’t I be a light and wispy summer’s cloud like Cirra?” he grumbled and rumbled, feeling sorry for himself. “Why aren’t I a beautiful and colorful rainbow like Archia?” Nimbus cried and wailed. Page 3 (The lightning bolt hitting the tree, cracking the wood) Amidst Nimbus’s tantrum, one of his lightning bolts had escaped and pierced through the sky. It completely shattered the trunk of an old tree, just below him. “See… see what I’ve done now!?” Nimbus shouted over to Cirra as she floated by on a breeze, not far away. Cirra came by and settled alongside Nimbus as he peered down at the fallen and cracked old tree. Page 4 (The landowner annoyed looking at the damaged tree making a mess of his field/garden) The landowner came out onto his large lawn, gasping at the splintered mess where the tree had been. Annoyed he shook his head and waved his fists at the sky. “See!” said Nimbus, “Wherever I go… whatever I do… people will NEVER like me!” Grumpy and sad, Nimbus pushed Cirra aside and caught hold of a strong gust of wind, which took him to the sky above a neighboring village. “Doesn’t matter what I do,” he stomped and rumbled and clattered, “nobody likes a storm cloud in their skies.” Page 5 (Looking down from above all the little people in the village are putting up umbrellas, covering their heads with newspapers and running indoors out of the rain) Nimbus’s tears fell, and as they did the people below tutted and shook their heads. They put up their umbrellas and the children ran from the parks and playgrounds. The little streets emptied as everyone fled indoors, away from the torrent of rain. “COME BACK!” Nimbus thundered through his own darkness. But as his tears continued to fall, the rivers flooded and the puddles grew and grew. “Poor Nimbus, there, there…” Archia’s comforting words and charming rainbow colors brought a beam of happiness to poor frustrated Nimbus. Page 6 (Archia surrounding Nimbus and Cirra, all looking down) “Cheer up!” she said, throwing her arms around him in a beautiful arc. ‘SNIFF - SNIFF’… “I just want people to like me,” said Nimbus, “the way they like you and Cirra, when you appear in their sky!” “What do you mean?” Cirra whispered. As she came to join them, her white wisps floated in and brought an airy light to the stormy skies. Page 7 (People enjoying the shade provided by Cirra on a sunny day. People staring up at Archia in awe and wonder) “When people look skyward and see you Cirra, they are happy and smiling. Usually it is warm and sunny and you give them just a little shade, here and there. They are not sad to see you arrive on a hot day!” “Well, yes but…” “And Archia, when people see you forming your large and colorful arch across the sky, they smile and point. People love rainbows; they make up songs about you!” “That’s true…” Page 8 (Nimbus having his worst storm/tantrum ever thunder, lighting rain – he is very upset/angry) “But I am a dark and miserable storm cloud, when I drift into view and block out the sun’s rays, people gripe and moan. Picnics are packed up and windows and shutters are slammed. The world doesn’t like me and I don’t like myself!” Nimbus became angry and started crying again. Archia and Cirra dispersed and disappeared. Nimbus seemed broken hearted and his dear friends were going to need an awesome plan, if they hoped to improve his self-esteem and his attitude towards life. As his angry sparks shattered the night sky, Cirra and Archia hoped the raging storm cloud would exhaust himself and be calm by the morning. Page 9 (Nimbus sleeping finally, Archia and Cirra looking relieved floating behind him – Cirra is looking across the sky waiting) Sure enough, by the dewy break of day Nimbus was silent and resting peacefully. The dark charcoal-blue had drained from his puffy cheeks and he was awash with a relaxing grayish color. Cirra and Archia waited patiently in the background as he slept; a strong coastal wind was heading their way and they were planning on catching it! “Wake up! Wake up, Nimbus!” Nimbus rolled over grumpily. “It’s me, Cirra!” “…And me,” said Archia. “Huh… ‘Yawn’, where am I?” Nimbus blinked in disbelief. Page 10 (From above, the rains falling on the dry desserts and plains, the people and animals so grateful, dancing in the rain and drinking) Below him were dusty deserts and plains. The ground was very dry and any streams or watering holes had vanished. There were people living there, and animals, they looked hot and thirsty. “What’s going on here!” cried Nimbus. “This is terrible, these people, the animals and crops, they could all die!” The situation saddened and angered Nimbus so much that his tears of sadness fell from the sky, to the parched earth below. In that very instant, the people there started to look up and they stared at Nimbus… “Hurray!” they cheered and thanked him. Some dropped to their knees with praise, as the rain flowed into the dried out streams. The thirsty animals took a drink and the people sang and danced in honor of great Nimbus. Page 11 (Nimbus is smiling brightly is so happy to see that the people below have flowing streams and full water holes again) “That’s amazing!” said Nimbus, “They like me!” Nimbus cried again, but this time with happiness, and the crops and plants glistened in the crystal clear droplets. “You see?” said Archia, “Rain clouds are very important. There are some places in the world that welcome clouds like you Nimbus, because they see very few!” Nimbus smiled and the sun beams began to shine through him as he pledged to visit those dry places again, whenever the winds would allow it. “Come now,” said Cirra, “we will miss the updraft to the mountains!” Page 12 (The three friends looking down on the mountains and valleys, they are telling Nimbus how important he is, he is listening intently) They took Nimbus to great heights and he watched as his rainfall travelled through the rivers and valleys, to sustain all the life there, before flowing into the vast oceans. He learned what a vital part he played in the climate and our planet’s ecosystem, and he discovered just how important he really was. Upon finally arriving back where they had begun, Cirra suggested that Nimbus look very closely at the crumbling tree trunk that had so upset him, just a short while ago. “What for?” said Nimbus peering downwards, suspiciously…And there in amongst the loose split bark, new life was emerging. Insects and their larvae had found homes within the broken old tree. Page 13 (Nimbus smiling a huge proud smile, happy tears welling in his eyes and Cirra handing him a cloud-like tissue. The pretty bugs/butterflies/dragon flies flying out of the trunk) “I did that!” cried Nimbus his eyes welling, “I put that there for them!” Cirra handed him a cloud tissue, “No rain forecast for today!” she giggled, kissing him on the cheek. Archia smiled her brightest smile and hugged them both under her colorful arc. “Ahhh,” gasped the people below as they stared in awe at the beautiful sky. “And without rain clouds, we wouldn’t have rainbows!” Cirra reminded Nimbus. Page 14 (Nimbus having another storm above the village, but he is laughing really hard, with happy tears and little delicate lightening bolts here and there, maybe he is dancing in the sky) So that is how Nimbus became the happiest storm cloud, and from then on he went about his usual business, but his thundering was made by his roaring laughter and it was only tears of happiness that rolled down his cheeks. He felt truly electric. Whenever people did not like to see him in the sky, whenever they ran indoors or slammed their shutters, Nimbus would simply smile and rumble… “I’m afraid I’ve got a very important job to do and you would be very unhappy with no rain at all. I’ve visited people who are most grateful, don’t you know!” Nimbus still has a job to do, but now he enjoys it, and you will remember Nimbus and his friends every time you see a wispy cloud and a rainbow, appearing in a stormy sky. ~~~ Page 15 (The beautiful sky with all three friends – Archia forming and arch around Cirra and Nimbus. Everyone below is looking up in astonishment at such a lovely early evening sky) As Nimbus learned, happiness depends very much on how we look at things. Many of us have times when we feel unappreciated, unwanted or disliked. Feelings like this can make us unhappy and unhappiness can make us very gloomy. It can cause us to push away the friends or family who are trying to help us. When we take a step back and think for a moment, we very often find that our ability to be happy has been there all along. Page 16 (Illustration of the Attitude saying below, perhaps our characters reciting or singing it…) A person who knows the secret code to happiness… Always sees the good in a situation. Tries to find solutions to their problems. Takes time to appreciate the little things. Is happy with what they have. Takes responsibility for their actions. Understands the importance of listening to others. Does not complain without reason. Enjoys life! That is why we often say happiness is all about A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E!