Goju's a little elephant. Little — but when he runs, the whole forest shakes! Thump-thump! Goju loves to play, so he's running about all day. Everyone laughs and calls — “Slow down, Goju! Watch where you're going!”
One day Goju was chasing a bright butterfly — and never saw what was ahead. CRASH! Right into Granny Tortoise's flower garden. Every flower lay broken on the ground. “Oh no!” — Goju's heart skipped a beat.
Goju looked this way, that way — no one had seen! Quietly, quietly he backed away… thump… thump… thump… and hid behind the big banyan tree. His heart went pit-a-pat. “I won't tell anyone,” he whispered. “No one saw!”
Everyone came running. Granny Tortoise saw her broken garden and her eyes filled with tears — “My flowers! I cared for them so!” The hare said angrily — “Who did this? It must've been those naughty monkeys!” Behind the tree, Goju heard it all. His heart grew heavy… heavier… heavier…
Goju couldn't bear it any longer. Ears down, head low, he stepped out — “It wasn't the monkeys. I broke it. I was too scared to say. Forgive me, Granny.” One tear dropped — plip. And how strange — the stone on his chest rolled right off!
Granny Tortoise smiled — “Everyone makes mistakes, Goju. But how many have the courage to tell the truth? Come, let's make a new garden.” Everyone set to work. Some sowed seeds, some patted the soil. And Goju? Trunk held high, he sprinkled water like soft rain!
Some days later, a garden bloomed there — lovelier than ever before. Bright butterflies came fluttering in. Goju still runs — but now he looks where he's going! And he tells himself — “Mistakes happen. Tell the truth, and your heart feels light.”