Python's Friend

Piri python lived in the dense Indonesian rainforest. She would coil her long body twice on the branch of a Banyan tree that was her home and wait every day for someone to speak with her.

- Suvadeep Bhattacharjee

Her vivid emerald green skin with spots and stripes made it almost impossible for anyone to spot her. She was lovely but very lonely, for in the language of the animals, 'Piri' meant 'dangerous'.

Piri was a harmless snake. She never thought of disturbing or attacking anyone. She just wanted to talk to other animals and make them her friends, but all the animals in the forest were frightened by her appearance. They thought Piri would gulp them down if they came too close to her.

One day, a white rabbit was hopping near the banyan tree, Piri's home, with lush grass growing underneath it. As usual, Piri had coiled herself around a branch and enjoyed the fresh morning breeze.

She noticed the rabbit and called him, "Brother rabbit, can we be friends? I want to play with you." The rabbit looked up at her and quaked with fear. He ran away, mumbling, "I can't be friends with a python! I am not a fool. I know you will eat me up." Before Piri could say anything, the rabbit vanished into the bush.

The following day, Piri was resting on another branch of the Banyan tree, enjoying the first rays of the sun kissing her shiny body and making it warm.

She was eager to make friends and saw a red and yellow jungle fowl walking across the forest floor. It searched for sweet grass seeds that only grew near the banyan tree.