Curly-Haired Girl

Watercolor, ink, and white pastel on watercolor paper, 2020

“Why are you crying, little one?” asked the Lion.

The girl sniffed. “Some kids made fun of my hair. They said it was messy, and it might even have tiny bugs underneath!”

The Lion blinked. He then laid down next to the child and said, “May you please check if I have bugs in my mane?” 

Surprised at the Lion’s request, the girl nonetheless crept nearer the animal’s mane and checked if there were any bugs. “I can’t seem to find any,” she said after moving patches of hair here and there, “But may I say that you have such beautiful mane!”

The Lion chuckled and laid down his mighty head. He nodded towards the girl, motioning her to rest against him. The Lion then said to her with his eyes closed, “If I, a Lion, don’t have bugs in my mane, I’m sure you don’t either, little one. Forgive those people who made fun of your hair. You can always tell them it’s like a mighty lion’s mane.”

The girl looked at him with relief and contentment. “Lions are cool! You are cool! Alright, I will do that!” She patted her curly thick hair as if comforting it. She rested her head on the great Lion’s body, and the two took an afternoon nap.