Benny the Banana wasn’t like the other bananas. While they were all a cheerful, sunny yellow, Benny was…green! A very bright, almost glowing green. He lived on Old Man Tiber’s banana tree, nestled amongst dozens of his golden siblings. Every morning, Benny would try to hide amongst the yellow, hoping no one would notice his unusual color.
“Oh dear,” he’d whisper, tucking himself behind bigger bananas. “They’ll think I’m not ripe enough. They’ll think I’m…different.” The other bananas didn’t *mean* to be unkind, but they often giggled and pointed. “Look at Benny! He’s still green as grass!” they’d say. Benny’s peel would droop with sadness.
Old Man Tiber, a kind farmer with a twinkle in his eye, noticed Benny’s unhappiness. He often sat under the banana tree, reading stories to the fruit. One day, he saw Benny trying to camouflage himself. He chuckled softly. “What are you doing, little one?” he asked.
Benny, embarrassed, explained, “I just…I want to be yellow like the others. Then they’ll like me.” Old Man Tiber smiled. “But Benny,” he said, “your green is *beautiful*. It’s a special kind of bright. It reminds me of the first leaves of spring, full of hope and new beginnings.”
Benny looked up, surprised. “Really?” Old Man Tiber nodded. “Absolutely. And you know,” he continued, “sometimes the most wonderful things take a little longer to ripen. Your greenness isn’t a flaw, it’s a part of what makes you, *you*.”
Just then, a little girl named Lily came running into the orchard. She was looking for a snack. She passed by the bunch of yellow bananas, but her eyes lit up when she saw Benny. “Ooh! A green banana!” she exclaimed. “Mommy says green bananas are good for making smoothies! They’re extra sweet!”
Lily carefully picked Benny, thanking Old Man Tiber. Benny felt a warmth spread through his peel. He wasn’t unwanted! He wasn’t a mistake! He was perfect for something special. As Lily walked away, she turned and waved. “You’re the brightest banana I’ve ever seen!” she called.
Benny beamed. He realized Old Man Tiber was right. His green wasn’t something to hide; it was something to celebrate. He stood tall and proud amongst the yellow bananas, no longer trying to blend in. He was Benny, the bright green banana, and that was wonderful.
From that day on, Benny embraced his unique color. The other bananas, seeing how happy he was, stopped teasing him. They even started to admire his vibrant green hue. They learned that being different wasn’t bad; it was what made each of them special. And Benny learned that the best kind of bright comes from being yourself, inside and out. He knew, even as he drifted off to sleep, that being a little different was a very good thing indeed.