A tiny egg lay waiting inside a mother to be. When its chance to become a baby came along it was so overcome with joy at the prospect of starting a new life, that it split into three, and so one life became three and they began to grow.
On the day when they were born, their parents were only expecting two babies. They were extremely excited to have three, but they didn’t have names for them all so, as they seemed identical and they needed to tell them apart, they referred to them as One, Two and Three.
One had come out first, shooting out at speed with all arms and legs flailing; Two burst forth with a loud cry just, it seemed, to make sure to be noticed; and Three slid out quietly and peacefully, content with the world from the outset.
When the nurse heard their number names, she smiled and, touching the head of each she said ‘Ib (1), Ob (2) and Peb (3)’, as this was the language of her home. Their parents looked at each other and smiled; they liked the names and so that is who they became – Ib, Ob and Peb.
As babies it was clear that they belonged together. They were at their happiest when they could hear and see each other close by, and they slept most soundly when, in one cot, they were cuddled up together.
Their parents got a big mirror, so they could see themselves together, and they loved looking at how alike they were. When they learned to talk, they would proudly say, “We are one in three”, as their parents had told them the story of how they came about.
As from the moment they were born, they looked the same, but in other ways were quite different:
Ib’s interest in, and enjoyment of, things of the body was strong. Ib was always active; the first to walk and run. Ib loved tasty food and had an unending appetite for sweets, crisps, and cakes. Ib loved to do sports, be with others and look good; being very bothered about fashion and fitting in. Ib loved excitement and was the most confident; always ready to try new things and take risks.
Ob’s interest in, and enjoyment of, things of the mind was strong. Ob was the first to learn to read and write; and then read and made-up stories all the time. Ob loved the computer and looking things up and playing challenging games. Ob loved puzzles, playing detective, and knowing things. Ob was also cautious and sometimes anxious; quick to spot dangers and keen to avoid them.
Peb’s interest in, and enjoyment of love, life, and the world, was strong. Peb was always patient, loving, and gentle; the first to share a cuddle and give help. Peb took time and savoured everything; was amazed by nature and never seemed to tire of wondering at its beauty or wanting to hear about the lives of others. Peb loved to sit, listen and enjoy; seeming more happy to just be rather than wanting to make things happen. Peb could never be described as quick to act, or loud, but was always keen to experience every moment to the full.
Whatever else they did in the day, they always played and talked together. They shared a room with beds in sight of each other. Each morning they would hug then share their plans for the day; each night they sat quietly together and talked about how their day had been before saying goodnight with a last hug and settling down to sleep.
As they got older however, things began to change.
Ib’s group of friends grew bigger and Ib became distracted by the sheer range of exciting things there were to do and enjoy. Now rarely at home, Ib not only did things during the day, but sometimes went on sleepovers and was not there at night, or in the morning, to spend time with the others.
“I want a room by myself” said Ib, “then I can have friends to sleep over, and I can make the room look nice, as these two don’t like the same things as me.”
“Suits me” said Ob, who had also found more and more things to be interested in and know about.
Ob was fascinated with what was happening in the world, and there seemed to be so much to form and share opinions about. Ob also loved technology and using it find things out or to play games and be in touch with friends even when they were not there; getting tetchy with the other two if they interrupted.
Peb’s favourite places were either outside, exploring the world, listening to the birds, and smiling at the sunset, or at home with the others, hearing about their lives and what they were doing. It was obvious that separate rooms were what the others wanted and Peb, as always, was keen for them to be happy said quietly,
“Well okay, as long as I can see the garden through my window and we have three seats, and our mirror, so that we can still look at it and be together.”
So, each was given a separate room. Over time the practice of starting and finishing the day together drifted away and was forgotten by everyone except Peb, who always waited quietly by the mirror just in case. They stopped doing things together and Ib and Ob went their separate ways. Things started to change even more.
All the exercise meant Ib’s body became fit and agile, but Ib’s love of sweets and snacks meant that whilst it looked strong it did not always look healthy. Ib started to get ill more often and get dull and spotty skin. Ib’s desire to fit in and have excitement, and lack of thinking about risk, meant Ib would do anything for a laugh, or to fit in, and sometimes ended up getting in trouble and doing things that meant Ib, or others, sometimes got hurt.
Ob, on the other hand, became very clever but quite anxious. Ob found out about lots of things and could tell you interesting facts about practically anything, but Ob also then tended to worry about what might happen and got very cross and frustrated when things didn’t go as they should. Ob ate snacks to feel better and rarely went outdoors; the lack of exercise and anxiety took its toll and Ob became pale and podgy.
Peb could see what was happening to Ib and Ob but was never one to try to push the others around so was powerless to help. Peb more and more listless and sad looking but also slept less well, without the others nearby. As the others no longer wanted to explore outside Peb lost energy and took less exercise so that the weight started to pile on. The lack of closeness, discussion and sharing of experiences meant Peb became quieter and quieter and worry lines began to appear. Peb started to look older.
One afternoon Ib had come home with a torn uniform, a bruised face and a note from the school asking to see their parents. Ib had joined in with some bad behaviour and got into a fight. Their parents asked them all to sit down and talk about how they could help Ib, but Ob, irritable as usual, did not want to:
“Why would I help a stupid person! It’s nothing to do with me!” shouted Ob “Ib’s just making us all look bad by being too stupid to realise when to say no. I wish we didn’t look the same, it’s embarrassing!”
“You think you are so clever Ob, but really you aren’t!” retorted Ib angrily. “You’re so worried about everything that you never come out of your room – look how fat and ill you look. I’m embarrassed by being anything to do with you!”.
“… But we are one in three!” cried Peb, “we mustn’t be embarrassed by each other.”
Both Ib and Ob turned on Peb, angry at each other but unable to separate that out they let rip:
“What do you know?” said Ob unkindly, “You just sit there grinning …”
“Like a stupid fat lump!” added Ib cruelly, “You are embarrassing too!”
Peb looked at them both completely shocked. Ib and Ob stormed off and shut themselves in their rooms. After a moment Peb stood up, and, as tears started streaming, went outside to calm down.
Once the shock of what had happened passed, both Ib and Ob realised how unkind they had been, and soon their parents could hear that all three of them, in their own places, were sobbing.
Wisely they gave them time for the crying to subside and for each to be still for a while – so that each had a chance to recognise what they were feeling, and then gently went and got each of them and sat them down in Peb’s room in the seats by the mirror.
“Is this who you want to be?” they asked, then waited.
Peb looked at the others, whose faces were so familiar but now looking down and shameful, then got up and looked in the mirror.
Peb could see the truth. “It’s true” Peb said quietly, “my body is not healthy, and I have not given my brain enough challenge … and now I look old, and I feel sad.” Tears flowed down Peb’s face. “That isn’t who I want to be. In my heart I know we are still three in one and there I am happy.” Peb tried to smile at the others through the tears, but they were still looking down.
After a while, Ib stood up next to Peb. Ib’s head was heavy with shame and at first was only able to glance in the mirror. “My body looks torn and bruised … and I feel sick for being so stupid and unkind” a sob slipped out, “I am sorry … it isn’t who I mean to be…” Tears cascaded down again. hand.
At this moment Ob stood up and squeezed into place in between them – looking reluctantly in the mirror. “I look ill … I look like a sick idiot … who knows lots of things but has forgotten what is important. That is not who I want to be … and I am sorry too.”
All at once they were all saying ‘sorry’ to each other and hugging and crying a bit more…
When the tears and apologies were over, their parents helped them talk about how they could help each other be who they did want to be.
“If you want to lose weight Peb, or not be stuck indoors Ob – I can help you with that” said Ib, “we can do exercise together and we could all do with working out better food to eat … I’d love that.” Peb and Ob both agreed that would really help and be fun to do together.
“… and I don’t want to be stupid” continued Ib, “I don’t want to be bossed around, but I do need to learn how to tell what is, and isn’t, a good idea … and how to tell a good friend from a bad one.”
“I could help with that” said Ob, “there are lots of things we can do to help you think things through if you like.”
“… and I don’t want to be unkind and anxious,” continued Ob “…can you help with that Peb as you are the kindest, most relaxed person I know?”
“I need that too” agreed Ib meekly.
“Thank you” said Peb quietly, “…maybe if we sit together and talk, like we used to, I can help you both relax and find your kindness …and notice when something does not feel right inside. That would make me happy too.”
“…and Ob, there are things I would like to learn about too and get my brain going.” added Peb, smiling.
They all looked in the mirror again, not quite as identical as they once were, but back together again.
“We are One in Three” they said – for the first time realising that each One of them brought a different thing, and that it was when they each paid attention to all Three of the things they brought, that each of them were happy and whole. The Three needed each One and each One needed the Three.
That of course was not the end … but another new start.
From that day on Ib, Ob and Peb never forgot what they had understood. Even though their lives changed a lot as the years went by, they always made time to be together as often as they could and each of them remembered what they had learned from each other.
They all made sure to look after their bodies by exercising and eating healthily; to use their minds to learn new things and find out what works and give time to what they called their ‘inner Peb’, their spirit; time to just be, space to notice their feelings, to take time to sit, look, listen, to make opportunities to enjoy amazing and beautiful things and talk to and help, each other.
When they were fully grown their favourite thing was to go for a walk together, taking turns to choose where and asking Ob to suggest a subject they could find out about. When they set out Ib would make sure they walked fast and got good exercise to keep them fit: as they walked, they would discuss the subject Ob had chosen and then have fun with brain teasers and riddles, until Peb would point out that they had arrived at a lovely spot, or where there was a lovely view.
Then they would stop and sit together. Sometimes they would hold hands, but always they would just sit and look for a while, relaxing and taking it in. When the time was right, Peb would smile and start them off and they would take time to listen to each other’s feelings, joys, and challenges. When life was hard, they would help each other and hold each other close, and when it was good, they’d smile and laugh… and sometimes even dance.
… and so, the One continued as three, happily separate and together until the day it was time for their journey to end. Then, as they left their bodies, their souls spun back together, returning once again to being One, full of joy and ready for a new adventure.
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Tales of the Universe 