Belly and Kermit’s children get a homework at school. They must write about four elements.
– What are four elements, Mummy? asks Wooly.
– I don’t know, answers Belly. Go and ask Oak. He is old and wise. He knows a lot.
The children send two of them – Hilda and Wooly to the oak which grows in Gruntland. They like it very much. They often play in its shadow.
Now Oak has no leaves. He is getting ready for winter but he is not sleeping yet.
The children climb a big stone and shout to the tree:
– Dear Oak, you are wise, tell us please: What are four elements?
– Four elements are earth, water, air and fire, answers Oak, but Chinese people say there are five elements…
– No, we must write about four, interrupts Hilda. Thank you Oak!
So they lie on the stone and look at the sky.
– Air are you here? asks Hilda.
– Of course I am here, answers the air. But you cannot see me.
– Are you an element?
– Yes, I am. And I am a gas mixture.
– Why do you exist? asks Wooly.
– Why do I exist?! Air is a little bit offended. You can’t breathe without me!
– Oh, of course… sorry, says Hilda.
– And plants need me too. They take gas from my mixture and with the energy of the Sun make their leaves, and stems and flowers.
– Really?! shout the pigs, Plants eat you and grow?
– Err…, you can say so, answers Air. Now I must fly with the Wind. See you later!
– Thank you Air, bye! say the children and go to the lake.
Lake is a little bit wavy but not very busy. The children say:
– Hello Lake, can we talk?
– Sure!
– Are you water, and an element?
– Yes I am.
– What are you needed for? asks Wooly.
– Dear children, there is life on this planet because I am here. I am everywhere, even in you, says Lake. Plants drink me, animals drink me, people drink me… Life needs me for many chemical reactions.
– What are chemical reactions? asks Hilda.
– Changes, my dear, changes of colour, smell, taste, size, state…
– Aha…., so cooking is a chemical reaction.
– Yes, it is. You are wise. Fire is a chemical reaction too.
– Really? Fire, the element?
Yes, go and talk to it. There is a bonfire near here.
– Bye Lake and thank you!
And the children run to the bonfire.
End of part one