Blistering Heat Deep within the Forest, a Watermelon Rolls in As the Animals Watch

The blistering summer heat does not spare even the deepest parts of the forest. The squirrel, Dami, hears something rolling down from the foot of a mountain and discovers that the mysterious item is a watermelon. Dami kicks the watermelon blocking the entrance to her house and it rolls to a stop in front of Lulu, who had come out to drink from the brook.  Lulu thinks the watermelon dunked in water looks exactly like someone’s bottom. The animals in the forest are intrigued by the watermelon—something they’ve never seen before in their life. And so, their investigation to unearth the identity of the watermelon that had rolled in front of them, begins! Will they get to taste the sweet and refreshing watermelon, perfect to overcome the sweltering summer heat?

Fighting, making up and growing together: Animal Friendship

A fight breaks out as everyone starts eating the watermelon. Dami exclaims the flying racoon Guri, who likes to store their food in dark spaces once night falls, is a lot like the fruit—the outside different from the inside. On the other hand, Guri calls Dami “Tiny Tot”, and teases the latter for not sharing the acorn she collects. Saving grace comes in the form of the boar, Khung, who stops their friends from fighting and makes them apologize to each other. With the bond of their friendship much deeper and stronger now, the animals share the watermelon among themselves equally. The watermelon seeds they had spit out slowly sprout to bloom flowers and then ripen to watermelons. The animals invite all their friends and hold a watermelon festival. 

Seeing Humans through the Eyes of Animals

Khung often goes to the village, where humans live, in search of food. Despite all the animals warning of the danger, Dami exclaims, “Humans take the chestnuts and acorns that we need to eat. But we aren’t all helpless either!” Humans take what they want from nature forgetting that they are also taking the animals’ share of the food. And that is not all, the animals also say, “The humans are blaming us for a deadly virus spreading through the world.” They are speaking of none other than the COVID-19 virus! But are the animals really to blame? Are humans without fault in this ordeal? The questions raised by the animals, and their actions, make us think about whether humans were entirely innocent in destroying nature and leading to the spread of the virus.

Children’s writer Song Bang-sun, the recipient of Monthly Korean Literature New Writer's Award and Dongsuh Literary Prize tells a fun story of animals eating a watermelon for the first time. - Gyeongnam Dongmin Ilbo