Ep 24. The Story of Esmeralda the Snake

In the episode "The Story of Esmeralda the Snake" of season 1 of 64 Zoo Lane, Lucy and her animal friends gather around Giggles the Toucan who is eager to tell them the story of Esmeralda the Snake. Giggles begins the story by introducing Esmeralda who used to be a very friendly snake. She would often greet the other animals and even enjoyed wrapping herself around them for a gentle squeeze. But one day, Esmeralda's life changed when she met Jenny the Grey Squirrel.

Jenny was very nervous around snakes and when she saw Esmeralda for the first time, she panicked and ran away. This hurt Esmeralda's feelings and she became convinced that she must be a scary snake. From then on, Esmeralda began to act in a way that would reinforce other animals' fears of her. She would hiss and slither threateningly, and when she did not receive positive attention from the other animals, she became even more convinced that she was a scary snake.

As Giggles continued the story, Lucy and her friends watched as Esmeralda met a wise old tortoise named Toby who would give her advice on how to win back the trust of her friends. Toby encouraged Esmeralda to be herself and not worry about what others thought of her. He taught her to see her natural qualities as beautiful and valuable, and to embrace them.

With Toby's help, Esmeralda started to make small changes. Instead of hissing and slithering, she would gently approach the other animals and talk to them. Slowly but surely, they began to see her for who she really was - a kind and friendly snake. They even started to appreciate her squeezes, which had always been a source of comfort to her friends.

Watching the story unfold, Lucy and her friends were touched by Esmeralda's journey and recognized how important it was to be true to oneself. They also appreciated how difficult it can be to break out of negative patterns, but how with persistence and support from wise friends, it is possible to do so. As the story ended, Lucy and her friends thanked Giggles for sharing the tale and reflected on the importance of being who you truly are, regardless of what others think.