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In a very, very small place, so small we can’t see it with our eyes, there was a world full of life, which you need a microscope to see.
In this place lived many tiny friends. Their little house was round and transparent, like a small magic window. Inside was a floor, a very special Petri dish, which was like a soft, shiny jelly, where they could grow and play. Inside lived the bacteria; some were round, others elongated, and all together they formed small, colorful spots with different shapes. It was like a tiny world, which could only be seen properly with a very special tool: the microscope.
One of those friends was Micro Mico. He was blue, smaller than the others, and very curious, and he loved to eat. He always wanted more.
Flop the mushroom also lived there. He was white, soft as a cloud, and very kind. He always helped others and liked to share.
Every day they lived peacefully and happily. One day, a lot of food arrived for everyone. Everyone was very happy.
“How wonderful!” said Micro Mico. “I’ll eat a lot, a lot, a whole lot! And I’ll grow faster!”
Micro Mico started eating and eating without stopping. He didn’t think about the others. Flop the mushroom approached him and whispered:
“Micro Mico, can we share?” But Micro Mico didn’t want to listen and ate almost all the food himself. The others were left with very little food and were very hungry.
Flop the mushroom was sad and hungry, so he stayed still in a corner. The Petri dish was no longer as cheerful as before. Some friends were murmuring, others were angry, and the silence grew ever deeper…
His friends were also upset. They no longer played or laughed like before.
However, Micro Mico continued eating, oblivious to what was happening around him.
After a while, Micro Mico began to feel unwell. His tummy was too, too full, and he was very tired. He looked around and saw Flop the mushroom and his friends standing apart and silent. Then he started to think, and finally, he understood what he had done wrong.
“I’m sorry,” he said in a soft voice. “I was a little selfish and didn’t want to share.” His friends listened to him in silence.
Micro Mico promised them that next time he would think of others before himself. When food arrived in the Petri dish again a few days later, Micro Mico immediately said, “We’ll all share!” And we’ll grow together! This time, he helped distribute the food himself. Flop the mushroom and his friends smiled, hugged each other, and little by little, they all grew happily again.
And so, in that Petri dish, the microorganisms learned that sharing and respecting each other made everything work better. From that day on, the dish shone with life and color, and everyone lived happily, remembering that when we take care of others, we also take care of ourselves and the place where we live.
And that’s the end of the story of the microorganisms!
Written by:
Chisom Okafor, Soukaina Tabaanant, Malak Elbodani, Kaouthar Elmesaoudi
Institut de Vic
Department of Chemistry
Academic Year 2025-2026
QUD0 Laboratory of Analysis and Quality Control
