The Donkey monkeys Around

Gopu the donkey was happily going munch munch on an extremely green patch of grass right in the heart of the meadow. So intent was Gopu on eating, that he did not hear anyone approaching until he looked up and gave an involuntary shiver. For standing right in front of him, was Shikari, the wolf.

Gopu began to limp and make a lot of ooh aah noises while doing so. Shikari watched him in silence for a while and then asked what was wrong.

“I trod upon a sharp thorn while passing through a hedge. It is causing me so much pain,” Gopu added. “Please, take it out for me.”

“And why would I do that?” asked Shikari who thought to himself: hee hee, the donkey is so foolish. Here I am trying to think of a way to eat him up, and there he is, wanting me to remove a thorn from his foot.

“It is for your benefit that I’m telling you to take it out, sir,” said Gopu earnestly. “That thorn is long and sharp. When you eat me, it is sure to get stuck in your throat.”

Shikari then agreed to remove the thorn. So Gopu lifted his foot up for Shikari, who brought his face close to the foot to peer deep into it.

This was the opportunity Gopu was waiting for. With all his might, he kicked Shikari in the mouth and galloped away.

“I should have known,” moaned Shikari after he had finished reeling from the force of the kick. He had also lost a few teeth. “Why did I ever attempt the art of healing, when all I have been taught is the trade of a butcher?” He thought as he ‘limped’ away from the meadow.

303 words | 3 minutes
Readability: Grade 4 (9-10 year old children)
Based on Flesch–Kincaid readability scores

Filed under: folktales
Tags: #donkey, #thorns

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