Ajala the Terrible Child and other Stories E-Book

Rotimi Ogunjobi

• Herausgeber: xceedia publishing
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Seitenzahl: 41

Beschreibung

The story of a boy so terrible that even animals are afraid of him. Everyone in town is afraid of Ajala . In shame his mother took him inside a forest and there abandoned Ajala. He makes friends with some animals but soon they find that Ajala is a very wicked child.The animals run away but Ajala is in hot pursuit. Can the world be saved from Ajala the terrible child ? (stories: Usman and the Leopard , Ajala the Terrible Child, The Lion's Food, The Foolish Rich Man)

Leseprobe

Ajala the Terrible Child

& other stories

Auntie Mimie Children Series

© 2013 Rotimi Ogunjobi

ISBN: 978-978-49837-0-9

AUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Some of the stories in this book were adapted from several Yoruba folk tales including from the books previously written in Yoruba by D. O. Fagunwa.

Contents

USMAN AND THE LEOPARD

THE LION’S FOOD

AJALA THE TERRIBLE CHILD

USMAN AND THE LEOPARD

Usman, a farmer, was walking one morning through a bush path which led to his farm. As he got close to a village which was along the way he found Leopard inside a steel cage. The cage was a trap which had been set by the people living in a nearby village, and the cage had been made in such a way that once an animal entered, it would be unable to get out again unless the door was opened from outside. Leopard was hopelessly trapped.

'Open the door of this horrible cage for me, my good man,' Leopard desperately pleaded; but Usman refused. Leopard begged for long, and still Usman would not open the cage.

'What is it that I have done to you?’ Leopard unhappily said. 'Do you not know that I could one day be of help to you too? It is true that everyone calls me a dangerous animal, but I know that this is not true. You know how wicked human beings are and how they hate one another, and speak evil against one another. If you live with me for only three days, you will never want to leave my home because you will see how pleasant I really am. Certainly, if you go away and you leave me in this cage, someone else will soon come along in a moment to release me. You should then pray that our paths never cross again, but it certainly will, one day.'

And when Usman heard this he said to Leopard:

'What you say is true; I even understand the little that you have not said. However, I cannot help but be afraid. If I free you, and then you attack me and tear me to pieces, how wise would I then have been?'

'I give my word that I will do you no harm. But hurry because time is precious,' Leopard said to him. Leopard was so persuasive, and so Usman went to the cage and opened the door. But no sooner had Leopard come out of the cage that he held him by the neck and made to kill him; but Usman pleaded with Leopard.

'Be patient with me,' Usman said. 'Let us bring this matter to be heard by five persons, and then we should abide by their judgment.' Leopard grudgingly agreed, and together they walked on along the bush path.

They soon met Goat, and Usman told Goat what had happened. He told Goat how he had seen Leopard in a cage, how Leopard had pleaded to be released, and how against wise judgment he had shown mercy only to be now at the risk of becoming Leopard's dinner. After he had finished his story, Goat turned to Leopard and said:

'These human beings are wicked and full of lies. Ever since my owner bought me, I have had nothing but misery. When I have kids I care for them all by myself. And when they are grown up, he seizes them and sells them away. All I get every day is a few unripe bananas in the morning, and then I have to go out to find leaves to eat for the rest of the day. I rarely get any yams or corn meal. And when he has eaten and has drunk some wine, he takes a stick and beats me soundly, all for his pleasure. Human beings are no good at all; Leopard must surely eat this one.' And after Goat had said this, Leopard again made to kill Usman but the man quickly reminded him of their agreement.

'Five persons must listen to this, we've seen only one so far,' he said.

And so they continued on through the bush path. They soon met Horse, and again Usman told Horse what had happened, while Leopard waited impatiently and watched.