stories

Why the Bat Flies at Night Long, long ago, in the warm jungles of Southern Africa, there lived a small bush rat named Karoo. Karoo was kind, friendly, and hardworking. He had soft brown fur and a very long tail. He was proud of his long tail because it helped him balance when he ran fast. Karoo had a close friend named Emiong, the bat. Emiong had wide wings and sharp little eyes. During the day, he liked to rest in trees. At night, he flew around the jungle. Even though they were different animals, Karoo and Emiong were best friends. Every day, they met near a big old tree to eat together. They loved to share a warm bowl of soup. The soup smelled nice and tasted even better. Karoo always said, “Eating with a friend makes the food taste sweeter.” But there was one small problem. Emiong was a little jealous of Karoo’s long tail. He wished he had something special like that. Instead of being happy for his friend, he felt unhappy inside. Emiong was also known in the jungle as a prankster. ...

Little Red Riding Hood Once upon a time, in a small village near a green forest, there lived a sweet little girl. Everyone loved her because she was kind, polite, and always ready to help others. Her grandmother loved her the most and gave her a beautiful red hooded cloak.  The girl liked it so much that she wore it every day. Soon, people started calling her   Little Red Riding Hood . One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother baked some fresh bread and made a basket of food. She said, “Your grandmother is sick. Please take this basket to her. Walk carefully, do not talk to strangers, and do not leave the forest path.” Little Red Riding Hood promised her mother that she would obey. She put on her red cloak, picked up the basket, and happily walked toward her grandmother’s house, which was deep inside the forest. The forest was beautiful. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, and sunlight came through the tall trees. As Little Red Riding Hood walked, she forgot her mother’s...

The Farmer, the Mongoose, and the Snake In a quiet village surrounded by green fields and tall banyan trees, there lived a humble farmer named Raghav.  He was known throughout the village as a hardworking and kind man. Raghav lived with his wife, Meera, and their infant son in a small mud house near the edge of the fields. Though their life was simple, their home was filled with love and contentment. One day, while working in his fields, Raghav found a small injured mongoose trapped near a bush. The little creature looked weak and frightened. Feeling pity, Raghav gently picked it up and brought it home. Meera looked surprised. “Why did you bring this animal home?” she asked. Raghav smiled and replied, “Don’t worry. Mongooses are known to protect homes from snakes. We live close to the fields, and snakes often come near the house. This little one may become our guardian.” Over time, the mongoose recovered and grew healthy. It became extremely loyal to the family and especially loved...