Monday, March 5, 2012

Kids' Story Time: The Little Cub's friends

Once there was a little cub called Zoobie. He used to live with his parents in a beautiful jungle of Africa. He was just a year old and was a very chubby cute cub. His parents, Zubu the lion and Zizi the lioness loved Zoobie and doted on him. Zoobie was a happy baby and would always be jumping around in the jungle. His parents would wonder if he'd ever be a fierce lion when he grows up...

One day Zoobie was playing outside his den. His father was out on hunt while his mother was sleeping inside the den. He had been warned by his mother to play around the den and not venture any further. But Zoobie was very naughty and would always seek a chance to explore the jungle beyond his den.

So when he heard her mother snore into a deep sleep, he slowly sneaked towards the pond in the jungle. He loved the pond as he thought his reflection in the water was another playful little cub! He reached the pond and began to see his reflection. Each time he would see himself in the water, he would jump in excitement. He would then happily round around the pond and come back to see this little cub in the pond.

Poppy, a three year old monkey was jumping on the trees around the pond when he saw this little cub, happily running and jumping. He wondered if he should go and play as well, for his parents had told him about lions being the fiercest animals in the jungle. But he could not resist himself and climbed down the tree.

He came near Zoobie and said, "Hi! Am Poppy...what's your name cubbie?"
"Hi ya...Am Zhhoobbbie", replied the little cub
"Hey Zoobie, what are you doing alone over here? Haven't you come along with your parents?"
"Ahh...no...I came to meet my water friend"
"Who? I don't see anyone"
"Look...here he is...come and see...", saying this he looked into the pond and showed his reflection.
"Ha ha ha ha, that's your friend? ha ha", Poppy began laughing. He laughed and rolled on the ground. Zoobie stood confused and surprised. He asked the monkey, "Aahh...why do you laugh? Don't you like my water friend?"

At this Poppy laughed again and said, "Wooo hooo hoo...hey little cubbie, that's not a friend. Its you. Its your reflection!"
"Reeeffecann? what's that?", asked the innocent little cub
"Umm...reflection? How do I tell you? Umm...okay, wait for me...", and Poppy ran back to one of the trees and came back with a small mirror.
"Look into this Zoobie and what you see is what is reflection", he said, facing the mirror towards the cub.
"Oh! another friend? Wowwww!!!!", Zoobie said seeing himself in the mirror. He began to jump and sing, happy about his new found friend.
The monkey stopped him and said, "Oh God, you little fool... this is not your friend. Its you. Look again".
Zoobie came near the mirror and once again saw himself. Then he went back to the pond and looked into the water. He was so thrilled to see two more cubs that he wouldn't listen to what the monkey said. It was two hours since the monkey was trying to explain to the cub, but he couldn't. Tired by now, he sat near Zoobie and watched him play with his reflections in the mirror and water.

As it was quite late, Zoobie's parents began to worry when he didn't return on his own. They knew he loved the pond. So they came searching for him. And they found him playing and jumping around the mirror and water.

"Zooobieee", cried his mother.
"Awww...mommy...look look...I have two friends now", Zoobie yelled in excitement.
As his parents came near the pond, Poppy tried to run away. But Zubu, the lion, stopped him and told him not to fear. He the asked the monkey what they both were doing here at the pond. Poppy explained him the entire story of how he had been trying to tell Zoobie about his two reflections.

At this Zubu and Zizi began laughing. They were amused to find Zoobie thrilled with his new friends. Then Zizi, the lioness, said to Poppy, "Thank you for taking care of my little baby all this while. He is too young to understand reflections and things like that. All he knows is that he can play with all the young animals he finds in the jungle. But all the young animals are scared of him because he's a cub. So he finds his reflection at this pond quite amusing and thinks it is his friend".

Poppy smiled and promptly replied, "Oh then can I be his friend? I am not scared of him anymore..."

Zubu smiled and said to Zoobie, "Come here my boy. Look...you now have three friends. Two little cubs and a little monkey. Be good to your friends, alright?"

Zoobie was even happier and began singing his little happy song. He hugged Poppy and said to his mother, "Look look mommy, I have three friends now. Poppy and two reeefecann!"
Hearing this they all laughed and hugged the cute happy cub, little Zoobie.


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