Asian Children's Favorite Stories by David Conger

Author:David Conger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Crocodile raised his head to look up at Buffalo. He wanted to thank him for saving his life. But when he saw Buffalo’s thick neck and fat haunches, he couldn’t help imagining how good Buffalo would taste. Instantly his mouth began to water, and a long string of drool dribbled out. He couldn’t help it. He wanted a bite out of Buffalo. “Ooooh, my back hurts!” he cried, pretending it hurt more than it actually did. “Buffalo, please carry me deeper into the water.”

Careful not to cause Crocodile pain, Buffalo did as he asked. Deeper and deeper they went into the water. Crocodile’s stomach was now rumbling loudly, and he could no longer stop himself. With a mean grunt, he took a small nip out of Buffalo’s neck.

“Ow!” Buffalo said, howling. “That hurt! What are you trying to do? Eat me?” Buffalo backed away from Crocodile, who had his jaws open once again. “I can’t believe it. I just saved your life! You should be showing me a little more gratitude instead of making me your dinner.”

Crocodile sneered. “Why should I be grateful?” he said. “Animals need to eat, and right now I’m hungry!”

“But I just helped you, Crocodile,” Buffalo replied, shaking his head in disbelief. “Be fair.”

“Fair?” Crocodile repeated. “Fair? There has never been fairness or justice in the forest. The strong and the mighty are the ones who decide what’s fair.”

“Is that so?” said Buffalo. “Well, I believe there’s justice in the forestȆ and the unjust will have very bad luck.”

Crocodile laughed; as though making fun of Buffalo. “All right,” he said. “Let’s see about that.”

Just then, they spotted the trunk of a banana tree floating down the river. “Ah, let’s ask that trunk,” said Crocodile.

“Sure,” Buffalo agreed. “Hey, Banana Trunk,” he called out. “We want to ask you about justice.”

The trunk stopped at the edge of the river, and Crocodile explained how he’d been caught under the tree and how Buffalo had set him free. “And now I want to eat Buffalo because I’m hungry,” Crocodile said to the trunk, which was rocking back and forth as it listened. “Do you think it’s fair if I eat Buffalo?”

The trunk rolled over and wet its other side. For a moment it didn’t say anything. “I think it’s fair enough,” it said after a while. “Justice is like that everywhere. When banana trees are young and bear fruit, people care for us and tend to us,” he explained. “But when we become old and wornȆ What do they do? They cut us down and throw us into the river!”

Crocodile nodded. “You see?” he said to Buffalo.

“Yes,” said the trunk, resolved. “People say that is justice because they hold the power!” And with that the trunk continued its journey down the river.

“As I said,” said Crocodile, “the ones who are powerful decide what is just and fair.” He lunged once again at Buffalo, his mouth open.

“But that is not fair!” protested Buffalo. “It’s certainly not just! Anyway, what does the trunk of a tree know about justice?”

Just then, an old horse approached the river.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.