Funny Coat

The jackal entered the village, a second time, like a thief.

Last time he had caught a big rooster. He had spotted a foolish rooster, who had come out of his coop to enjoy fresh air in the night. The jackal had snapped his neck in a flash.

But today luck did not favour him. Street dogs had smelled him when he entered the village. They chased him and the jackal had to run for his life. At one place he tripped and fell into huge tub. There was indigo-coloured water in the tub.

The dogs could no longer smell the jackal. Once the jackal felt safe, he came out of the tub.

He returned to his den. He lay hidden there for quite some time; he was ashamed to come out in the open. He knew everyone would laugh at him. He could not bear being mocked at.

But when hunger became overpowering, he had to leave his den.

The moment he was out in the open he heard a loud laugh.

The monkey and the bear and the little elephant were all laughing loudly.

“I thought you were my friends. Friends never mock each other.”

“We are not laughing at you,” said the monkey.

“We are not mocking you,” said the little elephant.

“We are laughing at your funny coat,” said the bear.

“You think it’s a funny coat? I can only pity you. If only you knew that it is the most expensive coat designed by Zaka Mira Zaprita of Indigo Fashions. But what do rustics know about fashion!”

The jackal acted as if he had not felt insulted.

The monkey and the bear and the little elephant looked surprised.

“Rustics? What does that mean?” the monkey asked the bear.

“I think it means someone who is happy even when he is mocked at,” said the elephant and they all laughed, loudly.

The jackal couldn’t suppress his laughter.

The jackal and the monkey and the bear and the little elephant, all laughed, as loudly as they could.

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