3 minute read
Activity 98: Life at night
Bedtime stories
Read the story with a partner and answer the questions.
Adapted from Storieman by Leon Rousseau 1993
Rabbit is one of the cleverest animals in the Bushveld. But did you know he is also one of the strongest? Strong enough to play tug of war with Elephant? It happened a long time ago … “I may be small, but I am just as strong as you are,” Rabbit boasted. Elephant laughed and continued to splash cool water over himself with his trunk. “If I bring a rope tomorrow,” Rabbit said, “we can play tug of war.” “You are more than welcome to bring a rope …” Elephant said with a laugh. He did not believe for one second that he could lose a game of tug of war against the tiny rabbit. But before Rabbit brought a rope, he ±rst had to talk to someone else …
Hippo was grazing peacefully next to the river. “Be careful,” she said as Rabbit came closer. “I might accidentally step or sit on you!” “Not to worry,” Rabbit said. “I may be small, but I’m very strong. If you do not believe me, I will show you in a tug of war.” Hippo yawned. “I do not want to hurt you, little one, but if you want to do it, bring a rope.”
The following day Rabbit went back to Elephant, while carrying a long, thick, heavy rope. Elephant was eating a few leaves from a tree. “Morning, Elephant! Are you ready for our little game of tug of war?” He gave one end of the rope to Elephant, who held it tightly with his trunk. “Start walking backwards,” Rabbit said, “and when the rope is tight, we can start the game.” Elephant walked backwards and disappeared into the trees … Just then Hippo came along. Rabbit gave his end of the rope to Hippo. “My end of the rope is there in the bushes,” he said, “take this and start walking backwards. When the rope is tight, we can start the tug of war.” Hippo took the end of the rope with her mouth and started walking backwards.
On the other end of the rope, Elephant was pulling very gently. He did not want to hurt the little rabbit. Hippo also pulled very gently because she was afraid of hurting Rabbit. “Wow,” Elephant said to himself, “who would have thought that the little rabbit is this strong!” He pulled harder.
Who would have thought the rabbit had so much strength in his little arms? Hippo thought as she started to pull the rope harder. “How is this possible?” Elephant exclaimed. He pulled harder and harder. Hippo also pulled harder and harder … Both pulled as hard as they could, with no success of winning. For three days the two animals pulled the rope. At ±rst, this was a fun game for Rabbit, but he was starting to get bored. He went to the middle of the rope and gnawed through it with his teeth. SNAP! The rope broke in two. Poor Elephant fell backwards into a thorny bush, and Hippo fell into the muddy river.
The Bushveld was never the same after that. Today we still see Elephant uprooting trees, looking for the little rabbit who bruised his ego and in effect, his poor bottom. Hippo still hides in the river during the day, making sure no rabbit can reach her, and she only comes out at night.
1. Did you like the story? __________
2. Which part was the funniest? ____________________________ __________________________________________________________
3. Who will you tell the story to tonight? ___________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________
