The very stubborn camel by Silviya Rankova

Silviya Rankova

Illustrated by Alexander Petkov

For Alex and Danny

“If nothing changed, there'd be no butterflies.”

- Walt Disney

Table of Contents:

I. Jamal heads to the market………………..………………………….4

II. Chaos erupts at the market and an unexpected twist ….10

III. A fateful meeting with the little girl……………………………..16

IV. The sandstorm hits……….……………………………………………..20

V. The heartwarming reunion…………………………… ………………22

Once upon a time in the Sahara Desert, where the sun shined mercilessly hot and rain fell only a few times a year, where sandy storms dusted the sky and hid the sun, in one of the hottest, driest places on Earth, there lived an ordinary but very stubborn camel named Jamal. Most of his days, Jamal spent tirelessly traveling, helping his owner in transporting goods across the vast desert. When the heat was too much to take, Jamal would lay on the ground, refusing to obey any commands. There, he would slowly munch on grains, storing fat in his hump, and looking great.

It was Sunday market day, and people from all over the kingdom gathered to share their goods—salt, tea, spices, clothes, rugs, and gold, of course. Omar diligently loaded the bags of spices and herbs onto his camel’s back, readying themselves for their journey. Just as he was about to hop on top of the camel, one bag popped wide open, releasing a cloud of spicy dust. The sudden burst of flavor tickled Jamal’s nose, making him sneeze loudly. Startled by the vibrations, the cobra that had been resting in her basket emerged, expanded her hood in a defensive posture. She hissed and stuck her tongue out, ready to strike in response to the unexpected disturbance. Unfazed by the cobra’s display, Jamal’s cheeks filled up and bulged, preparing for a retort. Omar swiftly shut the lid of the basket, ensuring the cobra remained safely contained. He then mounted the camel’s back, right behind her only hump, and they set off for the market.

Jamal did not even make a twitch at the heavy load but gracefully got up on his legs and stood tall and proud. His two toes spread out, effortlessly navigating the sandy terrain, ensuring he did not sink under the weight. Suddenly, someone stirred in the sand, awakened by the camel’s steps vibrations. Popping out on the surface came the dung beetle, ready to track the camel’s every move in the hope of collecting its droppings. He then deftly rolled the droppings into delectable balls, ready for its snack.

The camel and his owner were finally ready to head to the market. Munching dried, thorny twigs, Jamal took deliberate and measured steps, followed by the beetle. The beetle danced around on the heated sand, leaving behind tiny, crisscrossed tracks as he followed the camel’s path.

Filled with hope and determination for a successful day at the fair, Omar gripped the reins tightly, trusting in his loyal companion.

Jamal was slowly trudging through a sea of golden waves that seemed to have no beginning and no end. Among the graceful curves of the sandy dunes, spiny shrubs and dry grass grew, while lizards, chameleons, and dangerous scorpions hid in the desert’s unforgiving land. When the dry desert heat was too much to take, the man felt tired and thirsty, yearning for a rest at the cool oasis.

Despite his rider’s weariness, Jamal was resilient, able to go without water for weeks, thanks to the fat stored in his hump, which quenched his thirst.

Not long after, Jamal and his rider caught sight of a city, shimmering in the mirage-like daylight heat. The sounds of voices grew louder, and the two travelers sensed that something was happening there.

In the labyrinth of bustling streets adorned with stalls and guilds, guards strolled around, bringing new orders to fulfill the Sultan's wishes. Their voices rang out directing the sellers to their designated spots to sell their wares. The clamor of the market overwhelmed Jamal, and in his fear, he quickly made a turn, taking the nearest one-way street. Eventually, he came to a halt in front of an old, dilapidated house with a broken door, refusing to take another step. Confused and uncertain of which path to follow, Jamal stood there, seemingly lost. Not even the spider that descended from nowhere to inspect its potential fly menu could sway his decision.

Meanwhile, the dung beetle, at last, collected Jamal’s droppings and had a grand feast.

Omar tightened his grip on the reins, attempting to guide Jamal in a circle to redirect their path. However, instead of complying, the stubborn camel chose a different approach and dropped down to the ground, signaling her unwillingness to continue. Understanding his companion’s refusal, Omar quickly dismounted and found himself pondering how he would manage to reach the market and sell his goods that day. Feeling sad, he sat beside his loyal friend and began to pray for a solution.

Time ticked away, and Jamal remained unyielding, disregarding any commands from Omar. The man then took out his pungi instrument and began to play a mesmerizing tune. The enchanting music coaxed the cobra out of its basket, and it began to sway and dance, hypnotized by the snake charmer’s moves.

A little girl sat in front of her house, captivated by the dromedary rider’s performance. Intrigued by the majestic camel, she slowly approached, kneeled beside its head, and tenderly stroked its neck. Feeling a connection with the gentle creature, she then began to share her own story… The girl revealed that not long ago, her father and his camel had become lost in a fierce sandstorm. Since then, she and her mother were left all alone, struggling to make ends meet, with no food on their table. She had to help her sick mom sew new robes to sell at the market. However, they faced a hurdle as they lacked a stall to display their handmade creations and needed some help. As the little girl poured her heart out, Omar couldn’t help but be moved by her plight. With genuine compassion, he promised the girl that he would do everything in his power to help her and her mother.

And so, an unexpected bond formed between the little girl and the kindhearted Omar, the camel’s owner.

Jamal remained seated on the ground, showing no sign of budging, as he continued munching on dry hay. Determined to help, the little girl gave her last apple to please her stubborn friend. With her tender gesture, the camel bent her head and stretched her thick lips to take the apple. As she chewed on the juicy treat, a fruit fly attempting to lay her eggs under the fruit’s skin narrowly escaped being swallowed. To everyone’s surprise, the act of indulging in the apple seemed to motivate the very stubborn camel to rise from her spot. Seizing the opportunity, Omar quickly mounted her back while holding the little girl’s bag of robes. With a newfound determination, they set off to the market.

He had a very successful day as he managed to sell all his merchandise. With the money, he bought a loaf of bread and a cure for the little girl’s mom, and he brought them back to their home.

Jamal and his owner finally headed back home, riding among the sandy dunes when suddenly a powerful gust of wind stirred up vast amounts of sand, lifting it into the air and then cascading it back down.

A sandstorm had begun!

Reacting swiftly, Omar covered his mouth and nose with a wet bandana to protect himself from the swirling sand. The camel’s nostrils instinctively shut, shielding her from the onslaught of sand. With her two sets of thick eyelashes, she blinked rapidly to clear her eyes from any grains of sand. Urgently seeking shelter, they made a sharp turn to escape the storm’s wrath. And in the clouds of swirling sand, Omar’s keen eyes spotted an abandoned wagon. Without hesitation, they made their way to the wagon, hoping it would provide some respite from the relentless sandstorm.

Inside the wagon, Omar was surprised to find a sick man, sitting hopelessly with injuries, and looking pale. His camel lay outside the vehicle, still carrying a load of items for sale. Omar’s heart filled with compassion as he recalled the little girl’s earlier story of her missing father. He approached the sick man with care and was relieved to see he was alive. Grateful for the little girl’s care in cheering up Jamal and thus helping with sales at the market, Omar expressed his thanks to her father, explaining how their chance encounter had brought unexpected blessings. As the sandstorm eventually subsided, Omar carefully helped the sick man mount his camel’s back. With a newfound sense of friendship, they set off together and headed back to the man’s home.

The moment the little girl saw her father again was filled with overwhelming joy. Reunited with her beloved dad, it was the happiest day of her life. Thus, Omar, the little girl, and Jamal found themselves forever connected, woven together by the threads of fate and compassion.

Interesting facts about Camels:

1. There are two types of camels: One humped or “dromedary” camel and twohumped Bactrian camels.

2. Their humps let them store up to 80 pounds of fat which they can live off for weeks and even months!

3. When a camel finally does find water, he can drink up to 40 gallons in one go.

4. Camels are very strong and can carry up to 900 pounds for 25 miles a day.

5. Camels can travel at up to 40 miles per hour – the same as a racehorse!

6. Don’t make a camel angry – they can spit to distract whatever they think is a threat.

About The Author

Silviya Rankova, born in 1975 in the historic ancient capital of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, holds a Master’s degree in Biology from Plovdiv University.

In 2005, she and her family emigrated to the United States, settling in Chicago, Illinois, where they currently reside.

In 2019, she ventured into the realm of children’s literature with her debut book, "How Olly Met His New Family". This was followed by several other titles, including "Danny and Olly's Trick or Treat Night", "Cookies for Santa", "Fay the Maple Fairy and The Tree Doctor", "The Very Stubborn Camel", and "The Keeper of the Golden Key". Through her writing, Silviya brings imaginative stories to life, captivating young readers with her creativity and storytelling skills.

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The Very Stubborn Camel

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