A Brazilian Folk Tale
Translated and Illustrated by Lúcia G. Maier
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All the birds were happy. Soon, it would happen again - the party in the sky. Only the birds would go because only they could fly. The animals that could not fly were upset and jealous. They all knew the party in the sky was very beautiful. All the guests would dance among the clouds and stars.
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Sometimes an animal who could not fly would try to find its way to the party. They always failed. Now all the animals were convinced that it was simply impossible to ever get to the party in the sky. There was one fellow, however, who would not give up. The toad said, "This time, I will get to go to the party in the sky!" He had a plan and would not tell any of the other animals what it was. |
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The day of the great party arrived. The birds were all very excited, preparing the things they would take with them and fluffing up their feathers. All the other animals stayed away. Only the clever toad stayed among the birds. The birds were curious to see how this silly toad might get to their great party in the sky.
The vulture swooped down and asked the toad, "Just how do you intend to get up into the sky?" "That's my suprise," answered the toad. He turned and hopped away leaving the vulture to scratch its head. |
| An hour later the toad snuck back and hid inside the vulture's guitar.
Soon, the vulture came, took his guitar and flew high into the sky. The toad stayed quietly inside the guitar. When the vulture arrived at the giant party in the sky, the clever toad jumped out and danced across the clouds. The birds were all very suprised and demanded to know how the toad had managed to trick them. Toad would tell them nothing. |
Copyright© Lúcia G. Maier