FRIENDS

One day an antelope and a monkey were walking alone.

   ’I feel tired,’ said the monkey. ’It’s easier for you. You’ve got long legs. Mine are very short.’

   ’If you climb on my back, I’ll carry you,’ said the antelope.

   ’Thank you,’ said the monkey.

   ’Don’t mention it, my friend’ said the antelope. ’I know that if I need anything, you’ll help me.’

   ’Of course,’ said the monkey and climed onto the antelope’s back.

The two friends walked on till they came to a tree. The monkey jumped down and they both sat down in the shade. While they were sitting there, however, they saw a lion coming towards them.

   ’Oh, no,” said the monkey. ’If that lion cathes us, he’ll eat us.’

   ’Perhaps he’s already had his dinner,’ sais the antelope. ’If he isn’t hungry, he’ll leave us alone.’

   ’Yes, but we don’t know if he’s hungry or not,’ said the monkey. ’Quick. I’ll get on your back again and we can escape.’

   ’That’s no good,’ said his friend.’I won’t be able to run very fast if you’re on my back.’

All the time the lion was getting closer. The monkey looked up. ’I know,’ he said. ’He won’t get us if we climbed this tree.’

   ’But I can’t climb trees,’ said the antelope.

   ’I can,’ said the monkey, and jumped up into the tree. The kion was very close.

   ’I can’t run away now,’ thought the antelope. So he lay down on the ground and pretended to be dead.

The lion came to the tree. He looked up and saw the monkey sitting on a brach. Then he walked up to the antelope. He bent down and sniffed the antelope’s ear for a few moments.

He didn’t eat the antelope, however.

  When the lion was gone, the monkey came down the tree and the antelope stood up.

   ’Phew,’ said the monkey. ’That was scary, but what was the lion doing? I saw him sniffing your ear.’

   ’He was talking to me,’ said the antelope.

   ’Really?’ said the monkey. ’What did he say?’

   ’He said, „You should choose your friends more carefully!”