Thobiso’s favourite tale

‘My poor son. How I miss you! I hope you to come back home again soon’, whispered the teacher of Katsana as he closed the door of Thobiso’s bedroom. Then he remembered what happened the night before the kidnapping:

- ‘Daddy, tell me a tale’.

Ernest sat at the bedside and started telling a new story: ‘Once upon a time there were three little …’

- ‘No, daddy. I want you to tell me the tale of the magical song’, begged the young boy.

- Again, Thob?

- ‘Yes, daddy, again. Please, please!’

Ernest took the storybook and opened it by the page of Thobiso’s favourite tale.

- ‘Ok. Let’s see… Once upon a time there was a great king who had many cattle. He loved his cattle so much that he called one of his sons to look after them. Every morning the boy took the cattle to the valley and at night he drove them back again at home.

One day while the boy was watching the cattle…’

- ‘A fairy appeared,’ continued Thobiso.

- ‘Exactly, the fairy appeared and pointed to a large stone. Have you ever seen a stone like this one, Thobiso?’ asked Ernest as he pointed to the drawing of the stone in the storybook.

- ‘No, daddy. This stone is magical… like the song!’

- Yes. The fairy also taught the boy a magical song. After that, she delivered the stone to the boy and said: If you keep this stone nobody will be able to hurt you, but if you lose it, your cattle will be stolen. Besides, when you sing the song your cattle will follow you.

Unfortunately, one day the boy fell asleep and his father’s cattle were stolen. When the boy woke up, he realized what happened and he started singing the magical song desperately. However, the animals did not come back. The boy began to wander through the fields crying. Then the fairy appeared and told him: I already know that your father’s cattle were stolen. Don’t worry, because I also know the man who has the cattle now. He lives behind that mountain. If you are wise you will be able to get the cattle back.

- But the boy was very wise. Wasn’t he, daddy?

- Yes, he was. He visited the man and become his worker. Every morning the boy took the cattle to the valley and then sang the magical song to drive them back at home. He worked for some years until something happened. That man harvested a bumper crop. Never before had he had such an abundant supply of food. This is why he decided to have a feast.

Then the boy had a brilliant idea. He had a special knowledge about plants and herbs as he was used to watching what his cattle ate. First, he collected a large amount of herb that makes people sleep, and then he mixed it into the wine barrels. When the feast was over, all the guests fell asleep. The boy began to sing the magical song and the cattle followed him as far as his father’s house. At last he had the cattle again and they all lived happily ever after.

THE END