A Feast in a Special Place

Author : Amani Jazia

Illustrator : Mona Mohammed

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The original work of this book was made possible through the generous support of the All Children Reading: A Grand Challenge for Development (ACR GCD) Partners (the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Vision, and the Australian Government). It was prepared by Asafeer Education Technologies FZ LLC and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ACR GCD Partners. Any adaptation or translation of this work should not be considered an official ACR GCD translation and ACR GCD shall not be liable for any content or error in this translation.

On the banks of the Nile river, Lavender the plover was getting ready for Gator the alligator’s feast. The feast was in a scary place full of sharp teeth.

When Lavender arrived, it was very quiet. He didn’t see anything but a log floating in the water and a bird nearby. Suddenly, the log swallowed the bird!

Oh! It wasn’t a log after all. It was Gator. As usual, Gator was sitting like a statue, waiting for his prey. Lavender gulped in fear and quickly flew away home before anyone saw him.

He sat in the trees, while he shook with fear, and thought, “Where’s my house…oh yes! It’s on the fourth tree. Ok, let me count then. One, two three, ten. Oh no! two, seven, five…No, I guess I am so afraid that I can’t even count!”

When Lavender’s friend, Plum, noticed he hadn’t yet come home, he went to look for him. He found him shaking with fear and so he asked, “Is there something scary around here?” Lavender shakily replied, “I never get scared, I’m just a little tired.” Lavender doesn’t want anyone to know that he’s scared.

Plum left him and went back to the feast while Lavender spent the night feeling afraid and hungry.

Then he stood on a tree branch and said, “I’ll have to look for something else to eat.”

He found some leaves and said, “I’ll gobble all of you up.” He swallowed leaf after leaf until he felt full. He smiled and said, “Well, at least I found something else to eat.”

After a few days, Lavender looked terrible. As he looked in the mirror, he decided that leaves were not enough and he needed a better meal to make him stronger. He looked at the leaves and said, “I need more than leaves to be strong.”

A little while later, Plum arrived with a full tummy saying, “What a delicious meal I had!” Lavender tiredly replied, “Where did you get your food?” Plum said, “From Gator’s mouth. He has lots of food between his teeth.”

When Lavender went back to the river, Gator said, “Please come in, my friend,” and he opened his mouth. The food in Gator’s mouth looked so delicious that Lavender started to drool!

Then, all of a sudden, Lavender disappeared without saying a word. After awhile, he came back with a twig.

He tried to pull out the food with the twig but it kept slipping and he didn’t a single bite.

,,,

Plum said, “If you’re scared, I can get you some.” But Lavender replied, “I’m not afraid.”

Then Lavender saw Grandpa Plum, the wise old plover. He flew over to him to listen to his stories and to try to forget about his hunger.

Grandpa Plum told him how they had enjoyed wonderful journeys on Gator’s father’s back. He also told him about the lovely times they had delicious feasts in his mouth and how they danced and partied after these feasts.

When Lavender imagined himself in Gator’s mouth, he became pale. Grandpa Plum asked him, “Are you truly scared?” Lavender said, “No, I’m not.” Grandpa Plum said, “Well, there’s no need to be scared. I was also scared, at times, when I was little.”

“Well, honestly,” said Lavender, “I’m really scared that Gator will eat me.” Grandpa Plum said, “Gator can’t eat us. We’re plovers. Look at me, then look at that bird over there and tell me if you see anything different.”

After looking at them both, Lavender said, “We have spurs on our wings and heads but how does that help us?” Grandpa Plum said, “If the alligator shuts his mouth on us, these spurs will prick him and he will quickly open up his mouth.”

“Ok, then I won’t be scared anymore. I’m going to have a feast in a special place,” Lavender excitedly said as he flew over to Gator.

But at the last minute, he changed his mind and flew away, his heart racing.

Lavender couldn’t sleep that night. He couldn’t think of anything but his fear. As he wearily walked along the river bank, he heard someone crying. When he looked, he saw Gator. He carefully went closer and asked, “Why are you crying?” Gator said, “My teeth hurt! Some food is stuck between my teeth and I can’t do anything about it.” Then Gator asked Lavender for help. “Can you please help me get the food out of my teeth?”

Lavender flew over and then flew back several times until he said, “Come on Gator, open your mouth before I change my mind.”

Lavender closed his eyes and jumped in Gator’s mouth. When he opened his eyes again, he couldn’t believe that Gator hadn’t swallowed him whole!

In fact, Lavender had a delicious feast as he picked out the food from Gator’s teeth.

Early the next day, Lavender packed his bag along and his twig and off he went to see Gator.

He tapped him on the head and asked him to open his mouth. He then hurried inside and said, “I love my new house!”

The End