Bonney Vroom

Author: Mervat Al-Beltagi

Illustrator: Amer Al-Maghribi

3 a s a f e e r . c o m

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.

Terrified were the animals, scared were the birds. They trembled and said, “Have you listened, have you heard? Could it be a race car? Or a train travelling this far? Well, maybe even a tank moving around and shaking the ground?”

“Vroom! Watch out! I need lots of room!

Vroom, vroom, vroom! Little rabbit, take care!

Dear Mrs. Duck, please beware. Cute little cat, what are you doing there? If you don’t move, my tires may run over your tail. Vroom Vroom!”

“Vroom, Vroom! Watch out, I need lots of room! Vroo,m Vroom! Little rabbit, take care.

Dear Mrs. Duck please beware!

Cute little ca,t what are you doing there?

If you don’t move, my tires may run over your tail.

Suddenly Bonney the horse arrived, saying «Beep, beep, beep! Vroom!” She suddenly stopped and said, “Oh! Just in time. I used my brakes! Mrs. Goose, take your goslings and stay out of the way or they’ll end under my tires today.”

All the animals burst out laughing as they looked at Bonney.

Bonney stopped and looked at them and asked, “What is so funny ? ”

“Are my back doors opened?

Are my front tires flat?

Is my rearview mirror out of place?”

Rabbit came up to Bonney and said,

“Why are you pretending you are a car?

Bonney said, “I’m not pretending. I am a car. I have four doors. Beep! Beep! Beep…Vroom!”

Mrs. Goose pointed to Bonney’s reflection in the lake and said, “Bonney, you are a h-o-r-s-e.” Bonney looked at her image and opened her mouth to look at her teeth and shook her head saying, “I don’t see a horse.” Then she opened her mouth and said, “Look at this engine, I put oil in it, so it won’t overheat.”

Mrs. Duck laughed and tried to convince her saying, “You are a horse, with four hooves, Look!!”

Bonney looked at her hooves and shook her head saying, “I have four tires, and I drink gas to move.”

The cat tried convincing her and said, “You are a horse. You have a beautiful long tail. Look!”

Bonney looked at her tail and shook her head and said, “No, this is my trunk. It’s where I keep people’s belongings.”

“You don’t look like a car,” they said. Bonney confidently said, “Vroom! I’m a car. I go ‹beep beep› to warn people in the streets. Beep, beep!”

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The animals all agreed. It was time for them to call in a specialist.

Bonney wondered why the doctor was examining her. Then he shook his head and said,

“You don’t look like a car!”

Bonney confidently replied, “Vroom! I’m a car. I go ‹beep beep› to warn people in the streets. Beep beep.”

The animals thought about how could they help their friend Bonney. “Poor thing, she thinks she’s a car with four doors, that drinks gas to move, that uses oil in her engine so she doesn›t overheat and she goes ‹beep beep› when she›s in the street. Poor Bonney!”

The next morning, while they were still thinking of a solution, they heard a strange noise.

Terrified were the animals, scared were the birds. They trembled and said, “Have you listened? Have you heard? Could it be a race car? Or a train travelling this far? Well, maybe even a tank moving around and shaking the ground?”

“Chugga chugga choo choo! Watch out, train coming through!”

The animals burst out laughing and said, “Now Bonney is a train today!” and they all answered her, saying, “Chugga chugga choo choo!”

THE END