04 The Monkey as King

4. THE MONKEY AS KING

By Sharri McGarry

There was a huge competition in

the Indian jungle – and the prize

was – 'To be King of the Beasts!'

It was very exciting! To be King of

all the Beasts was a grand thing

– when you were King you got to

wear a shiny crown and all the

animals had to call you 'Sire'. Of

course, lots of animals entered the

competition. Each animal got to say

their piece on a big stage while the

other animals judged.

The first up on stage was Fox. Fox

was a very clever animal. He spoke

very well about the rights of the

people and the duties of the King;

but he used such long words like

'fiscal' and 'jurisdiction' that most

of the animals got bored and fell

asleep.

'And,' said Fox, 'never forget that

there are many new traps around

in the jungle. Traps laid by Man

to catch animals! Of course, there

never was a trap made that could

catch a fox. So this is my promise

to you. If I am made King, I will

educate each and every animal in

avoiding these traps. Thank you.'

Fox went off the stage and was met

by Monkey.

'Oooh-ooh-ooh! That was a fine

and educated speech you just

made!' said Monkey.

'Well, thank you Monkey,' replied

Fox, pleased.

'Yes – very clever you are,' Monkey

carried on. 'But that is not what

the animals want in a king. Watch

this!'

And he bounded on to the stage.

'Thank you! Thank you!' he shout

ed. 'It’s great to be here! You know

- that Fox is a clever fellow. But –

poor Fox - he’s got no nose. How

does he smell, I hear you ask? He

smells...AWFUL!'

'Oooh-ooh-ooh! Do you want to

see me dance?' cried Monkey.

'YEH!' roared the audience.

1And monkey danced. He frolicked

and he pranced and he capered

and he danced! And what faces he

pulled!

Monkey was funny. The audience

laughed and roared and held their

sides. And that is how Monkey

became King of the Beasts.

'Oooh-ooh-ooh! Well, Fox!' he

smirked, as he paraded up and

down in his gold crown. 'Funny

beats clever!'

'PA!' said Fox, angrily. 'We’ll see

about that!'

The next day, Fox saw Monkey

lolling around in his throne with his

golden crown upon his head.

'No hard feelings…Sire,' he said.

'You won, fair and square. And I

want to give you a present fit for a

clever king.'

'Oooh-ooh-ooh!' said Monkey.

'Being King is boring work! Where’s

your present?'

'It’s a little way into the forest.

Come with me!'

So Monkey and Fox set off into the

forest together.

'Oooh-ooh-ooh! Where is it? Where

is it?' said Monkey, getting excited.

'There it is, Sire,' said sly Fox,

pointing at a big, ripe banana on

the jungle floor.

'YUM YUM!' cried Monkey, and

dived off to pick it up.

Later that day, the animals were

running around in confusion.

'Where’s the King?' they cried.

'Has anyone seen the King?'

At last they found him. He was

sitting – in a TRAP!

Monkey held out his arms through

the bars. 'Oooh-ooh-ooh! When

I went to pick up a banana – this

trap fell over me! Please get me

out!'

But none of the animals knew

anything about traps - except for Fox.

Fox sat down and curled his long

red tail around him.

'Fox! Fox!' cried Monkey. 'Please

help me!'

The Fox turned to look at the animals.

2'Should a King be clever?' asked

Fox

'Yes!' the animals cried.

'Does an animal that is clever fall

in to a trap?' asked Fox.

The animals were silent. They

looked at Monkey.

'You are a very foolish monkey,'

said Fox. 'I will get you out of the

trap, but you must give up your

crown. The King of the Beasts

should be an animal that is smarter

than to fall into traps. Don’t you

think?'

And all the other animals agreed.

3