Fati was a little girl who ran like the wind.

She loved to laugh, and always tried hard to do as she was told.

Today was Sports Day at school.

Fati played football and ran in three races.

After school, she walked home with her good friend Hawa.

Hawa said, "Fati, you are a fast runner!"

Fati arrived home and found her mother preparing food.

She said, "Mother, good evening."

Fati's mother replied, "Good evening. How are you?"

Fati said, "We had Sports Day at school today. I ran very fast.

I am hot, tired and very hungry."

Mother laughed and said, "My dear little Fati, you were born with fast legs!"

"I will make okro soup and dinner will be ready soon."

Mother put some palm oil in a big cooking pot and put it on the fire.

When the oil was hot, she added onions and garlic and stirred until they were soft.

Then she put in pepper, tomatoes and some water. Finally, she added six pieces of steamed cow meat.

Mother said, "Fati, please help me to stir the soup."

Fati said, "Yes, Mother."

Fati stirred the soup once.

She said, "This soup smells delicious."

Fati stirred the soup twice.

She said, "This soup smells really delicious."

Fati stirred the soup three times.

She said, "This soup smells truly delicious!"

Fati looked at her mother.

Mother was not looking her way. She was cutting green leaves for the soup.

Fati took one piece of meat from the pot and ate it.

"Mmm," she said.

Again, Fati looked at her mother.

Her mother was not looking her way. She was cutting eggs for the soup.

Fati quickly took a second piece of meat from the pot and ate it.

"Mmm. Mmm," she said.

Once more, Fati looked at her mother.

Her mother was not looking her way. She was cutting green okro for the soup.

Fati very quickly took a third piece of meat from the pot and ate that too.

"Mmm. Mmm. Mmm!" said Fati.

Mother came to the fire with the green leaves, eggs and okro.

Fati was still holding the big wooden spoon.

Mother smiled and said, "Thank you for helping to stir the soup, Fati."

Fati did not know what to say.

Mother put the green leaves, eggs and okro in the soup.

She took the spoon from Fati and started to stir the soup.

Mother looked into the pot. She could see the soup bubbling on the hot fire.

Mother looked for the six pieces of meat in the pot.
"One, two, three." Mother saw three pieces of meat and no more.

Mother said nothing. Fati said nothing.

When Mother served the soup, Fati did not get any meat.

Fati said, "Mother, I am sorry. I will not do that again."

She never did. And that was the end of that.