The leopard king
Boitshepo Tantang
Salim Kasamba

Once upon a time there was a lonely leopard.He always wondered why other animals feared being around him.He didn't even have a wife.Although he was a king he never wanted other animals to fear him but still,they feared him.Oneday as he was

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Sitting on top of the tree he thought of many ways to make other animals love him.He then came up with an idea of holding a competion among other animals. He then went down the tree and went to the place were they always hold meetings.

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When he got there he whistled and other animals ran to him and sat down.He greeted them they greeted him back."I'm thinking of holding a competition in two days time.please ask no questions I'll be back with full details" He said.He then

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Left.The following day he came back carrying a spear on his back and asked them to guess what's he hiding on his back and they all answered wrong.With fear they started looking at each other wondering what's going to be their punishment.

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He took the spear from his back and showed it to them.They all looked at one another because they thought they were going to fight.He then told them that they are going to compete by throwing the spear.If you throw the spear and it stand

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Still you won and it falls down you lose.They became excited that they even insisted starting to compete right away.He saw no problem and asked who want to start and the elephant answered "I'll start".He threw the spear but he lost.

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The competition went on and nobody was winning.The leopard started wondering if ever there was going to be a winner and if he's ever going to have a friend.He started thinking that maybe he was made to be lonely.

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The competition continued until it was only two animals left in the competition. He just stood there and watched with no hope.He even told himself that after the competition he's relocating to another jungle where nobody knows him.So that

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he can live free.As he was sitting on top of the rock with no hope,boom the impala threw the spear and it stood upright. With excitement "haha yes i now have a friend ".Everyone was surprised because it was the first time seeing their king

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jumping with excitement.He even started praising the impala and announced that him and the impala are going to live together as brothers.He told them that when they see the impala they see him.

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He also ordered them to start respecting his right hand man.The impala couldn't believe his ears that he thought he was dreaming.He felt very honoured to be the king's right hand man and he promised to be a good right hand man and a friend.

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The leopard king then announced to everyone that the real reason he decided to hold a competition is because he wanted to have a friend.The impala told him that they always wanted to be his friend but the problem was that they feared him

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because he was always quite not talking to anyone and they also respected him as their king.The leopard king promised them that he'll be a better and friendly king but they must not stop respecting him.

THE END

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You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
The leopard king
Author - Boitshepo Tantang
Illustration - Salim Kasamba
Language - English
Level - First paragraphs