The Little Deer and the Crocodiles

The little deer lifted its nose. The wind blew a sweet, warm smell across the river.

Your child“Sniff, sniff. Mango!”

On the far bank stood one tall tree, heavy with mangoes. Between the banks floated five long logs. The little deer was small, and the river was wide. Then one of the logs blinked.

The logs opened their eyes. They were not logs. They were five crocodiles, and every one of them was grinning.

Crocodiles“Anyone who crosses is lunch!”

The little deer did not run. The little deer looked along the five long backs and had an idea.

Your child“Who is the LONGEST crocodile?”

The crocodiles forgot all about lunch.

Crocodiles“Me! ME!”

they said, all at once. They pushed and puffed. The oldest one lifted his chin.

Crocodiles“Prove it.”

The little deer stood up as tall as a very small deer can.

Your child“Line up! I will measure you!”

The crocodiles swam into a row and puffed up. Each one stretched, and then stretched a little more.

Crocodiles“Look at my tail!”

They were so busy being long. None of them noticed what they had made. Nose to tail, they lay across the river. It was a bridge.

The little deer took a little run and jumped onto the first broad back. It was bumpy and warm, and good for hopping.

Your child“One!”

A grumble came up from under the little deer’s feet.

Crocodiles“Mmph.”

Then onto the second back.

Your child“Two!”

Crocodiles“Mmph.”

But the third crocodile had been holding still for a very long time.

Crocodiles“Hurry up, my back hurts!”

The little deer hopped on, quick and light.

Your child“Three! Four!”

But the fourth crocodile had opened one eye. Then he opened his mouth, to ask a question.

Crocodiles“Why are you hopping on me?”

Your child“Measuring takes jumping!”

The crocodile thought about this. His mouth slowly closed.

Crocodiles“Hm. That makes sense.”

At the very end of the bridge, the oldest crocodile narrowed his eyes.

The fifth back was the biggest of all. It belonged to the oldest crocodile.

Your child“Five!”

He did not grumble. He looked up, very slowly, with one heavy eye.

Crocodiles“And am I the longest?”

Every crocodile in the river held still to hear the answer.

Your child“The LONGEST!”

said the little deer, and sprang over the last bit of water onto the far bank. Behind the little deer, the crocodiles sighed, proud and puzzled. What exactly had they measured?

The little deer turned round. The crocodiles were looking down at themselves, at five long backs in a row.

Crocodiles“BRIDGE?!”

Then the oldest crocodile began to smile.

Crocodiles“The longest bridge in the jungle!”

The little deer bumped the low branch, and five golden mangoes dropped into the grass.

Your child“Thank you, longest friends!”

called the little deer, and rolled them down to the water.

Your child“A mango for everyone!”

Five mangoes, five crocodiles. Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

Night came slowly over the river. The mangoes were gone, and so was the shouting. The five crocodiles lay in the shallow water, still as logs again.

The little deer curled up under the mango tree with a full tummy, and counted them.

Your child“One… two… three… goodnight.”

The little deer never got as far as four.