Susan was a cheerful young girl who lived in a small village in Africa. She was known for always helping her mother. One evening, as the sun began to set, Susan’s mother asked her to fetch mushrooms from the forest for dinner. Happy to help, Susan took her basket and walked into the forest, not knowing this would be the start of an unforgettable adventure of the missing Girl and the Python.
The forest was calm and cool, with tall trees and leafy canopies that formed a natural roof overhead. Susan spotted a patch of mushrooms and began picking them carefully. She was so focused on selecting the best ones that she didn’t realize how far she had wandered from the path.
Suddenly, she heard a startling noise behind her. Turning around, she saw a wild black-and-red lizard emerging from the bushes. Its quick movements and sharp claws scared her so much that she screamed and ran. Clutching her basket tightly, Susan made sure not a single mushroom fell out as she raced deeper into the forest. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Susan Is In Trouble
In her panic, her sandals slipped off, but she was too frightened to stop and pick them up. She ran barefoot through the thick forest until she could run no more. Exhausted and trembling, she sat down, holding her basket of mushrooms. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered to herself, “I’m lost—oh, I’m lost.”
Back in the village, Susan’s mother became worried when she didn’t return at the usual time. She alerted the elders, and soon the village foot soldiers began beating their drums, a signal for everyone to search for Susan, the missing girl. The villagers entered the forest from the direction she had gone, calling her name, but the forest gave no answers.
Meanwhile, Susan kept looking for her way home. Her bare feet were swollen and sore from stepping on sticks, sharp stones, and thorns. Tired and scared, she came across a large, smooth rock and decided to rest. She sat down, placed her basket on her lap, and kept looking around nervously.
Suddenly, the “rock” started to move! Susan quickly jumped up, holding her basket tightly so the mushrooms wouldn’t fall out. She froze in fear when she realized it wasn’t a rock at all—it was a giant python.
The python slowly uncurled itself, its long body stretching out as it turned to face her. Its golden eyes shone in the dim light, watching her calmly. Susan stood still, too scared to move or make a sound. She didn’t know what the huge snake would do next. “Please don’t hurt me. Please don’t swallow me,” she whispered, shaking with fear.
The python didn’t attack. Instead, it slithered forward a little and stopped, turning its head to look at Susan. It seemed as though it was waiting for her to follow it in a certain direction.
Susan hesitated but noticed the python wasn’t acting aggressively. Gathering all her courage, she began to follow it. The snake moved smoothly, guiding her through the dark forest. At first, she was terrified, but as she walked behind the python for a while, she began to feel calm. It was as if the snake knew exactly where it was going.
After what felt like two hours, Susan saw the edge of the forest. The faint lights of her village came into view. Relief flooded her heart, and she smiled for the first time since she had gotten lost.
The python stopped at a distance and turned to look at her one last time. “Thank you,” Susan said softly, her voice full of gratitude. The python blinked its golden eyes and slithered back into the forest quietly. Susan ran barefoot toward her village.
Her Mothers Concern
When she arrived, her mother ran to her, crying and singing joyfully. “Where were you, Susan? Where have you been? We were so worried!” her mother exclaimed, hugging her tightly as the neighbors gathered around.
Susan told everyone the incredible story of the python that helped her find her way home. The villagers listened in amazement. They believed the python was sent by God to guide her.
From that day on, Susan and the villagers had a new respect for the forest and its creatures. They learned that even in the darkest moments, help could come from the most unexpected places.
Though Susan never saw the python again, she always remembered it with gratitude. The tale of the missing girl and the python was told and retold, becoming a cherished story of kindness and courage in the village and beyond.
People traveled from far away to hear Susan’s story firsthand. They brought gifts and treasures to her and her family, making the village a place of great interest and even a tourist attraction. Would you like to visit Susan? You might say yes, but you may not be fortunate enough to see the python.
What is the moral of this story?