The other night, he wanted a bed time story. "sto-ey, Mama sto-ey!" He insisted. I was tired to my bones having had rimdro at home but I knew better than to fight with him. So, in a tired tone, I began his all time favorite "Elephant and Moo-Cow" story (if I'm not mistaken, I did post this story not very long ago).
But a child will challenge you when you least have the strength to pull on. "No, arko sto-ey!" He jabs at my chest. I'm in no mood to conjure up a story yet I play on and ask him, "what story?"
"Ol Mac Domal" he giggles in glee. Gawd! Of all the rhymes in the world! But do I have a choice? So I start braying," Old McDonald had a farm e-I-e-I-o".
"NO! Not song! Sto-ey!" He knows what he wants. But I'm lost. Where do I get an Old MaDonald Story from? (Have you ever read one? Have you heard one?)
Lifting all my creativity from my sleep-ridden brain I start the story:
Long time ago, there was a man called Old McDonald. (Yea! My boy claps his tiny hands. I smile at him). Old McDonald had a farm. (He looks excited)
"Did he have animals?" He asks me.
An involuntary yawn escapes from my tired soul.
"Yes, he had lots of animals in his farm," I tell him. He is looking at me expectantly. He wants a story. Right! A proper story with a good plot I presume! Ush!
One day, as he went around his farm, he heard Baa-Baa-Black Sheep crying. My son jolts up and donning a sad face, asks me, " why was bac-sue crying?"
"Because.... Ummm... Because..." I am lost for want of the next event in the story while my son gives me his expectant smiles.
" because his little lamb was lost," I tell him, happy for finding my wit.
"Who took the little lamb?" He is about to cry. He is such a softie.
I continue the story in a solemn tone.
Old McDonald told Baa-baa-black sheep," please don't cry. I'll help you look for your little lamb."
So he went around his farm and met Moo-Cow sitting in the grass. "Moo-Cow, did you see Black Sheep's little lamb?" The cow shook her head.
He went further ahead and met a Horsey, pulling a cart. He asked, "Mr. Horsey, did you see the little lamb? The Horsey said he didn't.
He went on asking the pig, dog,cat and conjure up as many animals as you can to get your little one tired.
My boy is tired of all these charade but he is bent on finding the little lamb.
"Then..." He prods me to continue. He is almost crying. He is sad that nobody has seen the little lamb.
I know I have drawn enough straws to test his patience, so I twist the tale to give it a happy ending.
Finally, he met the Red Hen. When he asked her about the little lamb, the Hen asked him,"what does the little lamb look like?"
"Oh! Its fleece is white as snow," replied Old McDonald.
"Oh yes, I saw the Little white lamb following Mary to school," the Red Hen told him.
My son has a broad smile on his face. He already knows where we would find the lost lamb.
I continue the story, my tiredness already melted in my son's happy smile.
So Old McDonald and Baa-baa-black sheep went to Mary's school and found the little lamb there.
We sing the 'Mary had a little lamb' song together.
So, Black Sheep brought her little Lamb back to the farm. The little Lamb was tired from following Mary, so as soon as they reached Old McDonald's farm, she slid into her Mama's arms and feel asleep.
My son smugly slides into my arms and smilingly goes to sleep.
I am left staring at my little one with my eyes filled with love.
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