The Jackal and the Drum

Told in English, Telugu.

Once upon a time, in a big green forest, there lived a little jackal. One morning, his tummy was rumbling. Grrr, went his tummy. He had not eaten anything since yesterday.

So off he went, sniff, sniff, looking for something to eat.

He walked past the tall trees. He walked past the quiet pond. He came to an open place in the forest where the grass grew long and the wind was blowing softly.

Then, all of a sudden, he heard a sound.

DHUM! DHUM! DHUM!

The little jackal stopped. His ears went up. His tail went down. "Oh my! What was that? Is it a giant? Is it something as big as a hill?" He wanted to run away as fast as his legs could carry him.

But then he thought, "Wait. A sound is just a sound, until I look around." Can you say it with me? A sound is just a sound, until I look around.

So the jackal took one small step. Then another small step. He peeped out from behind a bush.

DHUM! DHUM! went the sound again.

And what do you think he saw? It was not a giant. It was not a hill that could walk. It was a big, round drum! Long ago, the king's men had marched through the forest with their drums, and they had left this one behind under a tree.

The wind was blowing. The branches of the tree swayed this way and that way. Each time a branch swung down, it tapped the drum. Tap, DHUM! Tap, DHUM!

The jackal laughed. "So you are the one making all that noise! You cannot even move by yourself!"

He walked right up to the drum. He tapped it with one paw. DHUM! He tapped it with his other paw. DHUM! DHUM! What fun!

Then the hungry jackal had an idea. "Such a big drum, with such a big voice! It must be full of good things to eat. Maybe sweet things. Maybe tasty things. Today is my lucky day!"

So he nibbled and nibbled at the drum's cover. It was tough, but he kept going, until he made a little hole. He pushed his nose in, and then his whole head.

He looked to the left. He looked to the right. And what was inside? Nothing at all! Only empty air, some wood, and the dry skin of the drum.

The little jackal pulled his head out and sat down on the grass. And then he began to laugh and laugh.

"Big voice, empty inside! First I was scared of it, and then I thought it was full of food. But it was not scary, and it was not tasty. It was just a drum!"

He shook the dust from his whiskers and trotted off into the forest. Soon he found some sweet wild berries near the pond, and he ate until his tummy was happy and full.

That night, curled up in his cosy den, the little jackal smiled. He remembered what he had learned. When you hear a big, loud sound, you do not need to be frightened straight away. Stop, stay calm, and gently find out what it is. And remember, something with a loud voice is not always full of good things inside.

Shall we say it together one last time? A sound is just a sound, until you look around.

Goodnight, little one.