Dira and Chaku

Dira and Chaku Authors: Hellen Kimaro, Hellen Kimaro Illustrators: Godwin Chipenya, John William Translator: Alisha Berger

Dira and his younger brother, Chaku, were fighting over a toy elephant. The elephant belonged to Dira. “Give it back!” Dira screamed. He pushed Chaku.

Their mother was angry. “Dira, you must learn to share with your brother!” Dira stomped back to his room, climbed onto the bed, and covered himself with sheets. He dozed off.

Dira woke up early in the morning to find no one at home. He called out for his mother and brother, but there was no answer.

Dira went over to Chaku’s room. He noticed a huge collection of toys there, like balls and cars. He even had books! Chaku also had a new pair of shoes. Dira's shoes were old. If Chaku had so much great stuff, why should Dira have to share his elephant?

Dira decided to run away. Suddenly, a large herd of elephants appeared out of nowhere! Dira couldn't outrun them. Instead, he swung on the tusk of one elephant, up onto his back.

Dira played with the elephants. After some time, he found Chaku kneeling under a tree.

All of a sudden, one of the elephants charged at his younger brother. Chaku jumped up. He started running , running, RUNNING!

“Chaku! Chaku!” Dira shouted. “Climb a tree!” The elephants kept charging. Chaku scrambled up the nearest tree. He was breathing heavily. “Dira!” Chaku screamed. “Brother! Please help me!”

“Tell your friend not to hurt my little brother,” Dira pleaded with his elephant. But the other elephant just snarled.

The angry elephant pulled at tree leaves. It yanked on branches, trying to toss Chaku out of the tree. Would Dira reach his brother in time?

Dira leapt from the back of his elephant into the tree. He climbed to Chaku's branch. “Take my hand!” Dira instructed.

But just as Chaku grasped Dira's hand, an elephant plucked Dira right off the branch. The elephant threw Dira to the ground!

“Mother! Help us!” the boys screamed.

Dira heard his mother's voice. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. She gave him a hug. “You just had a bad dream.” Chaku had heard the screams and ran to Dira's room. “Do you want to play tomorrow morning?” Chaku asked. “Okay,” Dira smiled. “We can both play with my toy elephant. ”