Nature

The hoopoe summoned the birds of the forest from early morning to an emergency meeting, and it seemed that something grave had happened or was about to happen. Such summonses occur only in rare cases. The birds hurriedly wiped the traces of sleep from their eyes and set off on their way toward the large square, trying to guess the reason for this sudden summons. When the attendance was complete, the hoopoe stepped forward and spoke. “You know, my dears, that this forest is our home and the home of our ancestors, and it will be for our children and grandchildren.” ...

In a moment of Thaer’s immersion in a football game, and his teammate passing the ball to him to shoot at the opponent’s goal, rain began to pour down. Thaier shot powerfully but slipped, and the ball hit the crossbar, bouncing back to him. He jumped with all his strength and with a header, he put it inside the goal. Applause rose, and Thaier rolled in mud from his head to the soles of his feet. Smiles appeared on the faces of the players, who dispersed, drenched by the heavy rain. ...

When there were no flowers on the face of the earth, not even a single flower, when flowers were a dream unknown, a little girl was playing in the garden in front of her house. She repeated the words she knew. She loved words and loved to repeat the word she learned before others. Mama, she repeated ten times. She repeated it as if it were a sweet candy and chewed it as if it were a red berry. ...

Nour invited her friend the Sun to her birthday party. Nour said to her mother: We want to celebrate on the balcony so the Sun can participate in the celebration. Then friends came carrying beautiful gifts for their friends, but the Sun was very sad because she couldn’t give her friend anything on her birthday. But she sang a birthday song for her with the girls and boys from friends, neighbors, and relatives. Then Nour blew out her six candles, then cut the cake, and everyone ate from it while they were happy. Then Nour shouted: Oh no, oh no. My tooth has fallen. Nour’s mother said to her: Don’t cry, my dear, this happens to all children. Then Maha, Nour’s friend, said: Listen, take your tooth, Nour, then throw it to the Sun. Perhaps the Sun will give you a new tooth of pearl. ...

Our Arab popular heritage, its exciting tales and beautiful myths, are the best we can hear or read. Every time we listen to a short story from our heritage, we may learn how that legend began or the secret of its name. Our legend is like a novel about the reason for naming the rainbow by this name, but it is known in brotherly Algeria as “Arous al-Gaith” or “Bride of the Rain.” ...

Somewhere in a neighboring village, there is a wonderful garden known only to a small number of people. Its owners have pure hearts and unique spirits. They are the fairies that still exist to this day. When the moment comes when the light of evening floods the universe and mixes with the horizon that wears the golden color mixed with pink silk, and the blueness of the night ends and darkness comes, the path of the fairies forms where they wake up slowly. ...

This lion is the kingess of the forest. When the sun sets, he looks around him, and many animals go to the river to drink, then says to the elephant: I am a great one but I am weak from him, then the lion looks at the two lions crouching and roaring, so he says: This is sweet and fast but his escape is too easy. Then the lion looks up and sees quickly the tiger, the fox, the deer, and many other types of animals, then says: I am the king of all these animals, I am the strongest of them all, then the lion raises his head high and fills his chest with roar, then roars until the forest’s animals hear him. Then the lion says: Yes, I am the king of all animals who fear me. ...

Once there was a monkey known to be truly fast in running. But he was seeking to win by any method, whether fair or cunning. His main concern was the small deer, who was walking slowly, which made it difficult for him to reach the finish that would begin at the last time. During the running races, the fox was responsible for organizing the competitors. One day, the fox announced in every place that the best competitor he had in the next race was the small deer. ...

There was a couple of Titi birds living on the sea shore. The female birds would wait for the time of laying eggs to raise the children. When the anticipated time for laying eggs came, the wife asked her husband to search for a safe place to lay her eggs, saying: My dear, is there perhaps a place better than this shore to lay the eggs in? Why don’t you search for a safe place for us to lay the eggs in? The sea waves in winter nights come high, and there might be danger in that for our children. So try to search for a safe place from sea waves before their time comes, my dear. ...

Once there was a small lion inside the forest. His claws were strong, and his fangs appeared terrifying in shape. But despite his terrifying appearance, the lion named Gentilio was unable to frighten even a small mouse. He was kind and gentle. Therefore, the sparrows and all birds would play around him without any fear. The story of this gentle lion isn’t like any story. When the bird Alkalaq was flying around the world, the lion appeared like a very small ball of hair. When Alkalaq was late in his return, he saw the lion as if he were one of seven equal-sized lambs. Therefore, the bird went confidently in the direction of the sheep flock to take his little newborn lambs. ...