In Leona’s room

Peter: Knock, knock!

Leona: Come in.

Peter: Hi my friend, I’m here to get some help from you.

Leona: You are here to get help? OK.

Peter: My friend, my father said I must go look for the cow in the forest, so I decided to come and ask you because you are my best friend.

Leona: You want me to go to the forest. It can’t be, boy. You know I’m a coward. Why didn’t you call Bongo? Maybe he can accompany you.

Peter: I spoke to that guy but he said he will be busy all day.

Leona: He said he will be busy doing what?

Peter: He said he will be busy digging his father’s garden. My friend, it is midday right now. Accompany me please? I will give you something like a stick sweets when we get this cow.

Leona: That will be good, but next time I won’t accompany you to the forest.

Peter: Thanks my friend. It’s what I was expecting from you, boy. I knew that you would go with me. Okay let’s go my friend.

After two hours. On the way

Leona: Peter can I ask you some questions?

Leona: Alright. My first question is who planted all these proteas in this place?

Peter: No one planted all these proteas, they just are there. They make our land smell good and look good. And we can make a fire with them, but they are always dry.

Leona: Okay, thanks. My second question is, what is the importance of soil?

Peter: Think – if there was no soil how could we live? Our houses, factories and our schools are built on soil. Trees, maize and vegetables need soil. The grass that feeds out cattle grows on soil. Therefore, wool from sheep, meat and milk from cattle and clothes that are made from cotton all come from soil.

Leona: Wow! Thanks. Now I’m done asking questions.

Peter: Now it will be me who’s going to ask the questions.

Leona: Okay, go ahead.

Peter: Thanks. My first question is, who’s going to be the president of South Africa after Jacob Zuma?

Leona: Eish! That one is difficult and I didn’t learn about that at school. Hey, look. What is standing there in front of the trees? Is it a ghost? Let’s go back home.

Peter: Don’t be scared. It’s an old man, maybe he’s looking for his cows too. Let’s go to him. Maybe he can help us.

After three minutes.

Man: Hey kids, what are you looking for here?

Peter: We are looking for a cow.

Man: What kind of cow are you looking for?

Peter: Our cow is like the Friesland cows. It is black and white in colour and it produces more milk than any other breed. And if you want it to be milked by the machines, you can. We are not here to hurt you.

Man: Wow! Wow! Wow! (claps hands)

Peter: What’s wrong now?

Man: Nothing is wrong. I’m just here congratulating you. You know how to describe something. And I think I saw that cow at my neighbour’s yard when it was raining heavy yesterday.

Peter: Where do you live? And where’s my father’s cow?

Man: Calm down boy. We should get your father’s cow easily because I’m wearing a long jacket and gloves.

Peter: If you’re wearing a long jacket and gloves, what can you do?

Man: I’m going to steal it from the kraal.

Peter: No you won’t do that. I’m educated. If my school mates see me jumping in the kraal they are going to laugh at me at school.

Man: So what can we do to get you this cow? Or we must pay for it?

Peter: Let’s go to your neighbour. Maybe he would give it to us. Who knows.

Man: You’re right. So boy, would you please tell me something?

Peter: Yeah…

Man: Is something wrong with this boy? He doesn’t have the mouth to speak like other people?

Peter: Hey, don’t say that to my friend. He knows how to speak. He’s just afraid of the forest.

Leona: Peter, I’m leaving you now. This man is insulting me! Bye! (runs away)

Peter: Hey! Where are you going? This man was just joking. Wait there please! You are going to meet a lot of ghosts if you leave me!

Man: Let him go. Maybe we could get your cow without him.

Peter: No, we won’t get this cow without him. He has good luck everywhere if you are with him.

Man: If you don’t want your cow I can leave you alone. There’s nothing I can do now then.

Peter: No, let’s go. Without Leona, we will get this cow.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you think Peter and the man will get the cow without Leona’s good luck? Do you have a good luck charm? What is it?