Lesedi was just starting to feel very hot buried under the duvet when she heard a strange sound – a sound that was coming from inside her room!

“Who’s there?” she whispered in a shaky voice, then she put her fingers in her ears so that she could not hear anything. She was so scared, she wanted to open her mouth and scream. No, no, no, she said to herself. I must try to be brave. So she sat up in bed.

“Puk-puk-puket,” a strange voice said. “Oooh, no, no, no! I must try to be brave. I think I’d better go now.”

“Whaa-at?” said Lesedi and dived under the duvet again. “Who’s there?”

“Puk-puk. I’m Mosa. Please, please don’t be angry.”

Lesedi lifted the duvet and peeped out. A shadowy shape moved in the corner and then out stepped …

“A hen!” said Lesedi. “What are you doing in my room?” Lesedi did not know whether to laugh or cry.

“It’s a very short story,” said Mosa. “It’s Mrs Kunene’s cat. He’s big and fat and … and he wants to eat me!”

“But why don’t you hide?” asked Lesedi.

“I am hiding, silly. I’m hiding here,” explained the hen.

“Yes, but you scared me,” said Lesedi.

“Are you scared now?” asked Mosa.

“No,” said Lesedi.

“See! You’ve got nothing to be scared of. Mrs Kunene’s cat doesn’t want to eat you. It’s me he’s after!” said the hen.

“Where is the cat?” asked Lesedi.

“Out there,” said Mosa as she flapped up onto the windowsill and pointed outside. “Look, look, he is still there and he still wants to eat me.”