REWIND THURSDAY: Beware Of The Cobra 🐍

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Welcome back, friends, to Short Stories for Kids.

Beware of the Cobra.

Everyone has their favorite animal, some like tigers, some like cheetahs, some like giraffes or chimpanzees. But no matter how much you like an animal, there are very few you can just walk up to and give it a hug. Imagine throwing your arms around a wolf and tickling its chin. It could end up being the last thing that you ever do. This is why we have learned to enjoy animals from a distance. We treat them with respect and don't get too close. That way, they tend to leave us alone in return. Rami understood this. He was 6, so he knew all about being sensible near animals. There was no way Rami was going to pat an elephant on its knee, give a scorpion a kiss, or rub the belly of a great white shark. He was too smart to do any of that. What's more, he needed to make sure that Darcy, his 3-year-old sister, did the same. Which was why, when Rami and Darcy were playing outside one day, Rami took his sister's hand and said, Darcy, don't go over by the fence. There's a snake over there. A snake? Replied Darcy with a big grin. Can I see it? We can go a little closer, said Rami, but not too close. They tiptoed forward to see that the snake was sunbathing in the morning warmth. What kind of snake is it? whispered Darcy. On hearing this, the snake lifted its head and said, I'm a cobra.

Are you venomous? asked Rami.

I am, answered the cobra. Well done for not coming too close.

Would you have bitten us if we had? Rami wondered. Oh, no, not me, said the cobra. I'm not like that. But you didn't know I was friendly. So you've behaved really well.

What if you're telling a lie? asked Darcy. What if you're not actually friendly at all?

Yes, agreed Rami. You might be tricking us so you can bite us anyway. Hmm, thought the snake. That's true. I am a stranger to you two.

You don't know me, so you shouldn't trust me. Again, well done. Good thinking. You do seem nice, admitted Darcy. I am. Really, I am, insisted the Cobra. But probably best if you go back to what you were doing and stay well away.

I guess so, nodded Rommy. Thank you. Don't mention it, said the Cobra, and went back to his sunbathing. Rommy and Darcy returned to what they had been doing. They each had a jar of water and a paintbrush and were painting pictures with the water on the ground. They had to be quick before the warm sun made the pictures disappear. They were so enjoying their activity that they soon forgot about the Cobra. They were having so much fun that they weren't really paying attention to anything that was happening around them, which was why they didn't notice a big angry dog approaching them. Rommy liked dogs and he knew that most were friendly, but he still knew not to approach a dog without the owner's permission, just in case. That's because, just like humans, some dogs can be a problem, even dangerous, just like the one approaching them now.

The first thing they knew about the big angry dog was when it let out several loud barks as it flashed its teeth. Rommy gasped and grabbed his sister's hand, but it was too late to run away. The dog, though, didn't get any closer. This was because the long body of the cobra swept in front of the children, rising up, and opened out the skin on its neck in a wide hood. A cobra! squealed the big dog. That's right, said the cobra. And if you don't want me to bite you on the nose, you'll leave these two children alone. The dog was so terrified of the cobra that it turned tail and fled, yelping as it went. Thank you, said Rami to the cobra. I've never seen that dog before. It didn't seem very nice. I don't think it was, agreed the cobra. But he'll not be coming back again. I am quite sure of that. You were great, said Darcy. Would you like to stay and play?

Oh, I couldn't do that, said the cobra. I'm a venomous snake, remember? I really should stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine. And with that, he slithered off back to his sunbathing spot. After such a fright, Rami and Darcy went indoors and came back outside with a drink each. They found a cool spot amongst the shadows where they could sit and relax for a moment. Deeper in the shadows, a pair of hungry eyes was watching them. A lion!