Zuri

Baby Zuri lived in the jungles of Africa with his mommy and his daddy. He had a brown body and big brown ears. He had white patches on his face and white stripes on his legs.

Baby Zuri was very confused, because he didn’t know what animal he was. One day, he thought of a way to find out.

“I know what I will do,” Baby Zuri thought. “I will ask my friends what animal I am.” So Baby Zuri set off to ask the other animals what he was.

Baby Zuri went to ask his friend Leopard.

“Leopard, do you know what I am?” Baby Zuri asked.

“No, I do not,” Leopard growled in his deep voice. The big cat smiled and showed rows and rows of sharp teeth. “But I do know that you are very nice and polite. You say please and thank you all the time.” Baby Zuri thanked Leopard for his help and moved on.

Baby Zuri soon found himself at Big Snake’s house.

“Big Snake, do you know what I am?” Baby Zuri asked his long green friend.

“Sssorry,” Big Snake hissed and shook his head. “But I do sssee that you are alwaysss very sssharing. Baby Sssnake lovesss to play with you becaussse you alwaysss ssshare your toysss.”

Baby Zuri headed off to Monkey’s house.

“Monkey, do you know what I am?” Baby Zuri asked.

“No, I do not know what you are,” Monkey chattered, “but I do know that you are very funny. You made Grey Parrot laugh for an hour yesterday!” Baby Zuri smiled and moved on through the jungle.

Baby Zuri was soon at Elephant’s house.

“Elephant,” he said to her, “do you know what I am?”

Elephant comforted Baby Zuri with her long nose. “I do not know what you are,” she said, “But I do know that you are one of the most helpful animals I have ever met. You helped Baby Elephant and me move into our new house!” Baby Zuri waved at Baby Elephant with one of his hooves and sadly walked away.

Baby Zuri soon wandered into the grassland. He saw his friend Baby Zebra.

“Baby Zebra,” Baby Zuri said to him, “do you know what I am?”

“Maybe you are a zebra!” Baby Zebra replied, “You have stripes like me!” Baby Zuri looked a little bit like Baby Zebra, but he was not a zebra! What was he?

Baby Zuri kept walking through the grassland. He met up with his friends Baby Hyena and Baby Gazelle. They were playing tag.

“You’re it!” Baby Hyena yelled as he touched Baby Gazelle. Then Baby Gazelle saw Baby Zuri.

“Oh, hi Baby Zuri!” she said. “Would you like to play with us? You are very fun to play with!” Baby Zuri smiled and thanked them, but continued walking through the grass.

Baby Zuri was losing hope. Would anyone know what he was? “I know,” he thought, “I will go talk to Old Lion!” He is wise and will know what I am.”

Baby Zuri walked slowly and quietly into Old Lion’s house. “Hello, Old Lion,” he said. “You are very wise. Do you know what animal I am? Leopard does not know. Big Snake does not know. Monkey and Elephant and Baby Zebra do not know. Please, will you help me?”

The wise Old Lion closed his eyes and smiled.

“Baby Zuri,” he said quietly, “you have spoken to many of your friends today. What have you learned from them?” Baby Zuri was confused. All that his friends had told him was that they didn’t know what he was. He hadn’t learned anything! Baby Zuri left Old Lion’s house.

Baby Zuri was upset. “None of the other animals can tell me what I am,” he thought. “Now I’ll never know.”

As Baby Zuri wandered through the grassland, he began to think about what his friends had told him. “Leopard said I am nice,” he thought. “Big Snake said I am sharing. Monkey said I am funny, and Elephant said I am helpful. Baby Hyena and Baby Gazelle said I am fun to play with. I know what I am!” Baby Zuri smiled and leapt into the air. “I am a Good Friend!” he yelled. Baby Zuri the Good Friend was very happy. He finally knew what he was!

Baby Zuri happily ran home, where his mommy and daddy were waiting for him.

“Guess what, Mommy?” he said. “Guess what, Daddy? Today I found out what I am! I am a Good Friend!” His mommy smiled and his daddy laughed.

“Of course you are a Good Friend, Baby Zuri,” his mommy said. “But you know what else you are? You are a Baby Okapi, and you are my baby!”

“I am a Baby Okapi!”