There was a time when none of the animals in the world had tails. The lion, who was the king of the animals knew there was something missing, and thought until he had a clever idea.
“Friends,” he said, I have been thinking that something is missing in all of us, so I have invented Tails.” And he held up a huge bag full of tails. “You will get one each,” he told the animals, “and wear yours always. All the animals clapped and cheered their clever leader.
The lion pulled out from the bag a marvellous long golden tail with a black tassel at the end and put it on himself. He waved it proudly, while the animals watched and waited for their tails. The fox got a long, thick bushy tail, which he curved up over his back before leaping away. The horse came next and from the bag, the lion pulled a long, strong, black tail, combed out until it was silky and straight. the horse was delighted and galloped off.
The cat received a straight tail which would wave or wag from side to side, or up and down, as she pleased. The monkey was given an extremely long tail. He curled it over his arm so that he wouldn’t rip over it. By now, the bag of tails was half empty, so there was not much choice for the elephant when it was his turn. In fact, his tail looked like a piece of chewed string. But he put it on quite happily and lumbered off.
Last of all to receive a tail was the rabbit. It was tiny just a tiny, thin piece of a tail. The poor rabbit was disappointed. But the rabbit knew there was nothing left, so he thanked the lion and took the tail.
Then the rabbit had a wonderful idea. He stood before a prickly bush and stroked it gently backwards and forwards over the prickles. His tail became soft and round. “That’s better,” thought the rabbit, and bobbed away merrily.
– Anne English