14 How the Elephant Got its Trunk

How the Elephant Got its Trunk

Long ago, all the elephants in Africa had short noses. Today, all the elephants in Africa have long trunks. Why do they have long trunks? They have long trunks because of one little elephant.

Little Elephant liked to ask questions. He asked, "Where?" and "What?" and "When?" But the question Little Elephant liked to ask most often was "Why?" Little Elephant often watched the other animals. He watched them and then asked them questions. One day, Little Elephant went to the river to watch Turtle. "Turtle, why do you have a shell?" he asked. "How would I know?" said Turtle. "Stop asking so many questions!"

Little Elephant went to watch Lion. "Lion, why do you have a curly mane?" he asked. "What a question!" said Lion. "I don't know. Little Elephant went to watch Chimp. "Chimp, why do you have long arms?" he asked. "I don't know," said Chimp. "Stop asking so many questions." "This is no good. I want answers!" cried Little Elephant. "Who can answer my questions?" "I can! I can!" said Kolo Kolo Bird.

So Little Elephant asked Kolo Kolo Bird lots of questions. He asked, "Where?" and "What?" and "When?" Kolo Kolo Bird answered all Little Elephant's questions. "I have one more question and then I will stop," said Little Elephant. "What does Crocodile eat for dinner?" "Oh, my! What does Crocodile eat for dinner?" said Kolo Kolo Bird. "What a question! Why don't you go down to the river and ask him!" "Yes, I will. I will go down to the river and ask Crocodile. Thank you, Kolo Kolo Bird, thank you!" said Little Elephant.

Little Elephant went down to the river. "Crocodile! Crocodile! What do you eat for dinner?" he asked. Crocodile smiled. "Bend down, and I will tell you!" he said.