M’Pofo and the Vanishing Duvet

M'Pofo and the disappearing duvets

It was a wintery day on the Savannah, with a thick frost coating the long grass. It was very chilly. M'Pofo was snuggled up under his thick duvet, as warm as toast. He woke up and stretched, looking forward to a tasty marula berry hot chocolate.

"Now, where did I put my cacao?" I can't find my cooking pot either." M'Pofo scratched his head with his trunk. There was nothing the elephant enjoyed more in the morning than a tasty marula berry hot chocolate. M'Pofo looked everywhere, but he couldn't find anything he needed for making his warm drink.

Just then, Lou-Anne, M'Pofo's friend, arrived, "Good morning, M'Pofo, I can't smell any hot chocolate this morning. Why is that?" she asked.

"Good morning, it is a disaster! My cacao, marula berries and chocolate making pot have gone missing! I've looked all over and still can't find them." said M'Pofo sadly.

"Well, that's strange. My duvet disappeared in the night too. I was hoping to warm up with one of your delicious hot chocolates." Lou-Anne was very fond of M'Pofo's hot chocolate.

"That's terrible," M'Pofo was very sympathetic. Just imagining how cold it must be to sleep without a duvet in winter made him shiver. "Do you have any idea where it went?"

"No, none at all, and it'll take ages to make a new one," sobbed Lou-Anne, big tears rolling down her cheeks and splashing onto the grass.

The young elephant always wrapped an oversized woolly scarf around his trunk on chilly days.

"You can share my duvet until we find yours again," M'Pofo reassured his friend. "Here, you can wear my scarf to be a bit warmer," said M'Pofo kindly as he wrapped his warm, woolly scarf around Lou-Anne. It was so big that she wore it as a cloak.

"Thank you, let's start looking for our missing things," said Lou-Anne gratefully.

The two friends found Buhala, the mongoose standing on a tall tree stump. She was staring at footprints leading away from the waterhole towards some large Mopani trees.

"Hello Buhala," called the companions, "What are you looking at?"

"Good morning, you two, someone has been very naughty! My duvet was stolen while I slept under it! I'm looking for the thief."

The friends could hardly believe their ears. Finally, Lou-Anne blurted out, "What, you too, Buhala? Someone stole mine in the night as well."

"On top of that, they ran off with my cacao and marula berries for my hot chocolate," added M'Pofo angrily. "I see tracks leading away from your home," the observant elephant said.

"You're right," replied Buhala, "let's follow them and see where they go."

Just at that moment, a most delicious aroma wafted past the noses of the three friends. Lou-Anne cried, "That smells just like your marula hot chocolate, M'Pofo."

"It really does," answered the elephant taking a deep breath through his long trunk. "The smell comes from those Mopani trees, where the footprints are heading."

The lovely scent attracted many other inhabitants of the Savannah. Including Gabala, the giraffe, Ubejane, the grumpy old rhinoceros and Vakawu, the very clever vervet monkey. Together the group moved off very quietly towards the cluster of Mopani trees. With each step they took, the unmistakable scent of marula hot chocolate strengthened.

Cautiously the group peered past the trees. Oh, what a surprise! In the middle of the clearing sat Batenga, the naughty baboon. He was wrapped in the thick duvets, stirring a big pot of marula hot chocolate, bubbling and gurgling, just like M'Pofo made it.

The elephant couldn't believe his eyes and trumpeted as loudly as he could, scaring Batenga.

"Ow, ow, owwww," howled Batenga, "I've spilt chocolate on my foot! Ow, ow, owwww," he howled whilst hopping around on one foot.

"It serves you right," said Buhala and kicked Batenga on his other foot, which didn't have any chocolate on it. Batenga howled even louder.

"Why did you take our things, Batenga?" asked Lou-Anne.

"I was freezing; I was shivering these past nights. I don't have anything warm to wear or sleep under," sniffed Batenga, who was close to tears.

"You could have just asked us," said M'Pofo, "Everyone would have helped you."

The other animals all stamped their hooves in agreement. "Even though you've been very naughty, Batenga, you can borrow my duvet," offered Lou-Anne kindly. "If M'Pofo agrees, I can wear his scarf this winter, then I will also be warm enough."

"Oh, that is an excellent idea," agreed M'Pofo, "But Batenga, you can't always be so naughty! So how are you going to make it up to us?"

Batenga, the naughty baboon thought for a few moments, "I'll help you all collect firewood to keep your homes warm at night."

The friends said this was an excellent way to make up for taking the duvets and M'Pofo's hot chocolate. "Batenga hasn't spilt more than a couple of drops, and the hot chocolate is ready. So, I'd like to invite you all to drink a cup," offered M'Pofo very generously.

Soon the air was filled with slurping, gulping, and other drinking noises as the animals all enjoyed the steaming marula hot chocolate.

"That is the best hot chocolate I've ever had," Lou-Anne claimed.

The other animals agreed and slowly started making their way home. Batenga kept his promise and helped everyone warm up their homes with firewood.

All the animals were toasty warm that winter. After the first hot chocolate party at the Mopani trees, they all visited M'Pofo at his baobab on Sunday afternoons. He always shared cups of his famous marula hot chocolate with them.

So, you see, little one, you always need to ask permission before taking something. Not everyone is as friendly and forgiving as M'Pofo.