The Little Gazelle

The Little Gazelle - Author : Aysel Banu YAVUZAL

On the sunny savanna, where the grass swayed like a golden sea, lived a little gazelle. Her coat was warm golden-tan, with a cream belly and a soft white stripe along each flank. She wore a sky-blue ribbon around her neck. Her big dark eyes sparkled with curiosity. Every morning she woke early, eager to explore the wide, wonderful world. 1

One bright morning, the little gazelle spotted a tall, lanky bird standing alone near a thorn tree. It was a young ostrich with fluffy grey-brown down and long pinkish legs. A small red bandana was tied around its neck. The ostrich looked shy and a little lonely. The gazelle's gentle heart went out to the bird. 2

"Hello," said the little gazelle softly. "I'm Gazelle. What's your name?" The young ostrich peeked from behind the tree. "I'm Ostrich," she whispered. "I'm new here." Gazelle smiled warmly. "Would you like to explore the savanna with me?" Ostrich's big amber eyes brightened. She nodded, and just like that, a friendship began. 3

Gazelle showed Ostrich the best places to find sweet grass and cool shade. Ostrich showed Gazelle how to spot bugs hiding in the dirt. They laughed and played all afternoon. "You're fun to be with," said Gazelle. "So are you," said Ostrich. They promised to meet again the next day. The savanna felt sunnier with a friend. 4

One day, a wise old zebra trotted by with exciting news. "A friendly obstacle course will be held on the savanna next week!" she announced. "Everyone can join. There will be logs to leap and a straight path to run." Gazelle's eyes grew wide. Ostrich's long neck wobbled with worry. "That sounds hard," Ostrich murmured. 5

Gazelle saw Ostrich's worried face. "We can practice together," she said gently. "I'll help you, and you'll help me." Ostrich looked at her friend and felt a little braver. "Okay," she said. "Let's try." So every morning, they met under the acacia tree. The obstacle course became their special project, and they were ready to begin. 6

First, they practiced leaping over logs. Gazelle's long thin legs were perfect for jumping. She sailed over a small log with ease. "Watch me!" she called. Ostrich tried to hop, but her fluffy body wobbled. "I'm not very good at jumping," she sighed. "But you're great at running," said Gazelle kindly. "Let's practice that next." 7

Ostrich practiced running fast on her long legs. She zoomed across the grass like a grey-brown arrow. "Wow!" cheered Gazelle. "You're so speedy!" Ostrich beamed with pride. Then it was Gazelle's turn to practice running. She was quick, but the tall grass slowed her down. "Don't worry," said Ostrich. "You'll get faster with practice." They ran until the sun grew warm. 8

Each day, they practiced a little more. Gazelle leapt over bigger logs, and Ostrich ran faster and faster. Sometimes they got tired, so they rested in the shade and shared juicy leaves. "I'm glad we're doing this together," said Ostrich. "Me too," said Gazelle. Their friendship grew stronger with every leap and every run. 9

One afternoon, Gazelle tried a very tall log. She ran and jumped, but her hoof caught a twig. She tumbled into the soft grass. "Oh no!" cried Ostrich. "Are you okay?" Gazelle stood up and shook her head. "I'm fine," she said. "But that log is too big for me." Ostrich nuzzled her gently. "You'll get it next time," she said. "I believe in you." 10

The day before the big event, Ostrich began to feel nervous. Her long legs trembled. "What if everyone laughs at me?" she whispered. Gazelle took a deep breath. "You are fast and strong," she said. "And I'll be right there, cheering for you." Ostrich felt a warm glow. "Thank you," she said. "You always know what to say." They practiced one last time, full of hope. 11

On the big day, the savanna was full of animals. The obstacle course stretched across the grass. Gazelle and Ostrich stood side by side. "Ready?" asked Gazelle. Ostrich nodded. When Ostrich ran her race, Gazelle cheered loudly from the side. "Go, Ostrich, go!" Ostrich's long legs flew, and she finished with a happy skip. 12

Then it was Gazelle's turn. She faced the logs with a steady heart. Ostrich called out, "You can do it!" Gazelle leapt over each log, one by one, her blue ribbon fluttering. She stumbled once but kept going. When she crossed the finish line, Ostrich hugged her tight. "You were amazing!" they both said at the same time, laughing. 13

After the course, they shared a cool drink from the stream. "We did it!" said Gazelle. "We did it together," said Ostrich. They watched the sun set over the savanna, feeling proud. All the practice and encouragement had paid off. Their hearts were full of joy, and their friendship shone brighter than ever. 14

From that day on, Gazelle and Ostrich practiced together often. They learned that friends help each other be brave and strong. Whenever one felt nervous, the other offered kind words. And whenever one succeeded, the other cheered. The savanna became a happier place because of their friendship. 15

So if you ever visit the sunny savanna, look for a little gazelle with a sky-blue ribbon and a young ostrich with a red bandana. You might see them leaping over logs or running fast, side by side. And you'll know that with a friend by your side, you can do anything. Friends encourage one another, and that makes all the difference.