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by chance. However, to take advantage of any opportunity, I always prepare for a rainy day. Sometimes I go on a long journey to hunt birds in the field. As a little hunter, trained by my grandfather, setting a trap is as easy as yawning at the dawn of a new day. I hunt almost everyday because I don’t know when my grandmother will decide we eat only bread and tea. To say the least, a feeling of joy runs through my veins each time I roast a bird.
    Whenever I am in the field, I keep an eye on the traps, just as a mother hen protects her chicks against the hawk. It is wise to do so because it is like watching over eggs in a basket. Going from one end of the field to the other to see if my traps have caught a bird is exciting.
    Sometimes I worked all day to get birds. But this time none came close to my traps; apparently they were not ready to be prey. To make matters worse, the birds were simply hopping around my traps, as if they knew the trouble that would befall them if they came close. In the midst of the confusion, my mind began to work. I speculated that the birds knew that I was lurking behind an almond tree. Also, the bits of grain on the traps were not the best, and did not attract the poor creatures. My sadness grew taller than my pair of legs.

CHAPTER 2
Otok and the Birds



I was not lost, but I knew that the chances of having my way were very slim. Apart from my empty traps that were scattered about on the field like the pastures clothed with flocks, there was no weapon worth grabbing that I could use on the birds. As my desperation grew, I moved away from the almond tree. Destroying one of my traps, I meant to use the stake as a weapon. Before the birds could blink, I was already in the chase, wielding the big stick as if there were no tomorrow. Sensing danger, the birds flew in every direction, making it difficult for me to concentrate on any of them.
    As a little hunter, my grandfather taught me how important it is to have an aim, and to know the target even in the midst of many animals. So I was not bothered as the birds faced different directions. My legs did not betray me as I raced across the field. Before I could blink, I had traveled very far over the field, chasing creatures that might never be mine.
    What kept me in the chase was that there were no tall trees around. The nearest one was the almond tree behind me, and I had a good distance to cover before I reached the forest. So I kept running as the birds went in different directions.
    Finally, I was able to catch one of them. I heaved a sigh of relief, because it was only a matter of time now before my favorite meal would be on my table. But as I smiled broadly, I noticed that the bird that I had just caught was a small creature that was just learning how to fly. My countenance fell because I’d caught the wrong bird. By the time I raised my head to continue the chase, the birds had all disappeared into the forest, leaving me with only the poor bird in my grasp. Battling with my poor effort, my gaze stumbled upon the wandering clouds. The sky was gloomy, as if it wanted to rain. Nevertheless, it was too late for me to remain in the field. So I grabbed hold of the little sparrow and faced my home with a good speed.

CHAPTER 3
Grandma

    The evening was not one to celebrate. I had just covered a good distance when the windows of heaven opened and it began to rain hard on the poor earth. With nothing better to do, I made the best use of my legs and was glad that I reached home before it was too late. I was glad to find myself in my room again. Without wasting time, I put aside the cage with the little sparrow and quickly changed my clothes. I had barely finished dressing when my door opened and my grandmother walked in. Clearing her throat, she asked a simple question: “Otok, where have you been?”
    â€œI went to check my traps,” I replied.
    She smiled a little and said, “You will never stop checking your traps, Otok. Let this