The Fly Who Wanted to Have a Tail

Key words and expressions:

to hurry out

to make a nest

Make up sentences with new words

Reading

One day the Fly looked at the animals and birds round her and saw that they all had tails.

“It’s a good thing to have a tail,” thought the Fly. “What’s a pity I have not a tail! But I am going to have one. Yes, I shall have a tail!”

And she at once flew to the Man. “Please, Man, give me a tail,” she said to the Man.» All animals and birds have tails, only I haven t, I also want to be beautiful!”

“The trouble with you Fly, is that you are a fool. They all have tails because their tails help them to live. Look!” The Man pointed to the Monkey hanging by its tail from the tree. “You see, for him a tail is like one more hand. As for you, I don’t think you must have a tail”.

The Fly got very angry with the Man. “I want you to give me a beautiful tail,” she said angrily.

“You strange little thing,” laughed the Man. “All right, if you see in animal with a tail only to make it beautiful, you will have a tail.

“Well, “said the Fly, “I shall fly to animals and birds and ask them to give me a tail. But remember your words that if I see someone with I tail that doesn’t help him and only makes him beautiful, you will give me his tail!”

“All right, “said the Man and laughed again. The Fly was happy. “ I am sure some animal or bird will give me its tail,” she thought and hurried out of the room.

She flew out of the window right to the river. There she saw I fish.

“Give me your beautiful tail, will you?” she said to the Fish. I am sure you have it only to be beautiful.”

“You are a fool to say that. I can t give you my tail, it helps me to swim,” answered the Fish and swam away.

Then the Fly flew to the woods. She saw a bird sitting high in a tree. “Will you give me your tail, please?” said the Fly to the bird. “It doesn’t help you, it only makes you beautiful “.

“Oh, no, you are wrong. How do you think I can fly and make a nest for myself or get something to eat for my children without my tail?”

“But you have your beak,” answered the Fly.

“Yes, that is so, but I must have my tail, too. I cannot work with­out it.” The bird saluted the Fly with its beak and began to work with it sitting on its tail. “You watch me,” the bird said, “This is the way I work”.

The Fly watched the bird for a minute and saw that it was right. She flew away and soon met the Fox. The Fox had a beautiful red-brown tail. It looked wonderful. “Well, I am sure the fox will give me her tail,” thought the Fly.

“Give me your tail, will you?” the Fly began her old song again.

“How can you talk like that?! If I give you my tail I can die!”

“But why?” asked the Fly.

“When the men and dogs come to the woods I must run away. I brush the ground with my long tail. And the dogs do not know where I have gone. So you see how much my tail helps me.”

The Fly said good-bye to the Fox and flew away. She flew home straight to the Man.

When the Man saw the Fly he asked her, “Where have you been all this time? Has anyone given you a tail? Report to me.”

“Well, no one wants to give me a tail. They say they must have a tail because they cannot swim, run or work without it,” answered the Fly.

“You see!” said the Man. “I knew it! I knew it all along. Next time think before you ask me something.”

“But I want a tail, too! Give me a tail, Man. Will you?” repeated the Fly.

“Haven’t the animals and birds taught you a good lesson?” asked the Man. But the Fly didn’t t listen” to him. She flew and flew around him, sat on his nose, lips and cheeks, and repeated angrily, “Give me a tail, Man!”

“Well,” said the Man. “Go to the Cow, you have not been to the Cow, have you?”

The Fly at once flew out of the window and hurried to the Cow. She sat on the Cow’s back and wanted to ask her the questions about the tail.

But “Swish-sh” went the Cow’s long tail and that was the end of the Fly who wanted to have a tail so much.

Comprehension check