//------------------------------// // Foals Version - Theres a Zebra in the Bed // Story: Foals Tales from the Book of Tradition : History of the Night Pegasi // by Georg //------------------------------// The “Foals” interpretation of Pen Stroke’s excellent fic There’s a Zebra in the Bed to which he deserves full credit. All day I’ve been plagued by poetry, vexed by verse, perplexed by prose and slugged by sonets. I’m taking it out on you. Hey, don’t blame me, whatever Pen Stroke did forced me to write this. Children’s literature, written in verse. Update: Now with an excellent narration by Bad Horse with the most amazing peacock I have ever heard. There’s a Zebra in my Bed - Narrated by Bad Horse Enjoy. There’s a Zebra in my Bed! (Foals Bedtime Version) It was late in the evening, quite close to ten as the farmer came home from her fields, and then went up to her bed as she did every night but stopped in amazement as she saw quite a sight “There’s a zebra in my bed!” she said with a stare “Just sitting there, coughing. With black and white hair.” “Don’t move her!” the farmer’s little sister did shout “She’s quite sick, its just a few days. We can’t throw her out! At her home there are none, to care for her cold She’s alone, with no friends, and really quite old.” The words of her sister, the kind little tot Made the farmer realize, the zebra was not In any condition, to stay in her own house So she slept on the sofa, with a very small grouse “I suppose I can handle it, for just one night or two It’s not a nice thing, to be sick with the flu All hacking and coughing, with phlegm and great sneezes The blowing and snorting, not counting the wheezes She can stay for a while, ‘til the cold leaves her nose but just a few days, and then back home she goes!” The farmer arose the next morning, all stiff, gruff and sore The sofa had lumps, but it sure beat the floor The rest of the family went to jobs, school and work leaving the farmer alone, but her job she did not shirk “There’s a farm that needs run, with animals to feed but I know a sick zebra, is a much greater need.” The farmer nursed that sick zebra with tissues, soup and seeds And left a peacock to call her, if she had unmet needs So she went out to her work, harvesting apple trees tall keeping an ear out behind her, for the peacock’s loud call “Yyyeeeaaawwwww!!” sounded the peacock, in a voice very piercing Each time brought the farmer, to tend to her nursing Tissues and medicine, pills and much juice For coughing and wheezing, the cold given abuse Liniment and ointments, ice cubes and warm soup Gave relief to the poor zebra, and her terrible croup For three days the cold ran, as the farmer grew pained Until the third day, when it lifted, and the zebra exclaimed. “I’m well!” she called out. “I’m healthy, not ill. And I owe it all to you, who gave me each pill My gratitude is unending, for my health you did save If not for your work, my life would be grave.” “Wern’t nuttin,” said the farmer, with broad happy grin “If you get sick again, just come right on in. We’re happy to see you, all healthy and strong It wasn’t a bother, it didn’t seem long A friend helps without hesitation, reluctance or delay You helped me to realize, what I forgot on that day.” With a hug and great thanks, the zebra departed Leaving farmer and family, only somewhat downhearted “Finally!” said the farmer, as in her own bed she did settle “Taking care of a sick zebra can sure test your mettle.” She rose the next morning, and what did she do? But double right over with a mighty “Ker-CHOOOOO!” Well for the next three days, their roles were reversed The farmer laid sick, while the zebra she nursed She nursed that sick farmer with tissues, soup and seeds And left a peacock to call her, if she had unmet needs There’s a lesson to be learned in this story, it’s true Be kind to all others, and they’ll be kind to you.