本帖最后由 ablewang_小皮妈 于 2014-8-15 07:30 编辑
Crictor
By Tomi Ungerer
Once upon a time in alittle French town
lived an old lady whose name was MadameLouise Bodot.
She had one son who was in Africa studyingreptiles.
One morning the mailmanbrought her a peculiar O-shaped box.
Madame Bodot screamedwhen she opened it.
It was a snake her sonhad sent her for her birthday.
To make sure it was not a poisonous snake,she went to the zoo.
She identified it as a boa constrictor. Soshe called her animal Crictor.
Madame Bodot mothered her new pet, feedingit bottles of milk.
She bought palm trees so Crictor wouldreally feel at home.
As dogs do when they are happy, he waggedhis tail.
Well fed, Crictor grew longer and longerand stronger and stronger.
The boa followed his mistress when she wentshopping.
Everyone was astonished.
Madame Bodot knitted a long woolen sweaterfor her pet to wear on cold days.
Crictor also had a warm, comfortable bed.
There he would dream happily, under hispalm trees.
In the winter it was fun for Crictorto wriggle in the snow.
Madame Bodot taught at the public school.
One day she decided to take Crictor to herclasses.
Soon Crictor learned to shape the alphabet inhis own way.
S as in snake
E as in elephant
N as in nothing
O as in Oak
L as in lion
M as in man
G as in glass
W as in whale
He could count too,forming figures.
2 for your two hands
3 for the three littlepigs
4 for the four legs ofthe dog
5 for your five fingers
6 for the six legs of abug
7 for the seven dwarfs
8 for the eight arms ofthe octopus
The boa liked to play with little boys
and little girls too.
He helped the boy scouts learn knots.
Crictor was a helpful snake.
One day in a sidewalk cafe Madame Bodotheard from a friend at the next table that there had been a series of thefts inthe town.
That very night the burglar broke into herapartment.
Madame Bodot was already gagged and tied toa chair when the faithful boa awoke and furiously attacked the burglar. Thevillain's terrified shrieks awoke the neighbors.
Crictor remained coiled around him untilthe police arrived.
Forhis bravery a nice medal was awarded to the heroic snake.
Crictor even inspired the local sculptor tomake a statue in his honor.
And the city dedicated a park to him.
Loved and respected by the entire village, Crictorlived a long and happy life.
The End
