aircannonsinc 25
25
1 hour later.
Both had changed into new clothes. Beatrix now wore a black nightgown while Lavana wore a white sleepshirt with a bear logo.
Both lay on the bed and Beatrix took out a children's book from the cupboard. She gave it to Lavana.
"Bedtime stories," she said.
Lavana scrunched her nose with one eye closed.
"What's with that expression, big sis? You don't want to?" Beatrix asked with a pout.
"Gimme then. I'll try."
Beatrix gave her the colourful children's book and she opened it so it covered her face.
After a minute, Beatrix heard nothing from Lavana.
"Big sis, when will you begin?"
"Er... Just a minute more. I'm checking out something."Lavana said as she flipped through the pages.
"Big sis..."
"Here you can have it. I'm done with it. There are many pictures."
"Eh? That's it. I wanted you to read me bedtime stories."
"Go to sleep. It's late." Lavana said and turned to face the other side.
Her face was red from embarrassment. How was she going to explain to the little one?
"Big sis, could it be that you... you actually can't read?" Beatrix asked.
"Nonsense! Who told you that?" Lavana immediately turned to look at Beatrix.
"See? I knew it?"
"You knew what?" Lavana asked in confusion.
"Your face is red. You must be embarrassed."
"You... I can read." Lavana defended.
"Okay, read the sentence here." Beatrix opened a page of the book. The words on that page were few but to Lavana it was like thousands of words.
"Uh-huh? I'm waiting."
"Forget it. I'm gonna sleep." Lavana lay back down, turning to the other side.
"Big sis, don't be mad at Beatrix, ok? I'll read you a story instead."
"It's..."
Beatrix interrupted and started reading the story:
"Once upon a time. There was a kingdom called Animal Kingdom. In this kingdom were all sorts of animals and among the birds, the vulture was the most beautiful bird. It was so gorgeous that many male birds lined up for her hand in marriage.
But Vulture was very proud and would choose none of them with many excuses.
One day, there was a commotion in the kingdom. There was a stranger bird that had come to settle in the kingdom. It was more attractive than Vulture. When she spread her wings, all who saw her would fall in love. She walked with so much elegance and grace. Even the lion king wanted her as his concubine but she refused.
Vulture was very jealous of this new bird in town.
How dare this unknown nobody come to snatch her treasured position? She felt unhappy as there was no longer a long line of handsome suitors at her doorstep anymore. There were just a few aged ones who wanted her as their 6th wife.
She was so angry and lost her appetite day by day. She decided to swallow her pride and go to meet an animal that was banished from the kingdom some years back.
"Oh, Vulture? What brings you to my abode?" the old tortoise asked.
"You see, I was once the prettiest in the kingdom but a nobody has come from nowhere to snatch my place. I can't tolerate it. I want to be the most stunning in the kingdom once again, even forever. Old tortoise, you are the wisest. What do you suggest?" she asked after dropping the generous gifts she'd brought along with her.
Seeing this many lavish gifts, the old tortoise smiled.
He went into his room and came back with a small box. There was a dried blue plant inside. He went back in to bring another box that was slightly bigger. In it was a dried golden leaf.
"Vulture, my dear. Go back home and put this blue leaf's powder into her food. After that, the moment you get home, take this leaf's powder and add all of it to your food. Eat a lot of strawberries to increase the effectiveness. After that, you must showcase your refined beauty to everyone." he advised.
"Thank you, old tortoise. I shall bring you more gifts when this is done. Thank you." she said and got up to leave."
Beatrix stopped reading and saw that Lavana was paying attention now.
"It's interesting. What happened next?" Lavana asked eagerly. She helped Beatrix turn the next page.
"That's all for the night. It's late. Go to sleep, big sis." Beatrix kept the book on the cupboard and lay down to sleep.
Lavana sighed in defeat.
"This babe is sure grudgeful." she hugged the little one from behind and patted her head gently.
"Thank you, Beatrix. I've never had anyone do this for me in a long time. I'm very grateful. I hope one day, I can read bedtime stories to you too. I love you honey." she whispered, her eyes drooping with sleep.
"Same here," Beatrix whispered before both were taken to the land of dreams.
***
The next morning, Lavana woke up to see Beatrix was already bathed and dressed in new clothes. The red-checkered gown looked really good on her.
"Morning, sleepyhead." Beatrix greeted.
"What happened to 'Big sis'" Lavana asked.
"Eh... Big sis isn't awake yet."
"Oh?" Lavana raised her right eyebrow.
"Be careful your eye doesn't fall out of its socket," Beatrix said with a smile.
"Hey!" Lavana got out of bed and quickly put on the slippers.
"You can't catch me. You can't catch me." Beatrix said as both started running around the room.
The door opened and Carl who was dressed in a white T-shirt and black Nike shorts came into the room. There was a bear headband on his head.
"Hi, Mr Carl. Just so you know, that headband makes you look... let me not say it." Beatrix had seen Lavana's meaningful glance just now and so didn't continue with her words.
Lavana walked up to Carl.
"Mr Carl. I wanna thank you for your help last night. And also we made your night restless. I apologize for that." Lavana said with a smile.
"It's nothing. I wonder what you girls would like to eat," he asked.
"No, Mr Carl. You've done enough for us. We'll find our way from here." Lavana shook her head.
"At least let me prepare you something. You are my guests."
"Just say we're freeloaders," Beatrix mumbled from the side.
"Eish!" Lavana motioned her to remain quiet.
"Mr Carl, thank you for the offer. We'll trouble you," she said and he left.
He felt this big sister was better than her little sister in temperament.
"Beatrix, what do you have against him?"
"Nothing. But I do have something against both of you."
"Oh? I recall now. You wanted to sing me a song?"
She nodded.
"Alright." she walked to the bed and sat cross-legged.
"I'm now your audience. Let's hear your angelic voice," she said.
Hearing this, Beatrix became happy and rushed over to Lavana.
"I assure you, I'm the best singer ever."
"Alright. Alright. Let's hear you sing."
Beatrix walked to the centre of the room and faced Lavana with her back.
"Big sis, I'll open your eyes.' she whispered.
Lavana rubbed her palms together in preparation to hear the little one's voice.