Anansi and the Fig Attack Jolly Phonics · Step 2, Unit 3: ck as in duck
Practice Words
Look at the grand fig tree. Red figs pack it from top to root. But a hornet swarm is on the tree, and all look on, sad and hungry.
The hornets prick all that come up to the tree! Old Grandmother Akosua drops her sack and runs quick. Not a fig for the kids. Not a fig at all.
Anansi the trickster looks up at the hornet swarm and grins. 'I have a plan,' he said. 'It just needs pluck and luck.'
Anansi hands a coin to Kofi. 'Kofi, lug this drum to the glen and hit it. Do not stop, and do not be slack.' Kofi nods and grips his drum.
Anansi picks a branch and creeps up. 'Grand hornets,' he sings, 'I have a tip.' The hum stops. All the hornets look at him.
'A big swarm is in the glen,' said Anansi. 'It mocks the hornet hum.' The Hornet Queen is mad. 'Hum loud! We hum best!' Anansi slips back and grins.
Thump, thump! Kofi smacks his drum in the deep glen. The hornets get a shock. Is that a big swarm in the glen?
'That hum mocks us,' said Anansi to The Hornet Queen. The Hornet Queen has a hot look. 'Come, swarm! We must dash to the glen and win!' Anansi steps back and nods.
The swarm rushes to the glen. Kofi picks up his drum and sprints into the deep wood. The hornets check the rocks and the roots, but the glen is empty.
Anansi rushes back. 'Come quick! Pick the figs!' All rush out and pick figs fast. Old Grandmother Akosua packs her sacks. But look! The swarm hums back past the river.
Anansi grabs a last fat fig and zips off on his silk cord. The swarm gets back, but the tree has not a fig on it. What a shock for The Hornet Queen!
At dusk all sit and munch figs and nut food. The drums thump, and the kids sing and skip. Anansi sits in the best spot with a big fig stack. What a trick! What luck!
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