Proud Peter Peacock

Peter Peacock was very proud. He had the most beautiful feathers in the whole world. Each day he would strut haughtily throughout the zoo so that all the other animals could see his beautiful feathers.

When Peter Peacock strutted pass the howling monkeys, he exclaimed, “Why are you monkeys all swinging from the trees and howling like that?” Instead of howling, you should be walking around like me.” Then he’d display his beautiful feathers, as he walked away.

The howling monkeys just kept on howling and ignored Peter Peacock.

When Peter arrived at Harriet the Hippo’s cave, he exclaimed, 'Harriet Hippo, don’t you get tired of living in that muddy water, your skin is all rough and dirty so unlike mine. “You should be walking around like me and lose a little of that weight. Peter Peacock displayed his beautiful weathers and proudly strutted off into the sunset.”

Finally, Peter strutted passed Ethan the elephant cave and said, “My what long trunks you have Edgar, don’t you just get tired of dragging it around”?

Edgar, the elephant, continued to eat and ignore Peter Peacock.

Day after day, Peter Peacock strutted through the zoo, bragging about his beautiful feathers, and finding faults with the animals at the zoo.

Until one day, a strong storm swept through the zoo, it rattled the cages and shook the trees where the howling monkeys were hiding. The winds blew so hard that it snatched all of the beautiful feathers from Peter Peacock’s lovely body. Some of his feathers flew into the treetops where the howling monkeys lived, and a few of the feathers flew on Edgar the Elephant’s long trunk, and the remaining feathers ended up in the cave of Harriet the Hippo.

All of Peter's feathers were gone. “Oh my!” said Peter, “What in the world am I going to do?” My feathers are gone, and I am no longer beautiful, and all the other animals will make fun of me.”

Poor Peter Peacock went into hiding. He no longer came around the zoo preening and prancing. Peter did not want the other animals to see him without his beautiful feathers.

The howling monkeys were enjoying playing with the feathers, but they missed seeing Peter Peacock strutting around, so they decided to give Peter the feathers they had.

Peter Peacock was so happy. He thanked the howling monkeys, then he apologized for teasing them, after all, they were his friends.

After Peter Peacock attached his feathers, he realized that they covered only half of his body. "Oh my, I can’t go out like this, he exclaimed, the animals will still make fun of me.” So, Peter Peacock stayed at home with only half his body covered with feathers.

Meanwhile, Edgar Elephant decided that he missed seeing Peter Peacock strutting around the zoo. “I’m going to be the bigger animal," he said to himself, so he gave Peter Peacock his remaining feathers.

“Oh, thank you, Edgar Elephant” exclaimed Peter Peacock," I never tease you again; you are a true friend."

When Peter Peacock attached his feathers to the other side, it only came halfway. There was poor Peter Peacock with one and a half of his body filled with feathers. I can't go out looking like this; all the animals will think that I looked ridiculous. So, Peter Peacock decided to stay at home.

Harriet the Hippo was holding out, she was still angry at Peter. She remembered that Peter Peacock made fun of her rough skin.

Harriet began to laugh, “I wonder whose skin is rough now?” she thought to herself.

After a while, Harriet Hippo began to miss Peter Peacock, and besides she was tired of looking at those dirty feathers, so she decided to give Peter Peacock back his feathers.

Peter Peacock was so happy; he didn’t care if the feathers were muddy after all he could always wash them.

“Thank you so much, Harriet Hippo, now I have all of my feathers," said Peter Peacock, "you have been a friend to me, and I will never tease you again."

Now Peter Peacock had all of his feathers, and instead of walking around teasing the animals, he played with them.