Brownie Eats The Sun

Dots the giraffe, Stripes the Zebra, Trunky the elephant, Boo the monkey and Brownie the bear were all trekking to the top of the hill.

Boo carried a drawing book and colours. “We will draw the sun”, skipped Boo.

The sun shone brightly. Birds were singing.

“I’m hungry”, Brownie stomped his feet.

“Hungry bear. Always wants to eat”, teased Boo.

“I’ll eat the sun! What will you draw then?” Brownie stuck out his tongue and ran to the top.

Brownie plucked a giant green-yellow jackfruit from a tree. “Look! Brownie is eating the sun”, shrieked Boo.

From below they looked up to see Brownie on top hold a giant ball and put it in his mouth. “Boo! You think anything. The sun is too far”, laughed Stripes.

Suddenly it began to grow very dark. All the birds stopped twittering and there was pin drop silence as if it was night. “What’s happening”, yelled Trunky.

They ran to the hill top to Brownie. He was lying fast asleep on the grass.

“What did you do to the sun?” asked Trunky hitting Brownie with his trunk.

“Sun! Me! I ate a jackfruit and slept. It’s night. You guys also sleep” yawned Brownie.

“You mean bear! We saw you eating the sun”, cried Boo in tears.

“Dots, Stripes, come here please fast, I’m scared of the dark. What will we do if the sun never comes back?” asked Trunky also crying.

Hearing Boo and Trunky cry all the other animals gathered around Brownie. “We will not leave you Brownie! Bring back the sun now!!!” they all shouted.

Brownie was sacred now. He ran to Dots. “I did nothing! Only ate jackfruit!” sobbed Brownie.

“Guys stop shouting. The sun is so far away that no one can reach it ever. It is too hot and will burn anyone who gets close” Stripes tried to calm down all the animals.

“Then where did the sun go? How will we bring it back?” all the animals wailed again.

“Don’t panic guys. Come with me. We will find out” said Dots walking away. All the animals followed him. All of a sudden Dots stopped. He looked at the muddy water in the pond below. Dots saw a shining white ring around a black ball. “I think I know what is happening” beamed Dots. “You do! So will you bring back the sun for us Dots?” asked Boo dancing.

“Brownie did nothing. The sun was hidden by the moon”, explained Dots. “Can you see that black ball in the muddy pond with the white shining ring? The white ring is the sun. The black ball is the moon. The moon covered the sun so it became dark like night” Dots told all the animals.

“Yes! Solar eclipse! We learnt that in school”, smiled Stripes. Boo turned his head to look at the sun. “No! Don’t do that” Dots stopped Boo. “It’s not safe to look at the sun directly”, warned Stripes.

Slowly there was light again. All the animals were very happy. “Sorry Brownie for blaming you”, they said hugging him.