The Naughty Imp

There was once a naughty imp who lived in the trees. He was ten inches long, had a babyish face, black beady eyes and long Pinocchio nose. The imp whose name was Botty was invisible to human eyes. Only the humming of his wings could be heard by passersby who accounted the noise to some insect or too much drink. Once a husband and wife travelling on their cart to the next village stopped by the trees where Botty lived. They tethered their horse to a nearby post and sat down to have their dinner. While the woman took out the vegetable salad and garlic bread, Botty whispered an enchantment which made the food spicy and hot but the appearance of the meal remained the same. The husband put a morsel of bread in his mouth and slowly began chewing it. As he went on his face became redder and redder. Suddenly he spat out a mouthful of congealed lump and cursed his wife, "Did ya sprinkle red pepper on this food you fat ass!?" The poor wife scratched her head and could not make head or tails of what had happened. The man made bed below the willow tree and farted all night. The next day they left the shade and continued on their journey with the husband still grumbling about the food under his breath.

This made Botty laugh out loud and jump with glee. The head of the imps who was quite a good imp on principle and whose impishness was confined to teaching and training the other imps, saw what had happened. She snapped her fingers and Botty materialized in front of her.

"Why did you do this?" she enquired.

Botty flapped his long ears and replied

"The man would always grumble about his wife's cooking, I gave him a taste of what bad cooking was all about so that he appreciates his wife more." On hearing this the head of the imps clapped her hands and a feast appeared in midair.

"Great work Botty! I am rewarding your impishness with this grand feast. Keep up the good work." Saying this the head imp vanished.

So children always be good so that botty does not do any mischief on you.