Papadough Climbs the Mountain

Once there were four animals staring at a tall mountain: a giraffe, an elephant, a lion, and a mountain goat named Papadough.

Giraffe looked at the mountain and said, “I am the tallest of the animals. I will climb up that mountain.”

So he began to climb. But when he passed through the trees and onto the rocks, he lost his balance and fell all the way to the bottom.

Then Elephant said, “I am the strongest of the animals. I will climb to the top of the mountain.”

She began to climb. She went through the trees and the rocks. She passed where Giraffe had fallen. But the mountain began to crumble beneath her weight. She slipped and fell all the way to the bottom.

Up stepped Lion. He said, “I am the bravest of all the animals. I will be the one to climb the mountain.”

Away he went. Through the trees and the rocks. Past where giraffe slipped. Past where the mountain crumbled under elephant. He was almost at the peak when he couldn't find anywhere to put his paws. He leaped for the summit and stretched out his claws, but didn't quite make it. He tumbled all the way down to the bottom.

The animals turned to look at Papadough. She stared at the mountain and felt intimidated. Then she remembered learning to climb with her dad.

She took a breath and said, “I am not the tallest, the strongest, or the bravest of the animals. But I will climb that mountain.”

Up she went. Past where Giraffe fell. Past where Elephant slipped. She reached the place where Lion had leapt. The animals at the bottom held their breath. Papadough paused and then put out her foot. One step at a time, one foot at a time, she inched up the mountain face until she was at the peak.

She looked down and grinned.

At the bottom of the mountain, all the animals cheered. “Yay Papadough. You did it!”

Papadough bounced down the mountain, smiling. “I knew I could,” she whispered.