Page 16 - English Reader - 4

“Can you help me count my donkeys? I keep losing one, every time I count

them”.

“How can that be?” asked his friend.

“Well, when I look back and count, I see only eight, but when I get

down to look for the ninth, there he is again!”

Musa laughed aloud when he heard this. “Actually, there
are ten donkeys,” he told Abu.

“Ten! How can you see ten?”
asked Abu in surprise.

“I can see the donkey you

are sitting on and I see
eight donkeys behind

you,” said Musa.

“Of course! How silly of me

not to count the donkey I
was sitting on!” cried Abu

and then asked Musa, “But
where is the tenth donkey?”

He is sitting on top of the ninth donkey,” said Musa. “And his name is Abu.”

Abu felt very foolish indeed, when he heard his friend’s comment, but he was also
relieved that all nine donkeys were there.

Word Meanings

1. paid no heed : did not listen
2. following day : the next day

3. amazement : astonishment
4. recounted : counted again

5. disbelief : not able to believe
6. relieved : comforted

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