Long long ago, very long ago, there was a little boy. He lived with his mother and father in the grassy Plains in a small house. In those days, the moms and dads did not build a house in a big town as we do. They would build a small house in meadow, stay there for a few days, hunt for animals for food and skin to clothe themselves. And then they would move again.
This little boy became a bit bigger and it was time for him to have a name. Mom and Dad wanted to choose a name which was perfect for him. So they watched him and watch him everyday. One day Dad found the name. He said “Mom, he runs so quickly and quietly. Lets call him Foot-steps-upon-the-water”. So that became his name.
One day little Foot-steps-upon-the-water was playing. Mom was near their house making reed baskets. Dad went hunting to get food. Then Foot-steps-upon-the-water got a little bored. He picked up his bow and arrow and started walking. He looked up at a tree and what did he see? Two bright black eyes were staring down at him. “Little squirrel! Why don’t you come and play with me!? I don’t have any brothers or sisters and I don’t have anyone to play with me!” But the squirrel did not want to play with him and scurried away.
Foot-steps-upon-the-water ran after him. He was really bored and wanted the squirrel to play with him. He ran after the squirrel till they reached a big oak tree. After the oak tree there was a big rock where the bears used to play. But the squirrel ran and Foot-steps-upon-the-water ran after him.
The squirrel ran into a hole in a big log and Foot-steps-upon-the-water crept into the log. The squirrel was very tiny. He ran out of the other end. But Foot-steps-upon-the-water was not as small as a squirrel and he got stuck right in the middle of the log. He tried and tried but could not get out.
At home his Dad returned from his hunting and Mom made dinner. Now where was Foot-steps-upon-the-water? It was time for dinner and he was still not home! Mom said “Call for him. He is just playing in the woods.”. Dad went out and called. But there was no answer. Dad said “I cannot eat or drink when my dear son is not here’. So he picked up his big bow and arrow and went to search for Foot-steps-upon-the-water.
Little Foot-steps-upon-the-water was stuck in the log and he thought no one would ever come to get him. All of a sudden he heard a tap, tap, tap sound on the log. A squeaky voice said “Foot-steps-upon-the-water, are you there? Are you there”. Foot-steps-upon-the-water said “Yes, I am here. I am stuck in the log”. Then the voice said, “I am Mother Porcupine. I heard you cry and came to help you.
Mother porcupine started scratching on the log to get the boy out. She tried and tried but the log was too hard. But all that loud scratching woke the big mother bear! She came and started scratching. A wolf stopped by when he heard all the noise and he thought he would get some food after scratching. So he started scratching too. A deer came by and also started scratching. Finally, the log broke and out came Foot-steps-upon-the-water!
Mother porcupine said “The poor boy needs a mother till he can find his parents. Now whom should we choose”. Mother Bear said “ I can be his mother. I have 3 bear cubs for him to play with. I have a warm cave for him to sleep and a lot of berries and nuts for him to eat”. So Mother Porcupine said “Good, you can take care of Foot-steps-upon-the-water’ till he finds his parents”. So Foot-steps-upon-the-water and Mother Bear said goodbye and went to the bear’s house. In the warm cave Mother Bear showed him a tiny baby bear who was fast asleep and two small cubs. They all had dinner and Mother bear tucked them into bed.
The next morning they went to the forest to look for chestnuts. Each of them filled a bag with nuts. Little Foot-steps-upon-the-water felt so happy, he filled another bag just for Mother Bear. Then they picked their heavy bags and started walking back to the cave.
Suddenly there was a loud sound and Crash!!!. something came crashing through the bushes and a big man jumped out and shot an arrow straight at Mother Bear. Mother Bear fell down. Foot-steps-upon-the-water saw that the big man was his father and ran up to hug him. But he started crying “Why did you shoot mother bear? She took care of me”. “I am so sorry” said Dad, “I thought the bear had trapped you!”.
And here is the best part. You remember Foot-steps-upon-the-water had filled a bag of chestnuts for Mother Bear? Mother bear jumped up and said “Oh, I was not hurt, the bag of chestnuts saved me! I fell because I tripped on a log!”. Foot-steps-upon-the-water and his father felt much better. They said good bye to the bears and went home.
Foot-steps-upon-the-water grew to be a great chief who took good care of his people. When the family was together with all the children, he would tell them the story of the bears. He would tell them "We should take care of the animals for they take care of us".
His children told the story to their children, and their children to their children "We should take care of the animals for they take care of us".
And finally many years ago, my teacher in Pre-K class told me that story and said "We should take care of the animals for they take care of us".
So when you all grow up and become Balvihar teachers, you should this story to kids in your class. You should tell them "We should take care of animals – for animals take care of us".
His children told the story to their children, and their children to their children "We should take care of the animals for they take care of us".
And finally many years ago, my teacher in Pre-K class told me that story and said "We should take care of the animals for they take care of us".
So when you all grow up and become Balvihar teachers, you should this story to kids in your class. You should tell them "We should take care of animals – for animals take care of us".
