THE SPOTTED COW

Enid Blyton
There was once rather a vain cow. She was plain white with two nice curly horns. She thought she looked
rather nice-but she did wish she could have some nice black spots over her back. There were no spotted
cows in the field at all, and the white cow thought it would be grand to be the only spotted cow.
Now one day, when she was munching long, juicy grass that grew in the hedge, she came across a small
pixie mixing black paint in a pot.

“What are you doing?” asked the cow.

“I’m mixing my black paint”, said the little fellow. “I’m the pixie that paints the spots on the ladybirds,
you know.”
“Oh,” said the cow. “Well, will you paint some on me?”
“Yes, if you give me a nice drink of milk,” said the pixie.
In a long lie stood about twenty ladybirds with bright red backs and no spots. The pixie neatly painted
seven blacks spots on each red back, and the ladybirds flew off in delight.
“I don’t mind doing that,” said the cow. “You can find a tin mug and milk some of my creamy milk into it
for yourself.”

“I’ll just finish these ladybirds first,” said the pixie, and he turned back to his work. In a long line stood
about twenty ladybirds with bright red backs and no spots. The pixie neatly painted seven black spots on
each red back, and the ladybirds flew off happily.

When he had finished his work he looked at the waiting cow. “I’ll go and find my mug,” he said. “I’m very
thirsty and I’d love a drink of your nice milk.”

He ran off and came back with a mug. On it was his name: ’Pixie Pinnie’. He milked the cow, and took a
mugful of her creamy milk. Then he began to mix some more black paint.

“Are you sure you’d like black spots?” he asked. “You wouldn’t like a few blue ones, or red ones? You
would look most uncommon then.”
The cow thought about it. “No,” she said at last. “I don’t think so. I’d rather have black spots. They will
look smarter than coloured ones.”
“Well you must stand still,” said the pixie, “or I might smudge the spots, and that would look horrid. Now
then, are you ready?”

The pixie began to paint the cow. Goodness, you should have seen him! A big black spot here, and a little
one there! Two by her tail, and three down her back. Four in a ring on her nose, and a whole crowd of
spots down her sides. She did look grand!

At last the pixie had finished. He put away his paints, took another drink of milk, and said, “Good-bye”.
The cow left him and went back to the field. How grand she felt!

The other cow stared at her. They didn’t know her. Who was this funny spotted cow?
“Don’t you know me?” said the cow, proudly. I’ve grown spots.”
“Rubbish!” said the biggest cow. “Grown spots, indeed! You don’t belong to us. Go away, you horrid,
spotted creature. We don’t want anything to do with you!”

Just then the little boy who looked after the cows came along to see if they were all right. When he saw
the spotted cow, he stared in surprise. “You’re not one of our cows,” he said. “ You must have wandered
in here from somewhere else. Get out of the field and go back to your own meadow, wherever it is!
What an ugly, spotted creature you are! I’m glad you are not one of our cows!”

He opened the gate and pushed the surprised cow out. She trotted down the lane angrily. “I’ll go to the
next field,” she thought. “The cows there will be pleased to have such a fine spotted creature as I am!”

But they weren’t pleased! They mooed at her and sent her away. She was very miserable. “I wish I hadn’t
got spots now,” she thought to herself. “It was a mistake. I’ll find the pixie and ask him to take them
away.”

But the pixie was gone. She couldn’t see him anywhere. Then it began to rain. The cow stood under a
tree to shelter herself, but the rain was so heavy that she was soon wet from horn to tail- and dear me,
the black spots all came out in the rain! Soon, there were none left at all.

The cow didn’t know that the rain had washed the black spots away. She stood there, feeling lonely and
miserable. When the rain had stopped, she made up her mind to go back to her own field and ask the
other cows to have her back again. So off she went, whisking her big tail from side to side.

The little boy was still there. He saw her as she came, and now she had no spots, he knew her for one of
his own cows. So he opened the gate, and let her through, saying: “Dear me, where have you been?”

The other cows crowded around her. Now that she had no spots, they knew her too.

CASSY’S CHAIR
Meanne Mabesa Mijares

Cassy wants to have many friends. She often talked a lot about having many friends at school.
One day, her Lola Charito said to her,
“Cassy, I bet you a big tin can of assorted biscuits that you do not have as many friends as you think. I
am sure most of them are nothing more than acquaintances.”
“Alright, Lola. I accept the bet!” Cassy said without hesitation.
Deep inside, she was not sure how she could test whether or not her schoolmates were true friends, so
she asked her Lola Charito. The old lady answered,
“I have exactly what you need and it is right inside our attic.” Lola Charito left for a few minutes. When
she returned, she seemed to be carrying something heavy, but Cassy could not see anything in her
hands.
“Use this chair, Cassy. It is invisible, so it is rather tricky to sit on. But, if you take it to school and manage
to sit on it, you will trigger its magic and you will know who your true friends are” her lola said. Cassy
brought the invisible chair to school. At breaktime, she called everyone in the cafeteria and said,
“I have something for you.”
“What is it, Cassy?” Dianne asked, looking very excited.
“An invisible chair!” Cassy replied.
“Does it have magical powers?” Sylvia asked.
“Yes! But first, form a circle and gather around me. Do not move. You are about to see something
amazing!” she said. Cassy tried sitting on the chair. Since she could not see it, she missed and fell straight
onto her rear. Everyone laughed.
“We have got better things to do!” Sylvia said
“Wait, there is just a little problem,” Cassy said as she tried again. Cassy missed the seat again, and her
classmates started staring at her.
“Loser!” Kevin said while laughing out loud. Dianne laughed even louder.
“You will never make it!” Every time Cassy tried to sit on the chair, she kept falling to the ground. Then,
finally, she tried it again and did not fall. Cassy was sitting in mid-air!
“I cannot believe it! It has real magic!” At last, Cassy felt the magic that her Lola Charito had been telling
her about. When she looked behind, she saw Gabby, Andrea, and Sarah- her best friends- holding her up
so she would not fall. Cassy teared up because she had thought that Dianne, Sylvia , and Kevin were her
friends, but they had done nothing but make fun of her. A moment later, she dried her tears and smiled
because she knew now who her real friends are! That night, the four friends visited Lola Charito.
“Lola, I lost the bet. Here is your tin can of assorted biscuits!” Cassy said. They had a great time eating
the biscuits.
“I told you so, Cassy! You do not need to have too many friends. Just a few are enough. What truly
matters is that in good and bad times, they are sincere and true, through and through!” Lola Charito
said.

WHY DOES THE MOON ALWAYS FOLLOW?

Phoebe Joyce B. Sanchez

Every night we would visit my Lolo Jun in his house. They said his were already weak. He needed to see
the doctor more often and take a lot of medicines.
On our way to his house, I looked out of the car window and saw the moon and stars.
“Papa! Can you slow down a bit please?” I asked my father.
“I am worried that the moon might get tired following us and not follow us anymore when we visit Lolo
Jun next time.”
“Do not worry, Bea. The moon never gets tired. It will keep following us no matter what,” Papa said.
When we arrived at Lolo Jun’s house, I immediately looked for him. I was sure he would enjoy my stories
again about moon!
“How are you, my grandchild?” Lolo Jun asked.
“I am okay, Lolo. You know what, the moon and the stars followed me again! But Papa was driving fast so
I think the moon was out of breathe.” My Lolo laughed out loud which made him breathe heavily.
“That is enough for today, Bea, let your Lolo rest for a while. Please get the medicines we brought,” my
father said. I was on my way out when I saw the moon again.
“What Papa said was true! The moon did not get tired and it still followed me here!” Because of my
excitement, I forgot to give the medicine to my father, I went out and ran on and on while looking at the
night sky. The moon still chased after me. Iran to and fro repeatedly. The moon and I were running after
each other.
“Bea! Bea!” I heard Papa calling me. I immediately took the medicines and went back into the house.
“Where have you been? Lolo Jun has been waiting for you,” my father said.
“Let her be. Come, my grandchild, tell your Lolo a story,” Lolo Jun said. He gestured for me to sit beside
him.
“Bea, watch over your Lolo for a while. Do not get him tired, okay?” ,y father said. I nodded.
“Lolo, do you know why I took so long to come back? Do not tell anyone, but I played chase with the
moon,” I whispered to him.
“Really? Who was the chaser?” Lolo asked.
“The moon, but it never caught me. It just kept on chasing after me. Lolo, is it true that the moon never
gets tired of following wherever I go?”
“You know, Bea, the moon is also God’s creation. He created it in His image, so it gives light and is always
looking after all of us. It may be far away, but we know that the moon is always there and will keep on
following us to guide us,” Lolo Jun explained.
“ I do not understand, Lolo. Does that mean that the moon is very far away from us?” I asked.
“ Yes, Apo, and the stars too. These are God’s gifts to us, so He wants us to always see them no matter
how far. You are still young, Bea, but I am sure after you celebrate many birthdays, you will understand
your Lolo Jun,” Lolo said.
“That is good to know, because it is already my birthday next week! Please come to my birthday, Lolo.
Mama said it is only you who can come because Lola is already in heaven,” I said.
“Of course, I will go!” Lolo Jun answered, but he started coughing so I did not ask him to talk more. Soon,
my father came and helped Lolo drink his medicines. A few minutes later, Lolo fell asleep. Days went by.
We were not able to visit Lolo Jun. Papa and Mama were too busy. I did not mind because I was sure to
see Lolo Jun on my birthday.
One day, I woke up happily because it was finally my birthday! At school, our Science teacher taught us
about the different types of weather. She said that it was a rainy day today. I suddenly remembered the
moon.
“Teacher, will there be a moon on a rainy night?” I asked.
“Yes, Bea. But we may have a hard time seeing it because of thick clouds. However, it can still provide
light during the night,” my teacher answered. I got worried. Would I see the moon later? It was alright. I
would see my Lolo. We would talk about the moon and the stars again. The skies were still gloomy when
my father fetched me at school. I was still hoping that I would see the moon that night. When we got
home, I was thrilled by the food my mother prepared for my birthday!
“Mama, Papa, is Lolo Jun coming to my birthday?” I asked excitedly. I noticed that my mother and father
looked at Papa and saw his eyes welling up with tears.
“Papa, why are you crying?”
“Bea, Lolo Jun cannot come. He’s gone. He is already with your Lola in heaven,” my father said sadly.
I bowed my head down and cried. I was so sad. My Lolo was my best friend. After we ate together, I
went inside my room. I hugged my pillow and looked outside the window.
“The moon!” I thought to myself. The moon appeared behind the thick and dark clouds. I suddenly
remembered what Lolo Jun said.
“Even if the moon is far away and we cannot reach it, it is always there for us.”
I realized that the moon is like Lolo Jun. I know that even if he is already gone, he is always there to
guide me.

Early in the morning, Lolo Ding often told me tenderly, the first thing to do is to pray sincerely. I should
thank the new day, as the sun opens its eyes and smiles on me, while I yawn with the flowers, and
stretch out my arms with the branches of the tree, and listen to the honk of the pandesal vendor in the
street. After washing up, Lolo Ding often told me tenderly to say
“Good morning” with, a hug, and a kiss for Tatay and Nanay and even for Ate and Kuya.
At the table, Lolo Ding often told me tenderly that I should learn to eat by myself. Hold the fork with my
left hand and the spoon with my right. Eat what ever food is on the table, so I will be strong whether at
home or in school.
In the yard, Lolo ding often told me tenderly to water his plants : sweetsop, rambutan and mangoes, and
his favorite yellow hibiscus.
To encourage me, he said, “When these ripen, we will have many fruits to share, and we can offer the
flowers at the altar.”
Lolo Ding often told me tenderly that I should learn to do housework. I should help Nanay sweep the
floor or wash the dishes. His favorite warning:
“ If you don’t sweep the dust and dirt, you might wake up covered by them. And plates and glasses that
are not washed might feel bad and leave you, so that you’re left with no plate or glass to use.” While
playing with my neighbors and classmates, Lolo Ding often told me tenderly not to gets into any fights.
He warned me,
“My apo, you will get nothing from kicks and punches but scratches, bruises, and sprains.”
When talking to others , Lolo Ding often told me tenderly to speak slowly and clearly. Use “ po” and
“opo” when talking to older people. I must never be afraid to say the right thing. As a warning, he said;
“Speak of the bad things, and your tongue gets shorter.”
Lolo Ding would always say tenderly that I should study well. He said wisely: “The land has wonders you
need to understand, and even the stars have something to say.”
Every afternoon after school, like my Lolo Ding tenderly told me, I would press his hand to my forehead
as he happily greeted me.
One afternoon, I was very surprised when I did not see him. My brother said that he suddenly felt dizzy
and had a hard time breathing, so Tatay and Nanay rushed him to the hospital.
When I visited him in the hospital, I saw him in his bed , fast asleep.
A strange tube was in his mouth.
Something was attached to his arm.
A year has passed since Lolo Ding fell asleep and never woke up.
When they started to cover his coffin with dirt, I thought I heard someone whisper,
“Everything returns to earth.”
On the first night that Lolo Ding was not beside me in my bed, I felt the wind poke me to look at the stars
from my window. They were twinkling as if they were saying:
“Your Lolo Ding is here, resting gently with us.”
I brought a bouquet of yellow hibiscus for Lolo Ding’s grave. He may not be able to see or smell these in
his deep asleep, but what is more important is that I shall never forget him.
For when we were together, he often told me tenderly:
“Always be good, my apo, and always remember me.”

VI
It was Vi’s first visit with her godmother Vilma(by whose name she is called). Her Ninang Vilma had
invited her to her beach house. Vi skipped and jumped as she followed her godmother off the van and
into the arms of their relatives who welcomed her happily.
It was sunset. The sun looked like an orange ball as it began to sunk into the blue waters. Vi had a nice
feeling. It was the feeling she had when her father came home after a long stay abroad.
And the clean, sweet air that embraced her! It was like being hugged by her mother whenever she came
home with a perfect score in a quiz. Vi did not go up the house at once. She could not tear her eyes away
from the scenery.
She now understand what her parents and teachers had been telling her about how beautiful the
country was! Her godmother called her to dinner.
At dinner, they had broiled prawns and squids that tasted so much sweeter than the kind that they ate
back in the city,
“They are very fresh, Vi,” explained her hosts.
Many funny stories and jokes later, they all spent some more time at the breakwater and waited for the
moonrise.
Vi slept soundly despite the splash of the surf that hit the rocks on the beach.
The next morning, she was the first to rise. It was still rather than dim but the sound of the surf seemed
to invite her to go back to the breakwater. She went dim the bamboo steps of the beach house that led
to the spot where they sat the night before.
Someone was there ahead of her. It was a boy. He was staring at the sea and a white ball directly above
it.
At the crunch of her steps in the sand, he turned to her and smiled shyly.
“Good morning,” he said and stood up, Vi saw that he was holding a book.
“Hi,” answered Vi. ‘Are you a neighbor?”
“I stay across the street although I am not from here,” the boy replied. Vi noticed that he was not much
older than she.
Vi also noticed that he w very polite and his hair was parted on the side. And he was wearing formal
clothes! I fact he looked like he was about to act as ring bearer at a wedding. That thought made Vi
giggle.
But the boy had turned to the sea and sky again.
“I love looking at the moonset,” said the boy
“Moonset?” asked Vi.
“ What moonset?”
“The time when the moon disappears in the daylight,” said the boy and he sounded like Vi’s teacher in
science, Mr. Lopez, the only male teacher she had. The boy seemed very bright and sure himself. Not like
the most of the boys in Vi’s class. They were always teasing and jabbering about basketball and billiards.
"See that white ball in the sky?"
"the moon?" asked Vi. "Yes. I a few seconds, the sun will come out behind that mountain and it will be
bright. Naturally, we do not see the moon anymore by day. The sun is too bright for the moon to
compete with.”
“Oh, yes. But I can see the moon’s outline still. Uh-oh! It was gone!” Vi felt a tug in her heart. It was like
what she felt when her father went away for the first time.
“That was sad,” she said aloud. The seashore was now bright with morning sunlight.
“it always is. There was a day when I only saw the moonset and did not see he sun because…” the boy
suddenly stopped.
“Because what?” asked Vi. But the boy smiled and shook his head.
“You will know why, soon . I must go.” He was thumping the book that had became sandy.
“Hey! I am Vi from Manila. What is your name? You said not from here,” Vi wanted to know.
“ I am Pepe from Laguna ,” the boy said. “ I lived near the bay, also !`Bye now.” And he walked away.
At breakfast on the last day of her visit, Ninang Vilma said, “ Join me at the school across the street,Vi I
want you to see something unusual.The new prinvipal is a friend of mine. She will not mind if we peep
in.”