“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

“Help!”
Shouted the farmer.

“Quick!
Sound the alarm!”

“Someone stole Donkey!

He was here on the farm.”

“Who stole Donkey?

Grab the sheriff from town!”
The grumpy, old farmer
jumped up and down.

With a big temper tantrum,

and a cry, and a roar,
he stomped and he hollered,
“Bring the police to my door!”

So, they searched for some clues.

Now, where could he be?
Layla’s eyes filled with mischief,
“They’ll never catch me!”

Why is Layla so stubborn?

Why is Layla so bold?
Why doesn’t she listen,
and do as she’s told?

Lucky for Layla,

She’s friends with Queen Bee.
The hive kept her secret
from high in the tree.

The bees testified,

“There’s nothing to see.”
They’re too
Bizzy
Buzzing
making honey.

Winning the Bake Off,

Cow was over the
Mooooon
“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

as she sat in her kitchen

at half past noon.

She whipped up some cookies

while the oven was hot.
Has Cow seen Donkey?
No.
She certainly has not.

Did Horse steal Donkey?

Of course, Horse nickered,
“Neeeigh!”
After counting the sheep,
he fell asleep in the hay.

“Where were you at the time?”

The cops questioned the cat.
“Why little, old
Meeeeow
had some cat nip, then a nap.”

“¡Qui-Quiri-Quí
… Qué pasò!?
Who stole Donkey?
I Cock-A-Doodle-Doo not know.”

Rooster’s amigo is missing.

Now, he’s too sad to sing,
and his song was cut short
when his guitar snapped a string.

Instead of
“KuKu-KooKoo!”
or
“Kikeriki!”
Today, Rooster strummed a sad
“Wo – Wo – Woe is me!”

Rooster spoke languages

while Sheep only knew one.
When asked about Donkey,
he said, “Cat’s got my tongue.”

“Check in with the chickens,”

“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

Sheep replied to the cops.

“Now, I am late for a snip
down at the
B-a-arber shop.”

Being the clever,

math-ma-chickens they are,
Ma’s little chicks
never strayed very far.

After counting the eggs,

and sweeping stoop,
the chicks said to the cops,
“Donkey’s not by the coop!”

Layla stole Donkey.

They all knew who it was.
But they all kept her secret
simply because….

Layla is stubborn.
Layla is bold.
She doesn’t always listen
or do as she’s told.

Layla is also
loving and kind.
When help is needed,
she’s not far behind.

Whenever she passes

the barn or the stye,
she greets her farm friends,
and they all reply…

with a Baaaa!
or a Maaaa!
or a Mooo!

with a Chirp!
or a Cluck!
or a Cock-A-Doodle-Doo!

They all
“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

Grrred
and they
Purred.
They
Bow-Wowed
and
Meowed.

Every day,
they said,
“Neigh!”

They said,
“Hi!”
“Hello!”
“Hey!”

But when poor, little Donkey,

only said,
“Hee…”
She knew something was wrong.
The others just couldn’t see.

Happy donkeys play,

and laugh joyfully.
But, instead of, “Hee - Haa!”
Donkey sadly sighed, “Hee…”

“Without any shade,

he could barely wheeze, “Hee..”
He was thirsty and hot.
So, I took him with me.”

“He was left in the field,

all day, all alone.”
Layla explained why
she took Donkey home.

“AH-HAAA!”
Cried the farmer.
“We have her confession!
Layla stole Donkey!
Jail will teach you a lesson!”
“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

Fuming with fury,

Farmer shouted and roared.
But, when his temper faded,
tears started to pour.

He made a mistake
and felt guilty and sad.
Neglecting poor Donkey
made him feel very bad.

“Layla’s right,” said the farmer,

“If truth be told.
My farm is very big,
and I’m getting quite old.”

“When my bones become creaky,

I become cranky.
Sometimes I’m too tired
to look after Donkey.”

“I can help on the farm!”

Layla volunteered.
With her promise to help,
Farmer’s tears turned to cheer.

With a sigh of relief,

and a happy, “Hee! Hee!”
The once grumpy, old farmer
now laughed cheerfully.

From that hot summer day,

and every day after,
the farm and the town
were chock-full of laughter.

Everywhere that you go,

you hear,
“Hee!
Ha!
Ha!
HAAAAA!”
All thanks to the brave girl,
known to all as, Layla.
“Layla Steals a Donkey” By: Lana Radi

Layla who’s stubborn.

Layla who’s bold.
Layla who’s brave,
whose heart’s made of gold.