Brave Bird

Brave Bird Choeurn Kim Heng

Once upon a time, Grandpa Prak was fishing in the river when he found a beautiful rainbow-colored egg near the shore. He picked it up and decided to take it home.

Not long after, a lovely rainbow-colored bird hatched from the strange egg.

Grandpa Prak took great care of the bird, and it grew more beautiful each day.

The villagers loved the bird and named it Beauty. The bird loved the people of the village as well. He often found firewood for them and played with the children.

One dry season, the weather was hotter than normal. A great fire sprang up and threatened the village. Seeing the smoke, Beauty flew fast toward the flames to help.

Many of the villagers tried to escape by crossing the river, while some stayed behind to help fight the fire.Beauty swooped over the village, looking for Grandpa Prak. But he was nowhere to be found.

Then Beauty spotted a group of children who were trapped by the smoke and fire. They needed help!

Without thinking, Beauty grabbed the girl in the wheelchair and flew with her into the air. As they escaped the flames, Beauty spotted Grandpa Prak trapped below.

After carrying the girl to safety, Beauty was tired and his feathers were damaged. The villagers begged him not to return to the village, but Beauty flew into the flames again to help Grandpa Prak.

Flying through flames that scorched his beautiful tail, the bird found Grandpa Prak and lay down next to him.

Grandpa Prak climbed onto Beauty's back, and they flew away together.

When they reached safety, the villagers splashed water on Beauty's wings. The bird was not hurt, but the smoke and flames had ruined the beautiful colors of his feathers.

Beauty was worried that no one would love him anymore now that he had lost the color in his rainbow feathers.

But the villagers carefully tended to Beauty and brought him food to make him strong again. Soon he returned to good health.

When Beauty was ready to fly again, everyone came out to cheer him on. Beauty was given a beautiful red scarf as a gift of thanks for his actions on the day of the fire.

The bird was also given a new name. Now he was called Brave!

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