Saci and the Forest of Tricks

Deep in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, where bromeliads grew like pink fireworks and howler monkeys called at dawn, there lived a spirit called Saci.

Saci had one leg, wore a red cap, and was the greatest trickster in all the forest. He could appear in a whirlwind of red dust, hide inside any tree hollow, and make himself invisible whenever he pleased. The animals feared him a little - but they also loved his visits, because Saci always brought laughter.

One dry season, a drought came to the forest. The streams thinned to trickles. The animals gathered at the last deep pool, arguing over who had the right to drink first.

The tapir, being biggest, bellowed that size should decide. The jaguar, being fiercest, growled that strength should decide. The macaw, being most colourful, shrieked that beauty should decide. They argued so loudly that none of them drank at all.

A small girl from the nearest village, named Lara, had crept to the edge of the pool to fill her water jar. She saw the animals arguing and sat quietly to watch.

In the red dust of a tiny whirlwind, Saci appeared beside her.

"What do you think?" he whispered, eyes dancing.

"I think," said Lara carefully, "that when there is only a little of something, the biggest and loudest should go last - and the smallest and quietest should go first."

Saci grinned so wide his cap nearly fell off. He leapt into the middle of the arguing animals and pointed to a tiny mouse at the edge of the group, trembling with thirst.

"This one has been waiting longest and complaining least," Saci announced. "She drinks first."

The animals fell silent. The mouse crept forward and drank.

Something in watching the mouse's quiet gratitude made the others ashamed of their noise. The jaguar moved aside for the tapir. The tapir moved aside for the macaw. In an orderly line, they all drank.

Saci winked at Lara. "Not bad, for a quiet girl," he said - and disappeared in a swirl of red.