“Come, Jabulani,” Ma says.
“Why aren’t you ready? You’ll be late for school.”
“I can’t find my shoe,” says Jabulani.
“Did you look under your bed?” says Ma.
“It’s not under my bed,” Jabulani says.
“Did you look in the wardrobe?” Ma asks.
“Yes, it’s not in the wardrobe.”
“I know where your shoe is,” giggles Jabulani’s sister Lungi.
“Where?” Jabulani asks.
“I’m not telling you!” says Lungi
“Somebody’s taken it,” Jabulani says.
“Why would someone take one shoe when they’ve got two feet?” says Lungi.
“I don’t know. Maybe they’ve hidden it to make me cross.”
“Did you take my shoe?” he asks Lungi.
“No,” says Lungi, “your shoes are too big for me.”
“Did you take my shoe?” Jabulani asks Fruit Juice the Dog.
She smiles her big dog smile at him and wags her tail.
“Maybe a bird picked it up and flew away with your shoe,” laughs Lungi.
“Maybe a monkey took it and left it up in a tree,” says Jabulani.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find your shoe,” says Ma. “Everyone look for Jabulani’s shoe.”
But the shoe is nowhere to be found.
“It’s all right,” says Ma. “You can wear your takkies to school today.”
Lungi comes rushing into the kitchen with a big smile on her face.
“I know where your shoe is,” she shouts. “Come and see.”
Credits
Originally published by Book Dash under a Creative Commons Licensed BY 4.0. This book can be read for free on https://bookdash.org/books/who-took-my-shoe? and was created by: Mariam Mahomed (Editor), Nicki Blackbeard (Illustrator), Kathryn Elliott (Designer), Elana Bregin (Writer)
