Chris was very mean and was always playing dirty tricks on others. Often, on his way to school, Chris saw a pale, thin girl with sunken eyes and ragged hair, begging on the road. One day, Chris gave the urchin his lunch box. Just as the girl opened it happily, a rat jumped out of the box. Disgusted, the poor girl threw away the box. Chris laughed and walked away. After that, Chris did not see the girl again. Next day, Chris found a dead rat in his notebook. Then he dreamt of rats. Everywhere he went, Chris would see rats. Chris realised that this was his punishment for troubling the girl. One day, Chris was walking home, when he saw the girl again. Delighted, he ran to the little girl. “I am sorry. Please forgive me.” The poor girl grinned and suddenly vanished. Chris did not see rats ever again.
Ratty Tale
