Goliath loved to play, especially with shiny things. Little goblins would search the ends of the earth for shiny things. They would collect them and hide them at the rainbow’s end. Sometimes they would eat them in the hope that their stomachs would shine! Goliath was also the same. He always searched for shiny toys. But unlike his brothers and sisters, he was a shy goblin and easily scared. They teased him mercilessly. One day, Goliath ventured close to the village where the Monster-men lived! They were tall, loud and loved to chase the goblins. These Monster-men would take away all the goblins’ shiny toys! That was horrible. Goliath could see a shiny stone, as big as his hand, near one of the Monster-men’s house. It glinted in the sunlight and twinkled at Goliath. ‘Once I have the Monster-man’s shiny thing, my brothers and sisters will stop teasing me then,’ he thought. It was always the Monster-men, who took the goblins’ treasures away and not the other way around. If Goliath could do it, then he would become the bravest goblin. Thinking this, Goliath crept closer. But just as he was about to pick up the shiny stone, known as the diamond, the Monster-man’s animal, the Monster-dog, started barking loudly. Goliath quickly snatched the diamond and ran. The Monster-dog ran barking behind him. It was any goblin’s worst nightmare, to have a Monster-dog chasing him! In fact, one of Goliath’s brothers disappeared after a Monster-dog had caught him. They never knew what happened to him. Goliath was worried. Goliath did not want the same thing to happen to him. So, he ran as fast as his small legs could carry him. But he knew that the Monster-dog would catch him soon. He had to be clever. Just then, he remembered that the Monster-dog could not climb up a tree.
Right in front, around 500 yards was the 100-year-old banyan tree, with its hollow trunk. If he could just reach it before the Monster-dog caught him, he would be safe! So, little Goliath ran. He ran like he had never run before and would never again. More than saving his own life, he wanted his brothers and sisters to respect him. He wanted the teasing to stop once and for all! This was the thought that gave his little legs the strength to reach the old banyan tree. Once inside, exhausted, he climbed up to the top in the narrow passage and waited for the Monster-dog to leave! Goliath had waited for two whole days, before the tired and hungry Monster-dog left. Quickly, Goliath ran home…like the wind! Now, Goliath goblin is the bravest and richest goblin on this earth.
