The Talking Drum

By Tirenioluwa Owodunni

Days passed, and the special talking drum for the village was nowhere to be found. People began to suspect it had been stolen.

One day, the king made an announcement, “Whoever finds the great talking drum will receive free food for a week!” he exclaimed.

Everyone in the village was poor, so the promise of food made everyone happy. Among the crowd, a brave group of kids, Ojo, Amara, and Deji decided to search for it.

“We can find it,” Amara said, “but everyone will doubt us because we’re just kids.”

“So then we prove them wrong!” Deji replied confidently.

They packed their bags and set off into the jungle.

“Amara, you have the map, right?” Ojo asked.

“No, we all agreed Deji would take it. So… Deji?” Amara turned to him.

“Erm… I think I forgot it. Sorry,” Deji said sheepishly.

“But we’re already halfway into the jungle! I knew we forgot something,” Amara groaned.

Suddenly, they heard a loud bang. It sounded like a talking drum.

“Did you hear that?” Ojo whispered.

“Yes,” Deji nodded.

They crept quietly toward the sound and saw the talking drum. A man was playing it. He was thin, tall, and had a long beard. The rhythm he played was a traditional song.

“Ah ah, kini eyi! What is this old man doing with our talking drum?” Deji exclaimed. “People these days, what is their problem!”

“Wait a minute,” Amara said. “Isn’t that the man the king said escaped from jail?”
“Yes, he is!” Ojo replied.

Ojo stepped forward. The man panicked and screamed,
“Help me! They’ve found me and they’ll take me back to jail!”

The kids cleverly tricked him into returning to the village with them.

They were rewarded with free food for a week and proved everyone wrong.

By Tirenioluwa Owoduni