The Girl and the Little Vicuña

The Girl and the Little Vicuña - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

Maya lived in a village at the foot of the Andes, where the mountains touched the sky. She wore a red hat with ear flaps and a mustard-yellow sweater that her grandmother had knitted. Every day she watched the peaks and wondered what secrets they held. 'One day, I'll climb high and see for myself,' she told her mother. Her dark eyes sparkled with curiosity. 1

One bright morning, Maya set off up the mountain path. The air grew thin and cold, and her cheeks turned pink. She saw soft grass swaying and heard a stream gurgling. Suddenly, a movement caught her eye. Behind a rock stood a little vicuña, no taller than her knee. Its golden-tan coat fluffed in the wind, and a red thread collar circled its neck. 2

The vicuña didn't run. It tilted its head and looked at Maya with big, dark eyes. 'Hello,' Maya whispered. 'I'm Maya. Who are you?' The vicuña took a step closer. She noticed its white chest and long, slender neck. 'I'll call you Pichi,' she said softly. Pichi flicked its small ears and seemed to smile. Maya felt a warm glow inside. 3

Pichi led Maya through the high grassland. 'This is my home,' the vicuña seemed to say. 'I need fresh grass to eat and clean water to drink.' Maya saw the green tufts and the sparkling stream. 'And wide open spaces to run,' she added, watching Pichi prance gracefully. The wind whistled, and the mountains stood tall and proud around them. 4

Maya followed Pichi to a patch of tall, sweet grass. 'The grass is soft and fresh here,' she said, touching it. Pichi nibbled happily. 'But what if the grass disappears?' Maya wondered. She looked around and saw some dry, bare spots. 'We must protect this grassland,' she thought. 'The vicuñas need it to survive.' Pichi nuzzled her hand as if to agree. 5

Next, Pichi showed Maya a clear stream bubbling over smooth stones. 'Clean water is so important,' Maya said. She cupped her hands and took a sip. It tasted cold and sweet. 'Animals drink here too,' she realized. 'If the water gets dirty, everyone suffers.' She saw tiny fish darting and insects skimming the surface. 'We must keep the streams clean,' she promised. 6

Pichi dashed across the open meadow, kicking up little puffs of dust. 'You need space to run and play,' Maya laughed. She ran after the vicuña, her boots thumping on the soft ground. 'Wide open spaces are part of your habitat,' she said. 'No fences, no buildings—just freedom.' Pichi leaped and twirled, its delicate legs moving like a dancer's. 7

As the sun began to sink, Maya knew she had to go home. 'I'll come back, Pichi,' she said. 'And I'll tell my friends about you.' Pichi blinked its big eyes and touched its nose to her hand. 'We'll protect your home,' Maya whispered. She hurried down the path, her mind full of ideas. The mountains glowed orange and pink in the fading light. 8

At school the next day, Maya told her friends about Pichi. 'A vicuña!' said Tomas, his green eyes wide. 'Really?' He pushed his wavy brown hair out of his face. 'I want to see it!' Luz clapped her hands, her curly puff bouncing. 'I love vicuñas!' she squealed. 'But why does it need protection?' Maya smiled. 'Let me show you,' she said. 9

Maya gathered sticks, stones, and moss. 'We'll build a model of the mountain habitat,' she explained. Tomas raised an eyebrow. 'A model? How will that help?' 'It will show everyone what vicuñas need,' Maya said. She laid out the hills with stones and the stream with blue paper. 'I'll paint the hills,' Tomas offered, suddenly excited. Luz nodded eagerly. 10

They worked all afternoon. Maya shaped hills from clay and moss, and Tomas painted them green and brown. Luz rolled tiny clay vicuñas with delicate legs and long necks. 'Don't forget the clean water,' Maya said, placing a shiny blue ribbon for the stream. 'And the open spaces,' added Tomas, leaving wide gaps between the hills. 'This is starting to look like the real mountain!' 11

When the model was finished, Maya placed Pichi's red thread collar gently on one clay vicuña. 'Now everyone can see,' she said. 'Vicuñas need grass, water, and space.' Luz counted the tiny vicuñas. 'They're a family!' she said. Tomas grinned. 'I get it now. If we protect the mountains, we protect them.' Maya nodded. 'And we must tell others.' 12

The next day, they showed the model to their class. Maya explained each part: the grass for food, the stream for water, the open hills for running. 'Mountain wildlife is special,' she said. 'We need to take care of it.' Their teacher smiled. 'You've built a wonderful habitat model,' she said. 'It teaches us all.' The children clapped and cheered. 13

Tomas stood up. 'I'm sorry I doubted you, Maya,' he said. 'This model really helps.' Luz raised her hand. 'Can we make a promise?' she asked. 'Let's promise to protect the vicuñas and their home,' Maya said. Everyone raised their hands. 'We promise!' they shouted. The little clay vicuñas seemed to smile from their mountain model. 14

That weekend, Maya returned to the high mountains. Pichi was waiting by the stream. 'My friends promises to help,' Maya said. 'We'll keep the grass fresh and the water clean.' Pichi nuzzled her cheek. Maya felt proud. She knew that even small actions could make a big difference. The wind sang through the grass, and the mountains stood guard.