Written and narrated by

Will J. Moore

A Simple English Lesson

Fahad’s Goat

A “Never Get Lost” Reading

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Fahad and his father went to the animal market to buy a

goat for Eid. They drove to the market in their small pickup

truck. They looked at many goats, black ones, brown ones,

white ones and black and white ones. Some had horns and

some only had stubs. Some were old and some were

young. After talking to many men, Fahad chose a nice

brown one that felt fat and strong. It had a good voice too!

BAAAAA! They had to bargain with the man because he

wanted a high price for this goat.

“He’s my best goat!” the man said.

Fahad’s Goat Next

Finally, they agreed to a price and they paid the man.

Fahad lead the goat back to their truck. As they were

guiding the goat up into the back of the truck, the goat gave

a loud “BAAAA!” and jumped away from them. It ran back

to the man they bought it from. When they caught up to it

and tried to catch it, the man said, “Hey! What are you

doing?” Fahad’s father explained that as they were loading

the goat into their truck, the goat had run away from them

and back here to the man. Now, they were trying to catch

the goat so they could return home. “How do you know this

brown goat is the one you bought?” asked the man.

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“There are many brown goats here. Perhaps this is the one

you bought.” He showed them a skinny, scrawny, brown

goat that was so old it could hardly stand up. “No, no!” said

Fahad. “We paid for that fat, strong one there. I know it is

that one, because I can see in his eyes that he knows me,

and is afraid.”

“No, no” said the man selling the goats. “I would never

sell that one. He is my best goat.”

“Yes! That is what you told us!” said Fahad. He was

beginning to feel cheated. He said, “I bought that goat!”

The goat seller said, “Can you prove it?”

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Fahad had to stop and think. Then he said, “Give me

this old goat for five minutes. Father you stay here.” Fahad

took the old goat to his truck and let it go. It stood there too

tired to move. So Fahad brought the goat back to the man

and said, “I took this goat to my truck and let it go. It was

too tired to run back here. This is not the goat I bought!

That is the one. Now, give me that fat, strong brown goat

for five minutes and I will prove that he is the one we

bought. Father, you stay here.” Fahad took the strong, fat

brown goat to his truck and then let it go.

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It ran straight back to the goat seller and ran among the

other goats, just like the first time, only this time Father was

there to see it run among the other goats. “Now,” Fahad

said, “this goat ran right back here when I let it go at my

truck. So, I know that this is the one I bought. You have

tricked people with that goat too many times, and this time

you have to let us take it home. No more tricks!”

The goat seller was amazed that Fahad had outsmarted

him. Fahad’s father was pleased that his son was so clever.

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They walked back to the truck and this time tied the goat to

the truck before leading it up the ramp and into the back.

Fahad’s father praised him sincerely. “Fahad, you are a

clever boy. I know you will grow up and be a clever man

too. I only pray that you will also be a good man and not try

to trick people like that goat seller was doing.”

Fahad felt himself getting warm all over. He knew he

had pleased his father. He said, “We will enjoy eating this

goat for Eid I think, father. It has fooled its last customer!”

Fahad’s Goat