A MAYAN FOLKTALE
THE KING OF THE BIRDS
One day,the Great Spirit who guarded the Mayan would told the birds that they must choose a king
Almost every bird thought it should be king. The only bird that stayed quiet was the quetzal.The quetzal wanted to be king. But his feathers were a dull brown,and he looked quite plain. He didn’t think anyone would choose him.
The quetzal went to the road-runner, a very colorful bird, said "your feathers are beautiful, you are too busy being the messenger of the roads to become king. Lend me your feathers. I'll return them after I become king, and I'all share the wealth and fame with you."
At first, the road-runner said no. But the quetzal would not stop asking him. At Last, the road-runner agreed.
One by one, the road-runner's feathers magically disappeared and then appeared on the clever quetzal's body. Soon, the quetzal's body and tail were a rich blue-green, his chest was bright red, and his beak had turned a lovely glowing yellow.