There once lived a very sporty and inventive young ground squirrel named Kilsus. Kilsus came into the world not like other children, but upside down, and his mum gave him this strange name. Read his name backwards, and you'll understand everything.
Kilsus was friends with a little squirrel named Arrowette.
One day Arrowette brought a big nut:
Kilsus, hello! Look what I have—you can toss it around.
And Arrowette tossed the nut to the ground squirrel.
Wow, that's brilliant!
Kilsus exclaimed.
You can also throw it into a basket.
Kilsus suggested and brought a fruit basket from home.
The friends took turns tossing the nut into the basket.
Arrowette's squirrel friends from the forest came running to join in this fun game.
Come and play with us!
Arrowette called to them.
Kilsus didn't like this idea at all—he wanted to play alone with his friend—but he held back and said nothing.
The squirrels and the ground squirrel tossed the nut around in a circle. Interest in the game gradually faded: there were many squirrels but only one nut. Besides, Kilsus didn't hide his displeasure and kept holding onto the nut, dropping it on the ground. The nut, as if by magic, bounced back into his paws, as if saying: 'Don't be upset, Arrowette really likes playing with you, even though she has many friends, she won't abandon you!'
Let's divide into two teams of five each, mark out a field, and set up two baskets, one for each team. We'll toss the nut from one team to another and try to get it in the basket. Whichever team gets the most nuts in their basket wins!
Kilsus suggested. And he thought to himself: 'Now I'll show you what I'm made of!'
That's a great idea!
The squirrels agreed.
To the squirrels' surprise, Kilsus played aggressively: he grabbed the nut, snatching it from the opposing team's paws, and tossed it into the basket. Kilsus's team always won.
Kilsus needs to be taught a lesson.
The squirrels whispered during a break.
Let's put the baskets high—three metres up—so the ground squirrel can't reach them.
It should be said that squirrels could jump high, but ground squirrels couldn't.
No matter how hard Kilsus tried, he couldn't reach the basket. The squirrels giggled as they tossed the nut to each other, getting it into the basket.
The ground squirrel got angry:
Right then! In a month's time, I'm announcing a proper competition between the squirrel and ground squirrel teams, and we'll see who's best!
The ground squirrel declared angrily. Giving up wasn't in his nature.
Kilsus was a very determined boy. He crafted a round ball from resin that bounced cleverly off the ground and flew easily even into the highest basket.
The ground squirrel gathered a team of equally determined and sporty ground squirrels. They trained five, sometimes even eight hours a day and learned to jump high and toss the ball into the high basket.
A month later, at the appointed time, many animals gathered at the forest's edge. Everyone wanted to watch the competition between the squirrels and ground squirrels in this new ball game.
There, on the playing field, the squirrels and ground squirrels shook paws. And the game began. The ball flew cleverly from one player to another through the air and along the ground.
Sometimes players stopped in place, choosing their strategy, bouncing the ball on the ground.
The ground squirrels shone with their sporting prowess. Everyone applauded them when they nimbly jumped with the ball and tossed it into the basket.
The ground squirrel team won. All the ground squirrels, in their joy, tossed Kilsus into the air—a victory salute.
The squirrels were also happy about Kilsus's success. They offered friendship between the teams. And from then on, they competed together, spent their free time together, and invented new games with Kilsus's magical ball.
So, children—what game did Kilsus invent with his friends?
