Usborne First Reading: The Magic Melon

This story is about lazy Lee, a kind old man, a magic melon and a magic melon seed. Lee hated working. He liked snoozing much better. "Will you help us grow the rice?" "No!" "Will you help us cook the rice?" "No!" "Can I help eat the rice?""No!" Soon, Lee was very hungry. Then he saw an old man with a melon. "This is a magic melon,"said the man. "What do you want for dinner?" "Fried rice,"said Lee. The man tapped the melon. Ping! There was a bowl of tasty rice. Lee ate and ate."I wish I had a magic melon!" "You can grow one," said the man."But it's hard work!" "Here is a seed. Plant it carefully." "You must water it three times a day." At first, Lee did as he was told. But not for long... The melon grew bigger...and bigger. One day, Lee picked it. He licked his lips and wished for dinner. "Mmm, fried rice please." Ping! There was a lump of dry bread. "Oh no!" Someone laughed. It was the old man. "You didn't look after it, did you?" "You cheated the melon,"he said. "Now the melon is cheating you!"