Page 96 - Lavender-B-3

The louse did not want that! Not when it was so close to the King’s royal hair.

At the palace gates, the King was waiting to go for his morning ride. As soon
as he sat down, the louse bit into the driver’s scalp. ‘Ouch!’ said the lady, and

scratched her head. The louse flew off her hair and landed on...
... the King’s freshly-bathed shoulder. Mmmm.

He smelt good!

After a breezy chariot ride, the King returned
to the palace. As he sat down to rest, the louse

looked around his room. It was thrilled. No dirt!
No heat! And such a lovely smell!

But soon, the louse got hungry. The King was
asleep so this was the perfect time for a royal
feast! The louse ran up the sleeping King’s neck.

It crawled higher and higher, stomach rumbling
with hunger.

Finally, on top of the King’s head, the louse

was shocked.

The old King barely had any hair! scratched: rubbed with nails

What a terrible mistake! perfect: completely correct
feast: a large meal
rumbling: making a low sound
—Nandita Jayaraj, illustrated by Vridhhi Chaudhry barely: by the smallest amount
terrible: very unpleasant

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