Are you ready to hear a story?

This one's about a village girl who can talk to animals.

Katya and the crow, by Harris Tobias.

Once a long time ago in the country far beyond the western hills, they lived a young girl

named Katya.

Katya lived on a farm with her parents and her brother and sister whose names I don't

remember.

Katya had the ability to talk to animals.

It isn't clear how she acquired this ability, but it gave her much pleasure.

Her parents would often find her deep in conversation with horses, pigs, chickens and any other creature

she encountered.

What do you speak to them about?

First Katya's mother, who worried about the effect such strange power might have on her

daughter.

Oh, so Katya.

They tell me about their aches and pains.

Sometimes they tell me about their dreams.

The chickens speak of their chicks and horses brag about their foals and the carers go

on and on about their calves.

It isn't all that interesting really.

One day a big flock of crows passed through the farm.

They landed in the trees and proceeded to make a racket.

...