The Louse and the Flea

Download the tale here

Louse - was happy because he lived in the king's bed (king = best food and wine, so best blood).

A flea came along.
"Let me drink some of the king's blood!"

"No! King's blood belongs to me. Get out!"

"Oh, please - I'm so hungry." (Use a reason to suit the audience; with kids I usually say the flea has lived with teachers.)

"Well, you may be hungry, but if I let you have some of the king's blood, do you know how to bite him?"

"Oh, I can bite easily enough; done it lots of times."

"No! If you bite the king like that, he'll scream, soldiers run in, strip bed, kill us both!
Must wait until he's asleep.
Even then, only bite him under his foot.
Anywhere else, he'll wake up, scream, soldiers run in, strip bed, kill us both!"

All right! I understand. Let me in - PLEASE!"

So flea hops into bed.
Waits.

King comes to bed. But doesn't sleep. (Use a reason to suit the audience; perhaps he's found his kid's school textbooks - naturally is SO fascinated he can't put them down.)

At last flea is so hungry he can't hold himself back any more; bites king in the bum.

King screams, soldiers run in, strip bed, kill louse and flea.

Moral? Importance of self-control - especially if you are in someone else's bed!
(If you use the textbooks: Also shows that too much education can kill you!)