Saba’s new shoes were so shiny that attracted everyone’s attention immediately. Her outfit was much more colourful and bright. She asked the children to come inside. Bibi invited everyone to sit down and asked Saba to bring the magic box. Everyone was anxiously curious to know more about the magic box.

**The Thief and the Magic Box**

The vicious thief was very hungry that day.  He couldn’t get hold of anything to steal.  Normally he managed to rob somebody, sell the stolen goods in the bazaar or trade them with quite a few grains of rice or wheat.   

That day he was making different plans in his little brain, thinking them over and wiping them off, until he settled for one.

“I know…” He thought to himself “The old cobbler’s grand- son always carries a little box in and out of the shop.  He must have some money in there.  I’m going to follow him today and see if I can get it off him.”

So he sat under the shade of the old cedar tree in front of old cobbler’s shop.  A few hours passed.  The grand-son was nowhere to be seen. 

He was getting impatient and as he stood up to go, suddenly the little boy stepped out of the shop.   As usual he had the box in his hand and started to stroll towards the bushes, whistling happily. 

The vicious thief was so pleased to see this.  He let the boy pass him and, shortly afterwards, started to follow his footsteps, keeping quite a distance so that the boy wouldn’t see him.

The little boy finally sat under a tree and looked around carefully to make sure nobody was nearby.  He then took out a bright blue colour cloth out of his pocket and laid it on the ground.  Then he gently put the box on the cloth in front of him. 

The thief was watching from behind a tree to see what happens next.  The boy slowly opened the box, while his lips were curling up with delight.  Suddenly a piece of brown leather flipped out of the box, followed by a needle and a piece of string.   With a blink of an eye, a pair of shoes was made to fit the boy’s little feet.  The thief was watching with widened eyes, while all kinds of colourful material flipped in the empty space and made to fit the boy.  Finally, the most precious stones were embedded onto a belt and wrapped around his waist!

This was a magical treasure box that could earn the thief lots and lots of gold coins for the rest of his life.  He imagined himself sitting in his glorious palace, being served fresh food and drinks all day long by his many servants. 

He suddenly jumped out from behind the tree, grabbed the box and started running as far as he possibly could.  The little boy watched him calmly as the thief disappeared. 

As the thief reached deep in the heart of the bush, he put the box down in front of him and gently opened it as his eyes were sparkling with greed. 

As he expected a piece of brown leather flipped out of the box, a pair of nice shoes was made to his size.  Then the outfits and finally the precious belt with all the jewels he could ever wish for.  Once everything was ready, they began flying towards him and dressed him like a king.   As he stood up to admire his outfit, he felt needles piercing his feet!   He tried to take off the shoes, but it was as if they were stuck.  He suddenly started to feel the needles all over his body.  

The vicious thief was jumping up and down with agony and ran towards where he had left the little boy.  Amazingly enough, the boy was still sitting calmly under the same tree.  It was as if he was waiting to be entertained by watching the thief being punished for what he had done. 

As soon as the thief put the box down on the blue cloth, he was stripped off the precious clothes.  With a loud sigh of relief he started running as fast as the fastest winds and disappeared. 

No one ever saw him again as he had moved to another village.  Perhaps he was now ready to start a more respectable lifestyle.  Perhaps he had realised he would be punished for taking things that did not belong and were not meant for him.