Vlady the Vampire - Otin Coing (robert munsch read aloud txt) 📗

Vlady was a sad little child.

So sad, his tears would flow wild.

Why, you ask, was he so dejected?

Well, never had someone been so rejected!

Vlady was picked on and teased by all the kids in school.

They said such mean things...and even called him a ghoul!


"I am not a ghoul!" protested Vlady. "I am a vampire!"

At this, the other children's laughter would not retire.

You see, they did not understand why he fled from the sun,

just to play alone in the dark...that was no fun!

They did not understand why he had such sharp little teeth,

or why a trail of blood sometimes flowed from beneath.

They did not understand why he would get so sick

at the mere mention of pizza...with garlic.

And they did not understand his odd little clothes,

all somber and black, like a flock of dark crows.

No, they did not like his outfit,

not at all, not a wee bit!

"Vlady has girlie shoes," they would sing.


Vlady would just sigh...they were a gift from a King.

Yes, back in 1778...

but were they really that out of date?

His teacher, too, did not understand,

why he tried to chew on her hamster's furry right hand.

"Vlady, we do not eat the class pet," she would say.

At which hungry little Vlady would cower away.

And so, he would have to stay for detention,

just because his parents, so old, forgot to mention,

that Vlady had to follow a special diet...

Oh, if his classmates knew, they wouldn't keep quiet!



When Vlady arrived home after sunset,

He was clearly, quite clearly, very upset.

His parents asked, "Darkness, why do you frown?"

At which Vlady just signed, for he felt pretty down.

"Nothing Papa Dracul, I guess I am alright."

"Very well, but fret not for we shall feast tonight!"

But his parents were adult vampires, and could read his mind.

So that night, they decided to be extra kind.

For dinner they prepared him a special treat:

fresh pig's blood, oh so warm and so sweet!


But Vlady just sat there and played with his food,

even though they insisted the blood was extra good.

Nor did he smile when they sang his favorite song

about vampires and werewolves...oh something was wrong!

"Worry not my son, you will be accepted one of these days.

The other kids just aren't accustomed to our vampire ways."

"Thank you, Momma Bathory", Vlady said behind tears.

His parents were concerned...you see, even vampires have fears!

At sunrise, his parents went to sleep in their coffins

while Vlady got on a bus with kids eating muffins.

Regular food was not something he could eat.

So Vlady just sat there, hunched in defeat.

Nearing the school, there was a cloud so dark,

that the bus driver didn't know where to park.

The cloud was so obscure that nobody could see,

nobody, of course, except for little Vlady.

His vampire eyes could see in the absence of light,

so he told the driver to turn and park to the right.

The smoke came from the school, which had caught on fire.

It was too hot for humans...but not for a vampire!

Vlady's classmates and teacher were surrounded by flames,

They screamed they'd be burned alive, ash being their only remains.

To everyone's surprise, Vlady turned into a bat,

and went to their rescue in no time flat!



With his vampire teeth, he grabbed each child by the collar,

telling them they would be safe, so please not to holler.

One by one he took them to safety,

Even the teacher, though she was quite hefty.

In the end Vlady was greeted by a thousand cheers

from thankful parents--he had saved their dears!

In just one day, he had gone from being a zero,

To being the town's most famous hero.

His peers finally accepted him for who he was,

Even though they were still a bit scared of his little bat claws.

Vlady, too, accepted that he was different,

but now being special made him content.



The End

Text: Otin Coing
Images: Otin Coing
Publication Date: 11-09-2009

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To all the little Vladys out there...