Story taken from "Love Stories of a Different Kind" Series 3 published by CAP

Segab's mother died when he was 11 years old. His father married another woman, Bizunesh. Segb did not like Bizunesh. But Bizunesh tried to be a good mother to him.

She made good breakfasts, dinners and suppers but he did not eat them. She bought him many good clothes but he did not look at them. She gave him new shoes but he threw them away. Whenever she spoke to him, he always ran away.

One day the poor woman said to Segab, "I always wanted to have a son, and now I have you, Segab. I love you very much, my dear boy!"

But Segab said angrily, "I am not your son, and you are not my mother. My mother is dead. I do not love you. I will never love you."

Bizunesh was very sad and cried all night. In the morning she decided to go to a wise old man. She told him about Segab who did not love her.

The old man said, "I can help you. But first you must bring me three hairs of a lion."

"But how can I do this? The lion will kill me," Bizunesh said.

"I cannot answer your question. I need three hairs of a lion. Try to get them."

So Bizunesh went out to try to get the hairs. She went far, far away from her house and came to a place where a lion lived. The lion was very big and roared angrily. He was hungry. Bizunesh was afraid of him and ran away quickly.

The next day she came back with some meat for the lion. She put the meat not far from him and ran away. The lion saw the meat and ate it all quickly.

The following day she again brought some meat for the lion and put it a little nearer. Again the lion ate it all up.

Everyday Bizunesh brought some meat for the liuon, and he soon understood that the woman was his friend. He was not angry and he did not roar anymore. He was happy to see her.

Finally one day Bizunesh came very near to the lion and gove him the meat from her hand. At the same time she tore three hairs from his back. The lion was not angry.

Bizunesh ran to the old man and showed him the hairs. "What must I do with them now?" she asked.

"Nothing," he answered. "You know how to get near a lion, little by little, step by step. Do the same with Segab, and I am sure he will love you."

Story taken from "Love Stories of a Different Kind" Series 3, a booklet published as a CAP Guide by the Consumers' Association of Penang.