THE EMPEROR'S EGG

'I wonder what kind of creature will hatch,' Ren says.

'A tiger with wings!' Pei says.

'A dragon with gold teeth!' Ping says.

'Now, now,' Papa says. 'We'll just have to wait and see.'

Looking for a worthy successor to his throne, an ageing emperor gives all the children in his kingdom an egg. After thirty days, he will judge what each child delivers to him and choose his heir.

Ren brings his egg home and takes the best care of it. He reads to it, sings to it, sleeps with it and keeps it warm. Ren waits and waits, but his egg never hatches, while all around him wondrous hatchlings are emerging from other children's eggs.

In a hall full of magical creatures, how can Ren present his unhatched egg to the emperor?Â