The Lion’s Paw

 

I arrived at the magnificent, gigantic,

round Colosseum and my heart was

pounding with excitement.  When I

looked at the very top my neck hurt

because the building was as tall as a

colossal giant. 

It started to get darker as crowds of

people swarmed around me.  As I was

pushed and shoved inside I found my seat.

It was in the middle row so I had an

amazing view of the arena.  The cold

marble seat froze my bottom but I didn’t

mind because I was getting ready to watch

a marvelous show.  Horrid smells filled my

nostrils; it was the vile stench of dead

human bodies from the lion battles.

Suddenly the drums began to pound and

the trumpets sound.  The emperor was

coming and the crowd gasped with

amazement.  Everyone was cheering

wildly, excited to see him. 

The emperor was wearing a purple cloak

with a crown of leaves on top of his head.

Then two gladiators dressed in steel armor

marched into the arena.  With them was

the slave, Androcles.  He was crying and

praying to God, shaking with fear. 

There was a loud growl and the black, steel

gates flew open and a fierce, mighty, scary

lion pounced out! 

Circling the slave, the lion got closer

and closer, he growled and licked his lips

with hunger.  Androcles was so terrified

he froze to the spot in terror!  The

lion lay down and stretched out his

paw towards Androcles.  A smile

spread over Androcles’s face, he

bent down and kissed the lion’s paw.

The crowd jumped to their feet, cheering

and jeering and yelling, “Set them free!”

“Set them free!”  The emperor shouted to

his guards “Release them!”