THE MAGIC ANTS OF OUTER MONGOLIA

This week, my hyperlexic nephew (3) left a whole load of coded messages around my sister’s house, using coloured letter fridge magnets.

I don’t know if they are codes, actually, though it wouldn’t surprise me: he’s amazing. Here’s my favourite:

YAK

HEX

RAP

BUG

POSES

Fridge magnets, living room carpet. What does it mean? Nobody knows! Though my mind went to a story instantly: The Magic Ants of Outer Mongolia.

It would be the tale of a colony of ants somewhere out there on the Mongol plains, who are getting fed up with being squished by massive yaks whenever the herd migrates East over their anthills. One young fast-talking streetwise ant, let’s call him DJ, gets sent out to find a colony of wizarding ants, the kind that can cast spells but don’t have a good reputation of accuracy. The elder ants on the council just don’t think it’s a good solution to their biannual squashing.

“Yak hex!” rap bug poses,

“Aim it at their slimy noses.”

It’s basically ‘A Bug’s Life’ isn’t it? Well anyway, it was nice to have a little moment of imagination. And my nephew is awesome.