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A8 LOCAL
Monday 31 March 2025
Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

Many years ago, Cha* “I’m not lying!” Nanzi de- unfold.
Tiger did not live in the fended himself. “He’ll take Nanzi also heard Cha Ti-
mondi*, but among civ- me all the way to Shon ger’s screams, slowly get-
il society. Back then, he Arei*.” ting closer and closer.
was feared by everyone. He was terrified. His face
When he walked past in a The next morning, Shon turned pale, and his teeth
halfway, everyone around Arei already knew of what started chattering like
would make room immedi- Nanzi had been saying someone with a high fever.
ately, that’s how ferocious about Cha Tiger. He was Sweat was dripping down
he was. really curious to see if Nanzi his forehead.
was brave enough to put When Cha Tiger arrived at
One night a group of friends his money where his mouth Nanzi’s place, he stormed
was hanging out and they is. Cha Tiger walked past. in and saw Nanzi’s frail
were talking about Cha Ti- “Hey, Cha Tiger!” someone body lying face down in
ger. “You know, that tiger called to him. He growled the corner. “Hey, how are
sure is incredibly strong and at the person. “Hey, Cha you, Cha Tiger?” Nanzi
I don’t trust him one bit. He Tiger! Listen!” asked, his voice trembling.
probably eats a lot too. Oh, “Nanzi made fun of you, “I Heard you were making
I’m so scared of him!” one said he wasn’t afraid of fun of me in front of your
person said. you at all! Said he could sit little friends, so I came to
“Oh, don’t be stupid! What on your back and that you hear from your own mouth
can Cha Tiger do? He’s all weren’t as strong as we what you have to say to
bark and no bite, that’s it. think you are.” me,” Cha Tiger retorted, still
I certainly am not afraid of Cha Tiger stopped dead in fuming. one can heal me from my front of His Majesty.
him. I bet you guys that I his tracks, furious. “Well, I’ll “Me? Talk bad about illness.” Still wrapped up in “See, Shon Arei? Cha Tiger
could even sit on his back set him straight!” Cha Tiger you?” Nanzi chuckled ner- his act, Nanzi turned back ain’t nothing but a big don-
like I would any donkey.” ran toward Nanzi’s house, vously. “People are such face down. “Me, a father key!” Nanzi said proudly.
It was Nanzi who said this. prepared to teach Nanzi liars, I swear. Can’t you see of nine little children…” Everyone around cheered:
The people around him a painful lesson. The entire how sick I am here?” Nanzi Cha Tiger was shocked. “Hurray, Nanzi!” Poor Cha
laughed at his remarks, way there he was growling took a pause, like some- Nanzi looked absolutely Tiger was so embarrassed
thinking how silly it was for and yelling, making every- one who couldn’t breathe terrible, God knows he was that he was fooled by the
him to say such things. one around aware what properly. In his case of dying. conniving spider, and so he
“You, Nanzi? You are such was going to happen. They course, it was probably “Cha Tiger, you’re strong. ran into the mondi to hide.
a liar! He’ll stomp you into all ran inside and peaked from extreme fear. “Shi Could you put me on your To this day, it’s said that the
next Tuesday, stop saying through the blinds to see Maria* wanted to take me back and take me to Shon tiger still hides away in the
such nonsense.” the fight that was going to to Shon Arei, where some- Arei, I can barely walk,” mondi.
Nanzi pleaded. Cha Tiger
took pity on the spider and
agreed to do this favor. Cha: Nickname placed in
Nanzi climbed on the ti- front of someone’s name
ger’s back, letting his body and can mean anything,
fall down and grabbing like friend. However, it of-
on to Cha Tiger’s neck. ten has negative connota-
“Would you mind putting a tions first.
rope in your mouth so I can Mondi: dry wooded areas
hold on? That way I can sit found on the ABC islands.
up straight,” Nanzi asked. Shon Arei: The King
Cha Tiger growled in re- Shi Maria: Nanzi’s wife.
luctance but said OK. And Story and pictures are from
so they made their way to “Kon Nanzi a Nek Shon Arei
Shon Arei. (i otro kuentanan antiano
di e araña sabi)” by Nilda
Once they started traveling Pinto.q
through the mondi, Nanzi
turned to Cha Tiger and
said: “These mosquitos are
so annoying! Cha Tiger, do
you mind if I cut a piece of
branch so I can keep these
mosquitos away?” Cha Ti-
ger let him take his branch.
Eventually they made it
out the mondi to where ev-
eryone else was. Nanzi im-
mediately perked up and
whacked Cha Tiger with his
branch, making the tiger
jump. He ran all the way to
Shon Arei’s castle. Exhaust-
ed, he plumped down in