Page 10 - AHATA

Thursday 24 OcTOber 2024 locAl
A10

Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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