Page 19 - AHATA

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Monday 12 May 2025

Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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