Page 20 - AHATA

A9
LOCAL Wednesday 30 april 2025

Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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