Page 11 - AHATA

a7
local Thursday 31 July 2025
Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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