Page 9 - AHATA

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Saturday 21 June 2025

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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