Page 17 - AHATA

Friday 20 december 2024 locAl
A10

Keeping up with the conniving spider…

Nanzi fools Cha Tiger

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