S: Why Anansi has Eight Thin Legs
FC: An anansi folktale: why anansi has eight thin legs | Retold by:Jessica Dam & Charmie Adajania
1: An anansi folktale: why anansi has eight thin legs
2: Once upon a time, there lived a spider named Anansi. Although his dearest wife was an outstanding cook, he took pleasure in tasting the food that others in the village prepared for themselves and for their family.
4: One day, Anansi stopped by his good friend Rabbit’s house. “I see that there are delicious greens in your pot,” cried Anansi eagerly. Anansi loved the vivid flavor of greens. “Indeed there are.” said Rabbit, “But they’re not quite done yet. Hang about and eat the greens with me, for they will be done soon.”
5: Anansi knew that if he stayed, Rabbit would be sure to give him tasks to complete. “I would love to stay Rabbit, but I am quite busy today.” That was a lie. “I know.” exclaimed Anansi. “I’ll spin a web and tie one end around my leg and one end to your pot. As soon as the greens are done, tug on the web and I’ll come sprinting!” Rabbit was fond of the idea. And so it was done.
6: As Anansi was strolling, he smelled a delicious aroma. “I smell luscious beans cooking in a pot,” said Anansi. “Our beans are almost done cooking. Come and eat them with us,” hollered the monkeys. “I would be delighted to Father Monkey,” said Anansi. Anansi proposed that he spin and tie a web to his leg and the pot of beans. The Monkey Family loved the idea. And so it was done.
8: Once again, Anansi smelled the mouth-watering aroma of sweet potatoes and honey. “Anansi,” yelled his friend Hog, “come and share my food with me, for my pot is full of sweet potatoes and sugary honey. “I would love to join you Hog,” said Anansi. He suggested that he spin and tie a web to his leg and the pot of sweet potatoes and honey. Hog thought the idea was great. And so it was done.
10: When Anansi approached a river, he had eight webs tied to each of his eight legs. “This was a brilliant idea! I wonder whose pot will be complete first,” said Anansi. All of a sudden Anansi’s leg was tugged. “Yay! This is the web string attached to Rabbit’s pot of greens,” exclaimed Anansi. He felt another tug. And another tug. Anansi was being pulled three ways at once! “Oh no,” whimpered Anansi as the fourth web string began to haul him.
11: He rapidly felt the fifth web string tug. And the sixth. And the seventh. And finally the eighth web string. Everyone was pulling on the web strings at the same time while Anansi was being pulled this way and that way. Anansi rolled into the rushing river so that the webs would wash away. Anansi was in agonizing pain when he was pushing himself onto shore since his legs were thinner than a needle.
12: “This was an awful idea,” sobbed Anansi. “Perhaps this wasn’t the wisest choice.” To this day, Anansi crawls about with his eight very thin legs. He never got any food that day either.