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How Makora brought stories down
Story-teller: Children, listen to a tale, a tale of fun about Makora, the Spider. It all happened in a time not long after animals appeared on earth. Makora thought it might be fun to tell stories in the evening, but he had no stories to tell because Andhi, Djinn of the sky, was the owner of all stories. So one day he went up to Andhi to get some stories.
Andhi: Here comes Makora, climbing into my sky.
Makora: Good day, great Djinn.
Andhi: All my days are good, Makora.
Makora: Of course. We poor earthly creatures are the only ones who have bad days.
Andhi: I’m not going to change that. If that’s why you’ve come. Go home.
Makora: No, I’m here for another reason. I want to buy your stories.
Andhi: (Thundering) What? Buy my stories? (Makora cringes). You climb into my sky and ask me to sell you my stories? Great kings have tried to do so and have been disappointed. My stories are not for sale.
Makora: Don’t be angry with me great one! I’m just a little spider who wants to make others happy. Isn’t there any way you can let me have your stories?
Andhi: (Growling) Why should I give them to you?
Makora: Why? Because I don’t give up easily!
Andhi: Alright, but on one condition. I’ll give you my stories if you can show me two things: a crocodile with no teeth and a quiet monkey.
Makora: There are no such things, great one.
Andhi: If you’re as clever as some people say you are you can find them. Now, go away. I must plan the weather for next week.
Makora: A crocodile with no teeth and a quiet monkey? How am I going to find them?
***
Crocodile: Food! Food! I’m so hungry I cannot do anything. I’m only happy when I’m eating.
Makora: I’ve an idea, crocodile; I know where you can get a meal.
Crocodile: Where, where, where?
Makora: Over there. Look straight ahead.
Crocodile: I cann’t see anything but a big green rock.
Makora: I see a plump, juicy frog that looks like a rock.
Crocodile: A plump frog, I see it now. That frog’s trying to make me think it’s a rock.
Makora: Why don’t you sit quietly on that rock … I mean frog … open your mouth wide, and then shut your jaws as hard as you can.
Crocodile: That’s just what I’ll do.
A while later:
Crocodile: Aow! My teeth!
Makora: Aha! Did you see that Djin of the sky?
Andhi: Yes, Makora. The greedy crocodile broke his teeth. Now find a quiet monkey, and my stories are yours.
Makora: A quiet monkey. That’s going to be a really hard job.
***
Monkey: Chitter, chatter, chitter look how pretty I am -- what a beautiful monkey I am.
Makora: I’ve an idea.
Monkey: Hello, Makora, is something wrong with you?
Makora: It’s not possible. It simply can’t be done.
Monkey: What can’t be done?
Makora: There’s a big reward for the animal that can put five green mangoes in its mouth and still talk.
Monkey: Five green mangoes? Like the ones on this tree?
Makora: Yes, but no one can do it.
Monkey: What’s the reward?
Makora: The animal who succeeds becomes king of the jungle for a week.
Monkey: Oh, oh, oh! I must have that reward!
Makora: But you can’t do it.
Monkey: Yes I can, just watch me. (The monkey starts stuffing his mouth with the mangoes.)
Makora: Excellent! Excellent! Now talk to me.
Silence…
Andhi: Yes, Makora you win. From this day all my stories are yours.
And so the clever spider got the stories from the Djinn and made everyone happy by narrating them.
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