The Tortoise and The Lizard

Once upon a time in a land far away. The Tortoise and the Lizard were friends. The Lizard was one of the Kings aides, he was in charge of the Kings treasury. The Tortoise had made attempts to know where the keys to the Kings Treasuries were kept but to no avail. So one day he got the Lizard drunk with an exotic wine and was able to extract the information he needed. The keys to the Kings Treasury were actually a necklace worn by the Lizard! The Tortoise took the key and stole the Kings gold bars. He hid the gold in his farms, but before he could return the key, the Lizard was conscious. The Lizard pretended to be sleeping as the Tortoise returned the key to his neck. When he stood, the Tortoise shuddered and smiled. 'I knew you took this key to steal from the King!' the Lizard yelled. 'But your handiwork will be revealed soon.' 'I dont understand your sudden outburst.' The Tortoise replied. The Lizard walked away with anger, he knew that he had no proof to nail the Tortoise, so he had to be sure before accusing his friend. The village gong rented the air after some days. The Kings Treasury had been looted and a search was announced for the lost gold. So the search began and the Lizard spied on the Tortoise. One day the Lizard followed the Tortoise to his farm without the knowledge of the Tortoise and there he saw the missing gold stacked under a pile of wood. Now the Tortoise had a habit of chewing meat and dried yam on the farm. 'I knew it was you!' the Lizard shouted. The Tortoise turned surprised, he knew he has been busted and the best thing to do is to find a way out. 'Ah my friend. You never cease to amuse me. So you followed me down here. Ha ha, but we can have some breakfast together if you dont mind.' 'You cant bribe me with your meat and yam' the Lizard responded. 'Who talked about bribing? Wont you share my food as usual? I dont care what you tell the King about me!' the Tortoise said. 'Really! Ok, I will eat with you if you are sincere!' 'Of course, as old times we can feed each other', the Lizard agreed and the Tortoise took the bony part of the meat and as the Lizard opened his mouth to be fed, pierced the Lizards tongue. The Lizard tried to talk but he couldnt, all he could do was to nod. That's why Lizards only nod and cant talk, and so anytime you see the Lizard ask him about the Kings Treasure, bet me he would just nod. Morally, this is an issue of trust. Knowing the type of people we confide in matters in life. It is better to have a frowning enemy than to have a smiling bad friend who will betray you.

The Tortoise and the Boar

Once in a land far, far away... The Tortoise and the Boar made friends. There friendship was known all over the land. The two families were very close. One day the Tortoise asked the Boar to lend him some money. Out of the old friendship which existed between the two families, the Boar lent out the money. It was agreed that the money would be paid back on a fortnight. The Tortoise made plans with his wife to deceive the Boar so as to prolong the repayment date. He asked his wife to use his hard back shell as a grinding stone and to tell the Boar that he wasnt around whenever he came. A day after the agreed date of repayment, the Boar walked in, full of smiles he saw the Tortoise wife grinding pepper on a stone. He asked after his friend. 'He went to the farm not too long ago' the Tortoise wife lied. The Boar ran off towards the Forests in search of the Tortoise. But he was no where near the farms. He walked back home. The next day he came back. 'He went to see the Cock' the Tortoise wife lied again. The Boar ran off again. This time he asked other animals on the road if they have seen the Tortoise but none had seen him and he wasn't at the Cocks place either. Sensing that the Tortoise might be playing a trick on him, the Boar in anger returned to the Tortoise house and took the grinding stone from the Tortoise wife. He wasnt thinking, he flung the stone far into the shrubs. A few minutes later, the Tortoise walked into his compound. He saw the angry Boar. 'What is it my friend Why is yur face red?' he asked 'I've come for my money' the Boar answered. The Tortoise demanded for his grinding stone and vowed never to pay the Boar if he wont return his stone. The Boar rushed into the shrubs in search of the stone. He was picking every stone on the ground with his snout to see if they belonged to the Tortoise. Up till now the Boar still picks the ground in search of the Tortoise grinding stone. It is wrong to play on peoples intelligence.

The Tortoise and The Dove.

Before I tell this tale let me point out some facts, especially to my friends who are not Africans. In the African societies, the Tortoise is perceived as a shrewd and cunny animal. Naturally slow and quiet, one might ponder why this animal is generally considered a cunny fellow. I don't know the reason as well, but it has been this way since I was a kid. This short tale is perhaps not my best Tortoise story but a moral I love it possesses. And each time a tale is to be told here in the countryside, we sit under some tree shade on moonlit nights out listening to a tale teller. The Dove and the Tortoise. In a certain land. The Tortoise made friends with the Dove. The Dove was a stammerer so couldn't talk properly. They lived together and ate together. One day, the Tortoise made a law; if you must eat you must pronounce your name. On that day they made porridge and the Tortoise shouted his name. He crawled up to the food and started eating. The Dove tried calling his name but all he could say was 'Dodovo, Dod, Dovoo'. This continued till the food finished. Recall that the Dove was a stammerer. The next day it was Doves turn to make a law. And his law was, if you must eat you must wash your hands without soiling them. The meal was soup. The Dove washed up and 'flew' up to the food. The Tortoise washed and as he crawled towards the food, he soiled them. Remember he could only crawl. He tried again and again, to nothing. It dawned on him that he lost. He sat down and cried. The Dove ate all the soup and laughed. After this they decided not to make any other selfish laws in the house. They lived in peace once more... I believe the morals are visible and I hope we all take others into consideration before we make our decisions. I'm out for the day!