Anansi and the Turtle
Clever spider Anansi tricked the turtle with soup, but the turtle's underwater house left Anansi wet and hungry.
Once upon a time, there was a clever spider named Anansi. Anansi was mischievous and loved to play tricks on others. One day, he cooked a big pot of yummy yam soup that smelled absolutely delicious.
As Anansi was enjoying the smell of his soup, a turtle happened to pass by. The turtle followed the delightful smell and found Anansi's house. Anansi, being sly, said to the turtle, "Hello, Mr. Turtle! You look tired from your journey. Would you like to join me for some delicious yam soup?"
The turtle, who was very hungry, happily accepted the invitation. But Anansi didn't really want to share his soup. So, he came up with a plan. He told the turtle, "Before we eat, we must wash our hands. It's a tradition in my house." The turtle agreed and went to the nearby stream to wash his hands.
When the turtle returned, Anansi had already started eating. He pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, Mr. Turtle, your hands are still dirty. Please go wash them again." The turtle, being slow-moving, went back to the stream and washed his hands once more.
This happened again and again. Every time the turtle returned, Anansi had eaten more of the soup. Poor Mr. Turtle didn't get a single bite! Anansi continued this trick until he had finished all the soup. He looked at the empty pot and then at the turtle, pretending to be sorry. But he didn't really sound sorry at all.
The turtle looked at the empty pot and then at Anansi. He calmly said, "That's okay, Anansi. I would like to invite you to dinner at my house tomorrow." Anansi eagerly agreed, thinking he would get another delicious meal.
The next day, Anansi went to the turtle's house, which was underwater in the river. The turtle said, "Before we eat, we must take a bath." Anansi, excited about the meal, jumped into the river to take a bath.
But spiders can't swim or dive like turtles! Anansi struggled and splashed in the water, but he couldn't reach the turtle's house at the bottom of the river. Meanwhile, the turtle enjoyed his meal in peace.
Finally, Anansi crawled out of the water, all wet and hungry. He realized he couldn't outsmart the turtle this time. From that day on, Anansi learned to think twice before playing tricks on his friends.
Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, there was a clever spider named Anansi.
Anansi loved to play tricks on others.
One day, he made a big pot of yummy soup that smelled so good.
As Anansi was enjoying the smell of his soup, a turtle walked by.
The turtle followed the yummy smell and found Anansi's house.
Anansi, being sneaky, said to the turtle, "Hello, Turtle!
You look tired.
Would you like to have some of my delicious soup?"
The turtle, who was very hungry, said, "Yes, please!"
But Anansi didn't really want to share his soup. He had a plan.
He told the turtle, "Before we eat, we must wash our hands.
It's what we do in my house."
The turtle agreed and went to the stream to wash his hands.
When the turtle came back, Anansi had already started eating.
He pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, Turtle, your hands are still dirty.
Go wash them again."
The turtle, being slow, went back to the stream to wash his hands.
This happened over and over.
Every time the turtle came back, Anansi had eaten more of the soup.
Poor Turtle didn't get any soup at all!
Anansi kept doing this until he finished all the soup.
He looked at the empty pot and then at the turtle, pretending to be sorry.
But he wasn't really sorry.
The turtle looked at the empty pot and then at Anansi.
He calmly said, "That's okay, Anansi.
Come to my house for dinner tomorrow."
Anansi said yes, thinking he would get another delicious meal.
The next day, Anansi went to the turtle's house, which was underwater in the river.
The turtle said, "Before we eat, we must take a bath."
Anansi, excited about the meal, jumped into the river to take a bath.
But spiders can't swim or dive like turtles!
Anansi splashed in the water, but he couldn't reach the turtle's house at the bottom of the river.
Meanwhile, the turtle enjoyed his meal in peace.
Finally, Anansi crawled out of the water, all wet and hungry.
He realized he couldn't outsmart the turtle this time.
From that day on, Anansi learned to think twice before playing tricks on his friends.
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Reflection Questions
- Why do you think Anansi invited the turtle for dinner, even though he didn't want to share his soup?
- How did Anansi try to trick the turtle? What do you think about his trick?
- Can you explain the turtle's plan when he invited Anansi to dinner, and how it was different from the trick Anansi played on the turtle?
- This story shows that tricks can backfire. Can you think of a situation where a trick didn't work out as planned?
- What does this story teach us about treating our friends and guests?
Fable Quotes
Trickery may taste sweet initially, but it often leaves a bitter aftertaste.
No trickery is too clever, no deceit too deep for the reach of justice.
Actions have consequences, and deceitful tricks can lead to a fate worse than expected.
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