B1. Anansi And The Gum Doll

Anansi & The Gum Doll

Anansi loved eating yams from the farmer's field. Every night, he sneaked in and stole the best yams. The farmer was angry about this.

One day, the farmer had an idea. He made a doll out of sticky gum and put it in the field. He dressed it in old clothes and a hat. Then, he waited.

That night, Anansi came to the field as usual. He saw the small figure and thought it was a child.

"Hey, little one," Anansi said softly. "What are you doing here?"

The gum doll said nothing.

Anansi moved closer. "Can you help me get some yams?" he said.

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The doll was silent.

Anansi got angry. "Why won't you answer me?" he shouted. He hit the doll with his right hand.

Stick! His hand got caught in the sticky gum.

"Let go of my hand!" Anansi yelled. He hit the doll with his left hand.

Stick! Now, both hands were stuck.

Anansi was really mad now. He kicked the doll with his right foot.

Stick! His foot got stuck too.

Panicking, Anansi kicked it with his left foot.

Stick! All four limbs were now trapped in the sticky gum.

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Anansi used his head against the doll to try to break free.

Stick! Now even his head was stuck!

"Help! Help!" Anansi cried out, but no one came all night.

At sunrise, the farmer found Anansi stuck and laughed. "Now I've caught you, yam thief!" the farmer said.

"I'm sorry," Anansi said. "Please let me go. I promise I won't do it again."

The farmer thought for a moment. "Okay, only if you work in my field for a month to pay for the stolen yams."

Anansi agreed. The farmer carefully pulled him off the gum doll.

While working in the hot sun, Anansi learned how much effort growing food takes. He felt ashamed for the times he'd stolen it. He also learned not to follow his greed.