Anansi and the Melon

Anansi the Spider sat in a tall tree, watching Goat work in his garden. “ Goat’s melons look delicious! ” thought Anansi. The spider loved fruit, but he was too lazy to grow anything himself. When Goat left, Anansi dropped into the garden. With a thorn, he carved a hole in a melon. He crawled inside, and began to eat—and eat and eat!

Anansi rubbed his full belly. “ Goat will be back soon, ” he said. “ I must go. ” He tried to crawl out through the hole. But now he was too fat! “ I’ll wait until I’m thin again. ” Anansi grew bored while he waited. When Goat returned, Anansi got an idea.

He loved to play tricks—he could trick Goat! Goat picked up the melon. “ Ow! ” Anansi yelped. “ Who said that?” Goat cried, looking around. “ Me, ” replied the melon. Goat blinked. “ Melons can’t talk! ” “ Yes, we can. ”

“ This is incredible! ” said Goat. “ I must show the queen! ” He hurried toward the palace. Rattlesnake saw him. “ Where are you going?” she called. “ I’m taking this melon to the queen, ” replied Goat. “ It talks. ” “ That’s silly, ” Rattlesnake laughed. “ As silly as—”

“ A kind rattlesnake! ” said the melon. Rattlesnake scowled. “ Who said that?” “ I told you—this melon talks! ” said Goat. “ Amazing! ” said Rattlesnake. “ I’ll go with you. ” Goat and Rattlesnake headed toward the palace. More animals heard the melon talking. They followed Goat and Rattlesnake to the palace.

Goat bowed. “ Your Majesty, we brought you a melon. ” The queen frowned. “ I already have plenty of melons. ” “ This melon is unique, ” explained Goat proudly. “ It can talk! ” The queen stepped closer. “ Speak, melon! ” she ordered.