Anansi and the Talking Watermelon

Anansi and the Talking Watermelon

Early one morning, Anansi the spider awoke to the sound of Possum hoeing his watermelon patch. Anansi peered down from the peach tree where he lived to watch Possum's slow progress. Anansi salivated at the thought of a meal of watermelon, his favorite juicy, red fruit. When Possum set his hoe aside at midday to take a nap, Anansi snuck down his tree for a snack.

While Possum snored, Anansi shimmied down his fine, silk web to the ripest watermelon in the garden. He picked up a small, sharp stone to chip away the melon's rind. He made a hole that he could just squeeze into. He gorged himself as the juices slid down his eight spider legs.

Just when Anansi about had his fill, he heard Possum stir. " Possum will punish me if I am discovered, " Anansi said to himself. He waddled to the hole in the rind and one leg at a time he tried to pull himself out. He was so slippery he couldn't keep his footing. He braced himself against the edge of the hole, but he was so full of fruit that he no longer fit! " Oh no! I am stuck! " he cried. " Now I have to wait until I shrink back to normal size. "

Anansi laid his head upon a watermelon seed in an attempt to sleep. He tossed and turned restlessly. “ This is so boring. What should I do while I wait?" As he pondered his next plot, he heard Possum at the far end of the row. " I know! I will trick Possum into thinking that his melon talks! "

Possum came scratching with his hoe, and as he neared Anansi's melon he heard a sound, quiet as a mouse. “ Who is that?" he asked. " It is I, the watermelon! " Anansi now yelled. " How absurd, watermelons can't talk! " Possum said as he cradled the melon to his ear. " Possum, you have never been a good listener. Watermelons have been talking since before you were born! "