Anansi and Seven Bashes UFLI Foundations Lesson 77
Practice Words
Anansi is a spider. He has a big fat belly. He stands in the yard by his home. He pats his belly and smiles. He is so glad to be Anansi.
All the hamlets will have a big bash. Seven hamlets, seven bashes! Anansi can smell the hot dishes from far, far off. He wants to dine at them all.
Anansi will not pick just one bash. He stands where the paths part, and he thinks hard. Weaver Bird calls, 'Anansi, one bash is a lot!' But Anansi has a big plan.
Anansi is in his shop. He cuts a big rope into seven parts. 'One part for all seven kings,' he says with a smart smile.
Anansi trots far, from hamlet to hamlet, with the ropes. 'Tug the rope when the bash starts,' he tells all the kings. Then he trots back to his spot. He hitches the seven ropes to his waist and sits.
Anansi rests in his spot. He thinks of yams, hot pots, and yummy dishes. 'I will dine at all seven bashes,' he chuckles. 'I will dine from sunup to sunset. I am so smart!'
The pots are hot, and the dishes smell so grand. All seven bashes start at the same time. All seven kings smile. All seven kings grab a rope and tug!
Yank, yank, yank! The ropes yank Anansi up off the land. They pinch his fat middle so hard. Anansi spins and spins. 'Help!' he yells.
The ropes drag Anansi far to the west and far up the hills. All seven kings tug and tug so hard. The ropes pinch his middle, and his yell is just a tiny hiss.
At last, all seven kings let go. Anansi drops to the land with a thump. He rests flat on his back and gazes up. Then he sits up. His fat belly is split into two parts. His middle is pinched so thin. Anansi is so glum.
Anansi darts from hamlet to hamlet, but he is so late. All the tables are empty. Weaver Bird looks at his tiny waist. 'Anansi,' she says, 'that was not smart.'
And still, all spiders have a tiny waist, just like Anansi. When a kid has a dish that is so full, Gran pats it and says, 'Not so much, my darling. Think of Anansi and his tiny waist.'
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