Python on the Road <oa>
Practice Words
Words featuring the 'oa' vowel team, producing the long /ΙΚ/ or /oΚ/ sound.
Anansi owed Python a debt. Now Python sat on the road at his door, set to eat him up.
'Anansi owes me a meal,' said Python. 'And that meal is Anansi.' His throat was wide and dark. Anansi had to think fast.
'Wait!' said Anansi. 'Python is king of the wood. A king should not eat like the small snakes that roam.' Python held still.
'I go to get red rope for Nyame,' Anansi said with a boast. 'It can hold each knot a king could tie.' He held up the red rope.
Python was proud and quick to gloat. But no one had named him the king who ties the knot. 'Tell me of this knot,' said Python.
'The knot has loops,' said Anansi. 'A long snake can do all six. Small snakes moan and give up.' 'Show me!' said Python.
Python made a loop. 'Loop one! Loop two! Loop three!' said Anansi. Python was full of boast with each loop. He did not see his tail loop round his own long self.
'Now the last loop,' said Anansi. Python bent his long neck and made it. 'A king ties the knot!' Python said. Then he tried to slide down the road. He could not move.
Python shoved and pulled with a groan, but the red rope held tight. 'Anansi! Set me free!' Python roared. But Anansi ran down the path. 'A king alone can free the knot!' he cried back.
Python took a deep breath and let out a roar. 'Anansi cheated a debt!' It rolled through the wood. 'Tell Nyame the Sky-God! Anansi is a cheat!'
Anansi stopped on the road. If Nyame heard he truly cheated, he could lose his tales for good. So Anansi went back. He untied the loops. 'I did not cheat,' he said. 'Python tied a knot no beast has tied. That tale clears the debt.' Python thought a long time. 'Yes,' he said at last.
Python let Anansi go free. The debt was paid, not with a meal, but with a grand tale. It spread through all the wood. Anansi still boasts he beat Python. Python says he was not fooled. The best knot of all was the one Anansi tied with words. And the red rope? Anansi kept it. Anansi can use good rope.