Tricking the lion (5)
Created on: Monday, March 10, 2025
This story is based on an African folktale. Two boys (Leboo and Legishon) are asked to fetch some firewood from the woody hillside. On their way, one of them spots the flick of a lion’s tail. Scared stiff, he urges the other to get back, but the other persuades him to go further, saying that the lion hasn’t noticed them. After making a bundle of firewood, the boys argue again over which way they are to choose. One of them, frightened of the lion, chooses the longer path over the hill, but the other takes the shorter one.
Suddenly, the lion jumps out of the bushes and blocks his way. The lion has been watching them all the time and waiting for them. He wants their brain because he has heard that humans are geniuses, and if any animal eats their brains, it gets smart too. The boy says: If I had a brain, I wouldn’t come this way; my friend is more astute. The lion goes to catch the other. But the other boy plays the fool and tricks him again. The boys keep fooling the lion until they make it safe and sound to the village and the lion lets go of them. The lion is happy that he didn’t eat those stupid minds.
Published by: Opal publishing house, Sweden
