SARUKANI

The Crab and the Monkey

Once Crab and Monkey went for a walk. On the way, Crab found a rice ball and Monkey found a persimmon seed. Monkey was a greedy monkey and he was hungry so quickly he traded the persimmon seed for the rice ball. He ate it in one bite. Monkey told Crab that the persimmon seed would grow. So Crab went home and planted the seed. He tended to it every day and it grew and grew. Finally, some persimmons grew. Crab was very hungry so tried to climb up the tree. After failing three times he asked Monkey to get some for him. Monkey climbed up but then he ate all the ripe ones and threw the rest at Crab. Monkey laughed and ran away. Monkey did this three times and Crab got very angry and wanted revenge.

So Crab got his four friends, Strong Mortar, Sly Bee, the Wise Cow Dung, and the Tiny Chestnut. They all made up a plan and Monkey was invited to Crab’s house. Monkey sat down by the fire. Chestnut was already in the fire roasting himself. Suddenly, Chestnut sprung up and burnt Monkey. He ran to the water barrel to wash his wound. The Bee was hiding in the water and he flew up and stung Monkey while he had his head in the water. Instantly he yelled and tried to run outside. But Cow Dung was waiting. He made Monkey slip and fall. While Monkey was still recovering on the ground, Mortar, who was in the rafters, jumped down on top of Monkey. Monkey, despite his pain, jumped and ran outside, never to cheat or hurt anyone ever again.

Japanese Translation

Retold by: Sam L.

May, 2000

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