Deep in the African savanna, where the sun painted golden hues across the land and the air buzzed with life, there lived a spider named Anansi. Not just any spider, but one renowned for his cleverness and mischief. Tales of his antics were whispered among the trees and echoed in the laughter of children.
One particularly hot afternoon, Anansi lounged on a branch of a thorn tree, his eight legs sprawled lazily as he gazed upon Elephant’s lush melon patch. The melons glistened under the sun, their plumpness promising sweet, juicy flesh. Anansi’s stomach rumbled. “Ah, those melons,” he mused, licking his lips. “So ripe, so succulent. But why toil under the sun when I can enjoy the fruits of another’s labor?”
He waited patiently, eyes fixed on Elephant, who was diligently tending to his garden. As the sun climbed higher, Elephant wiped the sweat from his brow and decided to rest, retreating to the shade of his hut for a midday nap.
Seizing the opportunity, Anansi scurried down the tree and approached the largest melon in the patch. With a sharp thorn, he pierced a small hole into its rind and slipped inside. The cool, moist interior was a relief from the heat, and the sweet aroma made his mouth water. Without hesitation, Anansi began to feast, savoring the melon’s flesh.
He ate and ate until his belly was round and tight. Satiated, he decided it was time to leave. But as he tried to squeeze through the hole he had entered, he realized he was stuck. “Oh no,” he groaned, pushing and wriggling. “I’ve eaten too much. I can’t get out!”
Resigned, Anansi settled inside the melon, hoping that with time, his body would shrink, allowing him to escape. As he waited, boredom set in. But Anansi, ever the trickster, soon devised a plan to amuse himself.
When Elephant returned to his garden, he picked up the very melon housing Anansi. At that moment, Anansi called out, “Hey! Watch it! You’re squeezing me!” Startled, the Elephant looked around. “Who said that?” “I did,” the voice replied. “Down here, in the melon.”
The Elephant’s eyes widened. “A talking melon? Incredible!” Eager to share this marvel, Elephant decided to present the talking melon to the king. As he journeyed, he encountered various animals—Hippo, Warthog, Ostrich, Rhino, and Turtle. Each time, the melon would speak, often making witty or sarcastic remarks, leaving the animals both amazed and bewildered.
Upon reaching the palace, the Elephant bowed before the king, presenting the melon. “Your Majesty, behold a talking melon!” The king leaned forward, intrigued. “Speak, melon.” But the melon remained silent. “I command you to speak!” the king demanded. Still, no response. Frustrated, the king exclaimed, “What nonsense! Talking melons? Ridiculous!”
At that moment, Anansi couldn’t resist. “Ridiculous indeed, talking to a melon!” The king’s face turned crimson. Enraged, he hurled the melon across the courtyard. It smashed against a tree, splitting open. Anansi, now slim enough, crawled out, chuckling. “Ah, freedom at last!” He scurried away, leaving behind a trail of laughter and astonishment.
✧ Commentary:
This tale of Anansi and the Talking Melon is a delightful exploration of wit, mischief, and the consequences of deception. It is a lighthearted but sharp reminder of how wit can both amuse and deceive. Anansi, as always, uses his cleverness to entertain himself — but he does it at others’ expense. He doesn’t steal for survival here, nor trick someone to right a wrong. Instead, he causes confusion purely for mischief.
✧ Moral:
Wit can open doors — or stir trouble. Use it wisely. Not everything is as it seems — sometimes, a clever lie hides in plain sight. Don’t believe everything you hear… especially from a melon. Winks!
✧ Questions & Answers:
1. Q: Why did Anansi crawl into the melon in the first place? A: He wanted to eat the sweet fruit, but after overeating, he couldn’t get out.
2. Q: How did the melon start talking? A: Anansi, stuck inside, spoke from within the melon, pretending it was the fruit talking.
3. Q: What was Elephant’s reaction to the talking melon? A: He was amazed and took it as a gift to the king.
4. Q: Why did the king get angry? A: The melon went silent when the king commanded it to speak, making him feel mocked.
5. Q: What happened when the king threw the melon? A: It cracked open, and Anansi crawled out — laughing and free at last.
6. Q: What lesson does this story teach? A: That intelligence can be entertaining, but mischief has consequences — and truth isn’t always obvious.
