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Ese Ogbe-Odi
I I 0 I 0 I I I
"Ogbedi, the sturdy one, Ogbedi, the very strong one; wrap it up and don't let the points stick out, take care that they don't stick out" were the ones who cast for Big Beast, who wanted to ask Grasshopper to help him on his farm. The same neighborly duty was required of Hen. And he asked Wolf. And he asked Dog. He asked Hyena and he asked the Hunter. He did ask Snake and also Walkingstick. And Fire too he asked. He did ask Rain, he did ask Draught, and last of all he asked the tiny Drops of Dew. Big Beast had been admonished to sacrifice before, and he was told to stay away, to stay away from trouble, which Big Beast had solemly promised, but he came from a difficult family. Big Beast began a farm, and when the time of harvest came he went to Grasshopper, and said: "Friend, help me. Come within seven days and do your duty as a neighbor." Grasshopper answered: "Sure. But look: I have an enemy. And if you want that I come help you on your farm, then don't invite her: it is Hen. Don't ask her to perform her neighborly duty as well." Big Beast declared: "What? She with the pointed beak? I won't invite her, for there's nothing she can do." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Hen, and greeted her as follows: "Mother of many chickens, please help me on my farm, in seven days from now." Hen said: "Oh yes, I'll be there, but please, you shouldn't ask if Wolf will come also." Big Beast calmed her and said: "He with the blackened gums? I do not need him, for what can the gubber do?" This being said Big Beast immediately went to Wolf, and greeted him as follows: "Greetings, you silent stalker, husband of many chickens!" Pleasantly touched said Wolf: "Thank you!" and then Beast asked if Wolf would come to help him. Wolf said: "My friend, of course I’d help you, but for a small, a very tiny problem. Now you have asked me for this helping of my neigbor, I must confess that Dog is not a friend of mine." Big Beast immediately said: "That Dog is worthless. That red-furred animal can do nothing for me. I won't invite him, even stronger: if he shows up I will not let him in!" This being said Big Beast immediately went to Dog, and greeted him like this: "Greetings friend Dog, big son of many barkers!" Dog asked: "What can I do?" Beast said: "Come within seven days and help me with my harvest." Dog answered: "Sure, it's nothing. I only want to ask you not invite my enemy Hyena, for we are not good friends." Big Beast said happily: "Him with the knobbly knees? He's useles. No, don't worry: he will not be my guest." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Hyena, and greeted him like this: "You fast and beautiful animal!" Hyena nodded: "Thank you!" and Big Beast took the clue: "I need your help, my neighbor, to help me on my farm." Hyena promised: "Sure. I'll be there, but please do me just a tiny favor, and don't invite the Hunter; he doesn't like me much." Big Beast then soothingly said: "That fellow with that bag? Why would I ask him, pray? He doesn't know how to work!" This being said Big Beast immediately went to Hunter, and greeted him politely. The Hunter said: "I thank you! What can I do for you?" Big Beast explained to him about the neighbor's duty, and Hunter said: "That's true, I'll come and help you, but then don't invite that slimy horror, you know, that awful Snake." "Of course not," Big Beast said, "Why would I invite Snake? He cannot work, just crawl." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Snake, and greeted him as follows: "Greetings, oh sacred animal!" And Snake said pleasantly: "I thank you, and I will come honor your request. Only," he said, "please don't invite the Walkingstick. I'll come, if he don’t come, for sure." "Oh no," Big Beast said reassuringly, "That long thin one? He cannot help me, so he won't be on the list." This being said Big Beast went straight to Walkingstick, and greeted him politely: "Greetings, friend Walkingstick, killer of many snakes that never eats his prey!" "That's right!" said Walkingstick, "I thank you for your praise!" When being asked the Stick said: "Sure, my friend, I'll come. There is one problem though: I do not much like Fire, and I'd be very sad if Fire too would come." Big Beast sneered: "Who? That red one? I don't like him myself. I think he makes my body too warm, yes, much to hot. No no, I won't invite him." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Fire, and greeted him like this: "You who destroys with heat!" Fire said: "My friend, I thank you. What can I do for you?" Great Beast asked: "Come and help me, and do your neighbor's duty." Fire nodded: "I will come. But not if Rain comes too!". "Oh no," was Big Beast's answer, "Him with the many feet? He can be of no help. Don't worry: he won't come." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Rain, and greeted: "Mighty flood!" "That's me!" said Rain. "What can I do for you?" "Please come and help me, friend, just within seven days." "Well sure!" Rain promised, "But not if Draught comes too! 't Would be the end of me!" Big Beast said soothingly: "That miserable dryness? I won't invite that one, for he would be no use." This being said Big Beast immediately went to Draught, and greeted him like this: "Oh Conqueror of floods!" Then Draught said: "Sure, I'll help you. And may Olodumare bless us far beyond those seven days." That’s all that Draught then said. And then Big Beast went visit the Drops of Dew, not knowing that these soft forces were his sacrifice, that this would make his offer valid. "Dear Drops of Dew, the child of great and pleasant wetness," Big beast said. Dewdrops answered: "I thank you," and was asked to come and help Big Beast. "I'll come," said Dew, "And may Olodumare save us!", but just like Draught he did not speak of enemies. And then the great day came. Grasshopper was the first, greeted by Great Beast with: "You who so nicely jumps." Grasshopper answered: "Thank you", and sat down on the floor. But then, good grief, Hen entered! "Hen, mother of so many," big Beast said greetingly, but Grashopper said uneasy: "I'll be in trouble now!" Hen did have different thoughts: "My prayers have been answered!" until the Wolf came in, greeted by Big Beast with: "Greetings you silent stalker, husband of many chickens!" And Wolf, looking at Hen, said: "It'll be a pleasant day!" But then the Dog arrived who, looking at the Wolf, said: "Dinner has been served!" And then Hyena entered who said the same of Wolf, who cringeing with great fear wet Big Beasts well-swept floor. There was more fun to come, because now Hunter entered, fondling his great big gun while looking at Hyena. "I must now thank Ogun," said Hunter piously, "for this will surely be a very pleasant day." Then Snake arrived, and Hunter did try to hide himself: "Good heavens: I'm deadly scared of that fearsome Hunter!" Snake looked at Hunter hungrily, but then came Walkingstick. He looked at Snake and thought: "I'll beat him up quite soundly," but Fire coming in looked happy at the Stick. Next one was Rain, who had the Fire mighty worried, and then the Draught arrived who had no enemy. Then everybody stood and went out to the farm, for they were here to work, as Big Beast pointed out. They went: Grasshopper, Hen, Wolf, Dog, Hyena, Hunter, Snake and the Walkingstick, then Fire, then came Rain, then Draught, and Dewdrops was the last. There was no food, however, and after hours of working Hen took a bite of Hopper, and Wolf a bite of Hen. Dog then bit Wolf, Hyena took a big bit from Dog, the Hunter aimed his rifle and shot at the Hyena, himself felt Snake's hot poison, and poor Snake in his turn got hit by Walkingstick. Then Fire set fire to stick and Rain extinguished Fire, then Rain was killed by Draught. The only critter left was soft and gentle Dewdrops, and Dew was very shocked. So Dew took over, cooling; soft, gentle drops brought peace upon the host’s big farm, cooled all the victims, more: Dew brought them back to life, and doing so restored the peace among the neighbors...
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