Story: Once upon a time, living in the waters of the Ganges river was a crocodile couple. Among the fig-trees planted in the bank of the river lived a great, mighty, and smart Monkey. The Monkey was well-to-do and powerful that one day an urge came over the female crocodile to devour the Monkey and his precious heart. Therefore, the female crocodile begged and pleaded to her husband that he retrieve the Monkey's heart for her. The Crocodile finally gave in to his wife's request and devised a plan on how to lure the Monkey into the Ganges river so his wife can enjoy the Monkey's heart. As the Crocodile was attempting to brainstorm a plan, he noticed that the Monkey would come to the bank of the Ganges to enjoy some refreshing water. When the Crocodile noticed this, the light bulb went off inside his head.
Therefore, on the next day, as the wise Monkey was enjoying the fresh water of the Ganges, the Crocodile drew near to him and said, "Monkey, why do you keep on eating these old and disgusting fruits when there are fresh and juicy mangoes and labujas waiting for you to be eaten just on the other side of the Ganges river?"
The Monkey responded, "The Ganges is far too dangerous for me to cross it. I cannot possibly swim across this river. How should I ever be able to get to the other side?"
A huge smile was seen on the Crocodile's face as he said, "Well, I can take you there!"
Intrigued by the Crocodile's kindness, the monkey climbed onto the Crocodile's back. However, halfway through the journey to cross the Ganges, the cunning Crocodile threw the Monkey off his back and drown him in the cold waters of the Ganges.
The Monkey was horrified at what the Crocodile was doing to him and cried out, "Why are you doing this to me?"
With a devious laugh, the Crocodile responded, "You fool! You thought I was going to bring you the other side of the Ganges? Nonsense! I brought you to the depths of the Ganges so my dear wife can finally devour your precious heart."
The Monkey remained calm as he listened to the Crocodile's plan. Then the Monkey thinking on his feet said to the Crocodile, "Well if your wife wants my heart, we must swim back to the bank of the river. Something as precious and valuable as my heart is safely kept among the figs in the fig-trees."
The Crocodile was a bit confused at what the Monkey said. However, he was extremely desperate to fulfill his wife's desire that without thinking he said, I will take you back to the fig-trees if you promise me your heart. In return for your heart, I will not kill you."
The Monkey nodded his head in agreement and the Crocodile brought him back to the fig-trees. The Monkey leaped off the Crocodile's scaly back and climbed to safety at the top of a fig-tree.
As the Monkey settled into branches of the fig tree, he chuckled and said to the Crocodile, "Oh how stupid you are! You actually believed that I kept my heart up here? Your stupid eagerness will never be a match for my wisdom!"
As the Monkey laughed, the Crocodile left feeling stupid and betrayed. The Monkey was wise and clever, and outwitted the cunning and devious Crocodile. As the Crocodile went home, empty-handed, the wife was desperate for a heart to eat that the Crocodile sacrificed himself and allowed his wife to eat his own precious heart.
(608 Words)
Author's Note: The original story is about a female crocodile who conceives a longing for the mighty Monkey's heart that she ask her husband to get it for her. As the wife's request, he lures the Monkey into the water by telling him that there are yummy and delicious fruits on the other side of the river and that the he would take him there. Halfway through the river, the Crocodile begins to drown the Monkey, but the Monkey asks him what he is doing and the Crocodile spills his plans. The Monkey tricks the Crocodile by saying that his heart is actually in the fig-trees and that he he will get his heart for the Crocodile's wife if he brings him to the fig-trees. When the Monkey is in the fig-tree and away from harm, he tells the Crocodile that he is stupid and that he ended up tricking him. The Crocodile swims away ashamed and embarrassed.
Bibliography: "The Monkey and The Crocodile" from Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie L. Shedlock. Web Source
The Cunning Crocodile and the Wise Monkey. Source: Flickr
I like the ending you added to the story where the husband sacrificed himself. I liked reading the story and reading the authors note's and seeing how much of the original story you kept. The image you have works really well with the whole of your story.
ReplyDeleteI really like this story and the twist at the end! I didn't get distracted and the story kept me hooked! Great job on your writing! It felt like I was reading something from Aesop's Fables. I cannot wait to read some more of your stories. This story was similar to the original one, but you made it your own and it has many distinct aspects different from the original.
ReplyDeleteHi Nikole! Wow, I felt like your story was very easy to follow and engaging. I also really liked your use of dialogue. It makes the reader feel more engaged and involved inn the story. I wonder if the crocodile was actually able to convince the monkey so quickly to ride on his back. It might be nice to read a little more about the crocodile explaining the benefits to the monkey. What if you added in a section of the story that explains what transpires between the crocodiles after he fails to bring the monkey? You could tell a section that portrays the husband relaying his failure to his wife, and her requesting his heart in the monkeys place. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteJessie