Anancy tries to cross Tiger, gets tangled up with Tar Baby, and leaves Goat stuck with the consequences.
Tiger planted some peas on a bit of land and decided that he would hire Anancy to watch his crop. Maybe Tiger should have known better than to have Anancy as his Watchman. But, then again, Anancy can be pretty convincing. And it’s not sure that anyone else would take the job, given that Tiger was involved.
True to his tricky self, Anancy started to help himself to the peas a little at a time. When Tiger mentioned to Anancy that the ground seemed mashed up and that the peas seemed less plenty than before, Anancy was his best convincing self. He talked and talked like he was talking for dear life, and maybe he was. And after a while, and maybe because he could see that Tiger was listening, and even that maybe Tiger was buying his story, Anancy even got a little bit loud and uppity. At least as loud and uppity as anyone could get loud and uppity with Tiger.
If anyone was listening, it sure looked like Anancy was being treated unfairly by Tiger, and that Tiger shouldn’t have even mentioned missing peas . . . .
“Tiger, man, how you do things so. You hire me to watch peas and now you telling’ me that the ground mashed up and that peas missing. What you saying’, man? I didn’t see a thing and I was here all night. You count all the peas? Being a Watchman late night is hard work, you know. “
“All right, Anancy,” growled Tiger. “All right.” Tiger was unsure, so he remained as calm as he could be, but which was just short of an outburst. “All right. All right.”
But Anancy couldn’t resist continuing to talk, even when he was ahead. “Man, I couldn’t even take peas because I don’t usually . . . really . . . go in to the field, you know. I just watch the crop from outside, and I can see all that happen. And there should be no reason for me or anyone else to be in the field at night except if they’re up to no good.”
“All right, Anancy,” said Tiger. “All right. You made your point.”
But, of course, Anancy just couldn’t leave well enough alone. And so, after what he felt was a decent time, which really wasn’t too long, he went back to his old ways.
But this time Tiger was ready. He decided that he would look into things himself. Talking to Anancy some more would get him nowhere. And he had his reasons for not dealing with things in his normal rough and tough style. At least, he wasn’t ready for that yet. Not without proof. But if and when he could get proof, then God help Anancy.
So Tiger hatched a plan to look into missing peas; and for dealing with Anancy if he was right. He went in early just before Anancy started work and put tar all over a stump right in the middle of the field. Then he put a hat on the stump for added effect. When he was done, Tiger smiled to himself.
Never went into the field, huh. Watch crop from outside. We’ll have to see about that.
“Who’s there?” Anancy called out. He saw the Tar Baby created by Tiger from a small distance as he was foraging around in the field.
No answer. Anancy got closer.
“This is Tiger land, man. Maybe you don’t know.”
No answer. Anancy got even closer.
“Boy, why you just standing there and not saying a thing? Or even running?”
No answer. Anancy reached out and grabbed the Tar Baby.
“Man, let me go. Let me go!” Anancy was stuck and couldn’t pull away.
Anancy pushed and pulled and got stuck some more. Then he lashed out and kicked and got stuck even more. And he fought, and fought. And got stuck still more. And soon Anancy was fully stuck to the Tar Baby and couldn’t move. He was in a pickle.
All the yelling and screaming got the attention of Brer Goat passing by the field.
“Who’s there?” said Goat. “What’s going on?”
“It’s me! Anancy! I’m watching peas for Tiger! I just caught a thief man! Come help! Come help!”
So Goat hurried over.
“Butt him, Brer Goat,” said Anancy. “Butt him. Knock him down. Knock him down.”
At this, Anancy’s head came off the Tar Baby and Brer Goat’s head fastened.
“Kick him, Brer Goat,” said Anancy. “Kick him. Kick him. Kick him.”
At this, Anancy’s two hands came off the Tar Baby and Goat’s two feet fastened.
“Push him, Brer Goat,” said Anancy. “Push him . . . .”
At this, Anancy’s two feet came off the Tar Baby; Anancy was now free and Goat fastened to the Tar Baby.
Tiger found Brer Goat stuck to the Tar Baby the next day, and there wasn’t any time spent in discussion, even though Goat tried to explain . . . .
Well, don’t be a Silly Goat. If you’re going to help, make sure that you know what’s really going on.
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