Genjia the chief considered this request reasonable and willingly aGREed.
When Genjia the carpenter left, he went round making a few investigations. He wanted to find out where the chief had got this idea. He eventually discovered that it had originated in a classical document found by Genjia the steward. He put two and two together and concluded that it must be a sinister plot against him hatched by the steward.
He went home and consulted with his wife. "The most absurd thing has happened. The chief wants me to go and build a mansion in heaven. He must have been tricked into it by Genjia the steward. I did not dare refuse, but asked him to hold a Twig Burning Ceremony behind our house before I go. It would be no use trying to disobey him now. There is only one wa
y for me to get out of this alive. The two of us must dig a tunnel under cover of night leading from the field to our bedroom, and then you can hide me there later. In a year's time I will find some way to get even."
The wife was shocked by this tale. Hatred for the steward filled the very marrow of her bones. She was willing to do anything to save her husband. So every day when night fell, the two of them dug the tunnel in secret. On the seventh day it was completed. They sealed the entrance with a slab of stone and scattered soil on it, so that people wouldn't notice it.
The eighth day came, the day for the carpenter to ascend to heaven. At the head of a retinue of elders and stewards and with a GREat din of bugles and drums, the chief came to send him off. They made a pile of faggots in the hemp field and asked Genjia the carpenter to sling his tool-kit over his shoulder and carry his bag in one hand. They made him stand in the middle, lit the faggots and watched the smoke rise, "carrying him up to heaven".
Genjia the steward was afraid that as soon as the faggots were lit, the carpenter would spoil everything by crying out in terror. "Come on !" he shouted to the crowd. "Blow your bugles and beat your drums! Laugh and cheer! Genjia the carpenter is on his way to heaven to build a mansion for our old chief. Isn't that a wonderful thing!"
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Friday, 28 November 2008
The Story of the Three Genjias-3
The chief came over to have a look. Genjia the steward pointed gleefully to the rising smoke and said, "Master, you see, there goes his horse. Genjia the carpenter is on his way to heaven."
The chief was delighted.
The moment the faggots were lit and the smoke began rising into the sky, Genjia the carpenter raised the slab and escaped through the tunnel back to his own bedroom.
He confined himself to his house for a whole year. His wife went to GREat lengths to find milk, butter and other nutritious food for him; and as he did no work, by the end of that year he was plumper and fairer-skinned than ever.
Meanwhile, Genjia the steward tried a thousand and one ways of seducing the carpenter's wife, and she tried a thousand and one ways of avoiding him. He failed completely to attain his goal.
While Genjia the carpenter was hiding at home, he diligently practiced the calligraphy of the Buddhist scriptures. He prepared a document written in the authentic style and kept it on his person. On the first anniversary of his "ascent to heaven" he went and stood on the very spot where he was supposed to have been burned, the same tool-kit on his shoulder and the same bag in his hand. He called out, "How is everybody? I've just got back from heaven."
His wife was the first to come out. She pretended to be extremely surprised and hurried over to report the news to the chief.
The chief was very happy when he heard that Genjia the carpenter was
back. He gave him a hero's welcome with bugles and drums, and invited him to stay in his mansion. He wanted to find out how his father was faring in heaven.
The chief was delighted.
The moment the faggots were lit and the smoke began rising into the sky, Genjia the carpenter raised the slab and escaped through the tunnel back to his own bedroom.
He confined himself to his house for a whole year. His wife went to GREat lengths to find milk, butter and other nutritious food for him; and as he did no work, by the end of that year he was plumper and fairer-skinned than ever.
Meanwhile, Genjia the steward tried a thousand and one ways of seducing the carpenter's wife, and she tried a thousand and one ways of avoiding him. He failed completely to attain his goal.
While Genjia the carpenter was hiding at home, he diligently practiced the calligraphy of the Buddhist scriptures. He prepared a document written in the authentic style and kept it on his person. On the first anniversary of his "ascent to heaven" he went and stood on the very spot where he was supposed to have been burned, the same tool-kit on his shoulder and the same bag in his hand. He called out, "How is everybody? I've just got back from heaven."
His wife was the first to come out. She pretended to be extremely surprised and hurried over to report the news to the chief.
The chief was very happy when he heard that Genjia the carpenter was
back. He gave him a hero's welcome with bugles and drums, and invited him to stay in his mansion. He wanted to find out how his father was faring in heaven.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt-4
Early next morning Skinflint thought Bigmouth must surely be dead. But when he unlocked the
mill door, to his GREat surprise, he found Bigmouth squatting there in a halo of steam, his
whole body in a muck of sweat. Bigmouth stood up at once and begged him, "Master, take pity
on me! Quick, lend me a fan! Or I shall die of heat!"
"How come you are so hot?" asked the dumbfounded Skinflint.
"This shirt of mine is a priceless heirloom," Bigmouth explained. "It's called the Fire
Dragon Shirt. The colder the weather, the GREater the heat it gives off."
"When did you get hold of it?"
"Originally it was the pelt cast off by the Lord Fire Dragon. Then the Queen of the Western
Heaven wove it into a shirt. Later on it somehow fell into the possession of my ancestors
and became a family heirloom. It has been passed down from generation to generation until
finally it came into my hands."
Seeing how unbearably hot he was, Skinflint swallowed the whole story. He was now set on
getting hold of this Fire Dragon Shirt and had completely forgotten the episode of the gold
colt. He insisted on bartering his
fox-fur gown for the shirt. Bigmouth absolutely refused at first, but when Skinflint added
fifty taels of silver to the price, he said with a sigh, "Alas, what a worthless son am I,
to have thus lost my family's treasured heirloom!"
Having said this, he took off his shirt and put on Skinflint's fox-fur gown. Then he
pocketed the fifty taels of silver and strode away.
Skinflint's joy knew no bounds. Several days later his father-in-law's birthday came round.
In order to show off his new acquisition, he went to convey his birthday GREetings wearing
nothing but the Fire Dragon Shirt. In the middle of the journey, a fierce wind came up and
it began to snow. Skinflint felt unbearably cold. The place was far from village or inn
mill door, to his GREat surprise, he found Bigmouth squatting there in a halo of steam, his
whole body in a muck of sweat. Bigmouth stood up at once and begged him, "Master, take pity
on me! Quick, lend me a fan! Or I shall die of heat!"
"How come you are so hot?" asked the dumbfounded Skinflint.
"This shirt of mine is a priceless heirloom," Bigmouth explained. "It's called the Fire
Dragon Shirt. The colder the weather, the GREater the heat it gives off."
"When did you get hold of it?"
"Originally it was the pelt cast off by the Lord Fire Dragon. Then the Queen of the Western
Heaven wove it into a shirt. Later on it somehow fell into the possession of my ancestors
and became a family heirloom. It has been passed down from generation to generation until
finally it came into my hands."
Seeing how unbearably hot he was, Skinflint swallowed the whole story. He was now set on
getting hold of this Fire Dragon Shirt and had completely forgotten the episode of the gold
colt. He insisted on bartering his
fox-fur gown for the shirt. Bigmouth absolutely refused at first, but when Skinflint added
fifty taels of silver to the price, he said with a sigh, "Alas, what a worthless son am I,
to have thus lost my family's treasured heirloom!"
Having said this, he took off his shirt and put on Skinflint's fox-fur gown. Then he
pocketed the fifty taels of silver and strode away.
Skinflint's joy knew no bounds. Several days later his father-in-law's birthday came round.
In order to show off his new acquisition, he went to convey his birthday GREetings wearing
nothing but the Fire Dragon Shirt. In the middle of the journey, a fierce wind came up and
it began to snow. Skinflint felt unbearably cold. The place was far from village or inn
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
The Poor Turkey Girl-4
Turkey Girl ran from the village, ignoring all her new friends who called after her.
When she reached the canyon where she had left the turkeys it was dark and all the turkeys had gone.
Turkey Girl ran through the canyons and mountains calling out to the turkeys. She called and called but the turkeys would not answer her.
The faster she chased them the faster the turkeys ran away from her.
Brush and thorns ripped her new clothes and they became covered in dust and dirt. The beautiful necklace broke and the she
lls were lost in the dark.
Finally Turkey Girl stopped chasing the turkeys and walked back to the village, sobbing and dirty. She knew life would be much harder now without her good friends the turkeys.
That is why to this day wild turkeys are scattered throughout the canyons and mountains.
And because of Turkey Girl’s broken promise turkeys no longer trust humans and run away whenever we come near.
When she reached the canyon where she had left the turkeys it was dark and all the turkeys had gone.
Turkey Girl ran through the canyons and mountains calling out to the turkeys. She called and called but the turkeys would not answer her.
The faster she chased them the faster the turkeys ran away from her.
Brush and thorns ripped her new clothes and they became covered in dust and dirt. The beautiful necklace broke and the she
lls were lost in the dark.
Finally Turkey Girl stopped chasing the turkeys and walked back to the village, sobbing and dirty. She knew life would be much harder now without her good friends the turkeys.
That is why to this day wild turkeys are scattered throughout the canyons and mountains.
And because of Turkey Girl’s broken promise turkeys no longer trust humans and run away whenever we come near.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt
They waited till midnight. Suddenly the horse opened his hind legs. Skinflint sensed that he
was about to "produce." He quickly brought over a lacquered tray and held it right below the
horse's behind. He waited for ages, but nothing happened. Skinflint was so anxious by now
that he lifted the horse's tail, bent down and peered upwards to keep an eye on further
developments. There was a s
udden "splash," and before Skinflint could do anything about it, the horse had splattered
him all over his face. The "liquid gold" ran down the back of his head and down his neck,
covering his whole body. The stench was so vile that Skinflint started jumping and shouting
and then felt nauseous and began to vomit again and again. Next the horse urinated in GREat
quantity, ruining the lovely red carpet. The whole room stunk to high heaven. Skinflint
realized that he had been cheated, and in a fit of rage, he killed the horse.
The following morning, first thing, he sent some of his hired thugs to track down Bigmouth.
But the peasants had already hidden him away. Skinflint's men searched for him high and low
but always came back empty handed, to his fury and exasperation. There was nothing he could
do except send out spies and wait.
In the twinkling of an eye, it was winter. One day Bigmouth failed to hide properly and was
caught by one of Skinflint's henchmen. When he came face to face with his foe, Skinflint
gnashed his teeth with rage and without saying a word, had Bigmouth locked up in his mill.
He had him stripped of all his padded clothes and left him with nothing but a cotton shirt,
hoping to freeze him to death. It was the very coldest season of the year. Outside, snow was
falling and a bitter wind was blowing. Bigmouth sat huddled up in a corner, trembling with
cold. As the cold was becoming unbearable, an idea suddenly occurred to him. He stood up at
once, heaved a millstone up off the ground and began walking back and forth with it in his
arms. He soon warmed up and started sweating. He passed the entire night in this way,
walking around with the millstone and occasionally stopping for a rest.
was about to "produce." He quickly brought over a lacquered tray and held it right below the
horse's behind. He waited for ages, but nothing happened. Skinflint was so anxious by now
that he lifted the horse's tail, bent down and peered upwards to keep an eye on further
developments. There was a s
udden "splash," and before Skinflint could do anything about it, the horse had splattered
him all over his face. The "liquid gold" ran down the back of his head and down his neck,
covering his whole body. The stench was so vile that Skinflint started jumping and shouting
and then felt nauseous and began to vomit again and again. Next the horse urinated in GREat
quantity, ruining the lovely red carpet. The whole room stunk to high heaven. Skinflint
realized that he had been cheated, and in a fit of rage, he killed the horse.
The following morning, first thing, he sent some of his hired thugs to track down Bigmouth.
But the peasants had already hidden him away. Skinflint's men searched for him high and low
but always came back empty handed, to his fury and exasperation. There was nothing he could
do except send out spies and wait.
In the twinkling of an eye, it was winter. One day Bigmouth failed to hide properly and was
caught by one of Skinflint's henchmen. When he came face to face with his foe, Skinflint
gnashed his teeth with rage and without saying a word, had Bigmouth locked up in his mill.
He had him stripped of all his padded clothes and left him with nothing but a cotton shirt,
hoping to freeze him to death. It was the very coldest season of the year. Outside, snow was
falling and a bitter wind was blowing. Bigmouth sat huddled up in a corner, trembling with
cold. As the cold was becoming unbearable, an idea suddenly occurred to him. He stood up at
once, heaved a millstone up off the ground and began walking back and forth with it in his
arms. He soon warmed up and started sweating. He passed the entire night in this way,
walking around with the millstone and occasionally stopping for a rest.
Friday, 21 November 2008
The Story of the Three Genjias-4
On meeting the chief, Genjia the carpenter said in a very serious tone of voice, "When I was constructing the official mansion in heaven, the old chief treated me with exceptional kindness, just as you always do, Master. That's why I'm in such good shape! The mansion is finished, and what a magnificent building it is -- ten times the size of an earthly mansion! Only one thing is lacking: a steward. The old chief misses his old steward dearly. He very much wants the steward to go up to heaven and manage things for him. After a period of time he can come back." This said, he promptly produced the document and showed it to the chief, adding that it was the old chief who had asked him to bring it down.
Genjia the chief read the document and was totally convinced by the whole story. Presently he sent for Genjia the steward and asked him to go and work for the old chief in his newly-built mansion in heaven.
When Genjia the steward saw Genjia the carpenter standing there and looking so well after his "ascent to heaven," and when he heard the vivid description of heaven given by the carpenter, he just didn't know what to think. "Perhaps I really possess some sort of magic power", he thought to himself. "It was my idea for him to go to heaven, and he actually seems to have done so! Perhaps it really is possible to fly to heaven, and the old chief really does have a new mansion there!"
He followed the carpenter's example and asked for seven days to get ready, and a Twig Burning Ceremony to be held in the hemp field behind his house to send him off to heaven. He thought that since Genjia the carpenter could come back, he could too. On the eighth day, as on the previous occasion, Genjia the steward stood in the middle of the faggots with a box on his shoulder and a bag in his hand. As on the previous occasion, there was a GREat din of bugles and drums, and the chief gave the order to light the faggots and send him off to heaven.
But the outcome this time was somewhat different. One difference was that after everything was over, a pile of charred bones was found among the ashes. Another difference was that the steward never came back. He stayed on in heaven forever to help the old chief run his mansion.
Genjia the chief read the document and was totally convinced by the whole story. Presently he sent for Genjia the steward and asked him to go and work for the old chief in his newly-built mansion in heaven.
When Genjia the steward saw Genjia the carpenter standing there and looking so well after his "ascent to heaven," and when he heard the vivid description of heaven given by the carpenter, he just didn't know what to think. "Perhaps I really possess some sort of magic power", he thought to himself. "It was my idea for him to go to heaven, and he actually seems to have done so! Perhaps it really is possible to fly to heaven, and the old chief really does have a new mansion there!"
He followed the carpenter's example and asked for seven days to get ready, and a Twig Burning Ceremony to be held in the hemp field behind his house to send him off to heaven. He thought that since Genjia the carpenter could come back, he could too. On the eighth day, as on the previous occasion, Genjia the steward stood in the middle of the faggots with a box on his shoulder and a bag in his hand. As on the previous occasion, there was a GREat din of bugles and drums, and the chief gave the order to light the faggots and send him off to heaven.
But the outcome this time was somewhat different. One difference was that after everything was over, a pile of charred bones was found among the ashes. Another difference was that the steward never came back. He stayed on in heaven forever to help the old chief run his mansion.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt-3
Bigmouth replied, "There's an old proverb which says, 'The proof of the pudding is in the
eating.' If you don't believe me, allow me to arrange a demonstration."
He asked Skinflint to set up a burner and light some incense. Meanwhile, he himself held a
plate below the horse's behind. He secretly pulled out the wad of cotton and the tiny silver
ingots fell jingling onto the plate. On seeing the horse perform like this, Skinflint asked
avidly, "How much does he produce a day?"
"Three or four taels a day for us less lucky folk," replied Bigmouth. "But the old man in my
dream said that if he meets a really lucky person he produces thirty or forty."
Skinflint thought to himself, "I must be one of those. Supposing I get the horse, he is
bound to produce at least twenty taels a day. That means six hundred taels a month and seven
thousand two hundred taels a year."
The longer his sums became, the fonder he GREw of the horse. He decided that he must buy
him, and talked it over with Bigmouth.
At first Bigmouth pretended to be unwilling. Skinflint tried again and again to persuade him
and promised to pay any price he asked. In the end Bigmouth sighed and said, "Oh well, so be
it. My luck is evidently worse than yours. I'll sell. But I don't want silver or gold, just
give me thirty bushels of grain."
Skinflint considered the price very cheap and readily aGREed. They made the exchange then
and there.
Bigmouth hurried back with the grain and distributed it among his fellow peasants. They were
all very happy to have it. Skinflint, for his part, felt even happier to have the horse, and
just couldn't stop chuckling to himself. He was afraid of losing the horse, however, and
tried to tie him up in a GREat many places, but none of them seemed safe enough. Finally, he
tied him up in his own living room. He laid a red carpet on the floor and set up an incense
burner. The whole family watched the colt in eager anticipation, expecting him any minute to
start producing silver and gold.
eating.' If you don't believe me, allow me to arrange a demonstration."
He asked Skinflint to set up a burner and light some incense. Meanwhile, he himself held a
plate below the horse's behind. He secretly pulled out the wad of cotton and the tiny silver
ingots fell jingling onto the plate. On seeing the horse perform like this, Skinflint asked
avidly, "How much does he produce a day?"
"Three or four taels a day for us less lucky folk," replied Bigmouth. "But the old man in my
dream said that if he meets a really lucky person he produces thirty or forty."
Skinflint thought to himself, "I must be one of those. Supposing I get the horse, he is
bound to produce at least twenty taels a day. That means six hundred taels a month and seven
thousand two hundred taels a year."
The longer his sums became, the fonder he GREw of the horse. He decided that he must buy
him, and talked it over with Bigmouth.
At first Bigmouth pretended to be unwilling. Skinflint tried again and again to persuade him
and promised to pay any price he asked. In the end Bigmouth sighed and said, "Oh well, so be
it. My luck is evidently worse than yours. I'll sell. But I don't want silver or gold, just
give me thirty bushels of grain."
Skinflint considered the price very cheap and readily aGREed. They made the exchange then
and there.
Bigmouth hurried back with the grain and distributed it among his fellow peasants. They were
all very happy to have it. Skinflint, for his part, felt even happier to have the horse, and
just couldn't stop chuckling to himself. He was afraid of losing the horse, however, and
tried to tie him up in a GREat many places, but none of them seemed safe enough. Finally, he
tied him up in his own living room. He laid a red carpet on the floor and set up an incense
burner. The whole family watched the colt in eager anticipation, expecting him any minute to
start producing silver and gold.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt-2
To which Bigmouth replied, "Oh, nothing, except that when he moves his bowels silver and
gold come out."
In an instant Skinflint's anger evaporated and he hastened to ask, "Where did you get hold
of this beast?"
"I dreamt a dream the night before last," began Bigmouth. "I met a white-bearded old man who
said to me, 'Bigmouth, the colt who used to carry gold and silver ingots for the God of
Wealth has been demoted and sent down to Earth. Go to the northeast and catch him. When he
moves his bowels, silver and gold come out. If you catch him, you'll make a fortune.' Then
the old man gave me a push and I woke up. I didn't take it seriously, thinking it to be
nothing but a dream. I turned over and fell asleep again. However, as soon as I closed my
eyes, the old man reappeared and urged me to hurry up. 'The horse will fall into another's
hand
s if you delay!' he said, and gave me another push which woke me up again. I put on my
clothes and ran out. In the northeast I saw a ball of fire. When I ran over, sure enough,
there was the colt, grazing contentedly. So I led him home. The following day, I set up an
incense burner and as soon as I lit the incense, the colt began to produce silver ingots
from its behind."
"Did it really?" asked Skinflint eagerly.
gold come out."
In an instant Skinflint's anger evaporated and he hastened to ask, "Where did you get hold
of this beast?"
"I dreamt a dream the night before last," began Bigmouth. "I met a white-bearded old man who
said to me, 'Bigmouth, the colt who used to carry gold and silver ingots for the God of
Wealth has been demoted and sent down to Earth. Go to the northeast and catch him. When he
moves his bowels, silver and gold come out. If you catch him, you'll make a fortune.' Then
the old man gave me a push and I woke up. I didn't take it seriously, thinking it to be
nothing but a dream. I turned over and fell asleep again. However, as soon as I closed my
eyes, the old man reappeared and urged me to hurry up. 'The horse will fall into another's
hand
s if you delay!' he said, and gave me another push which woke me up again. I put on my
clothes and ran out. In the northeast I saw a ball of fire. When I ran over, sure enough,
there was the colt, grazing contentedly. So I led him home. The following day, I set up an
incense burner and as soon as I lit the incense, the colt began to produce silver ingots
from its behind."
"Did it really?" asked Skinflint eagerly.
Friday, 14 November 2008
The Gold Colt and the Fire Dragon Shirt-1
There once lived a landlord who loved money as he loved his own life. In his eyes the smallest coin seemed as large as a millstone. He was always on the lookout for some new way of making money and was very mean to his peasant tenants. They all called him "Skinflint."
One year a long spell of drought devastated the area, ruining the entire crop. The peasants, who were used to living from year to year, and never had a reserve of grain to fall back on, were reduced to eating bark and roots to survive, and now even these were all consumed. Starvation drove them to ask for a loan of grain from Skinflint, whose granaries, big and small, were filled to overflowing. Although the grain was sprouting and the flour was swarming with maggots, he was such a miser that he wouldn't part with a single speck of either. His peasants went away seething with anger and resentment, and resolved to find some way to teach him a lesson.
They put their heads together and came up with rather a good plan. They collected together a few tiny silver ingots and also managed to procure a scraggy little horse. They stuffed the silver up the horse's behind and bunged it up with a wad of cotton floss. Then they selected one of their number, a peasant whose gift of gab had earned him the nickname "Bigmouth" and who was credited with the power of talking the dead out of their graves. They sent him to Skinflint with the horse. Seeing them enter, Skinflint flew into a rage. His whiskers bristled.
He glowered at Bigmouth, pointing at him angrily and shouting, "You damn fool! You have fouled my courtyard enough. Get out of my sight!"
"Please keep your voice down, Master," said Bigmouth with a cunning smile. "If you frighten my horse and make him bolt, you'd have to sell everything you've got to make good the damage."
"There you go, Bigmouth, bragging again!" said Skinflint. "What can this scraggy little horse of yours possibly be worth?"
One year a long spell of drought devastated the area, ruining the entire crop. The peasants, who were used to living from year to year, and never had a reserve of grain to fall back on, were reduced to eating bark and roots to survive, and now even these were all consumed. Starvation drove them to ask for a loan of grain from Skinflint, whose granaries, big and small, were filled to overflowing. Although the grain was sprouting and the flour was swarming with maggots, he was such a miser that he wouldn't part with a single speck of either. His peasants went away seething with anger and resentment, and resolved to find some way to teach him a lesson.
They put their heads together and came up with rather a good plan. They collected together a few tiny silver ingots and also managed to procure a scraggy little horse. They stuffed the silver up the horse's behind and bunged it up with a wad of cotton floss. Then they selected one of their number, a peasant whose gift of gab had earned him the nickname "Bigmouth" and who was credited with the power of talking the dead out of their graves. They sent him to Skinflint with the horse. Seeing them enter, Skinflint flew into a rage. His whiskers bristled.
He glowered at Bigmouth, pointing at him angrily and shouting, "You damn fool! You have fouled my courtyard enough. Get out of my sight!"
"Please keep your voice down, Master," said Bigmouth with a cunning smile. "If you frighten my horse and make him bolt, you'd have to sell everything you've got to make good the damage."
"There you go, Bigmouth, bragging again!" said Skinflint. "What can this scraggy little horse of yours possibly be worth?"
Thursday, 13 November 2008
The Poor Turkey Girl
“Ok, talking turkeys! I’m cool with that,” said Turkey Girl. “Now what were you saying about the dance?”
The old turkey said, “If you trust us and do what we say, we can help you go to the dance.”
“But I’ve got nothing to wear except these old clothes, and I’m dirty,” cried the girl.
The turkeys stared at her without saying a word.
“Ok, I trust you,” said Turkey Girl. “You've been my only friends all these years.”
The old turkey told her to take off her dress and put it on the ground. He then strutted back and forth on it, picking at it with his beak and beating it with his wings.
The other turkeys circled around Turkey Girl, brushing her with their wings and combing her hair with their beaks until her skin was clean and smooth and her long black hair was shining and wavy.
When the turkeys stepped away from her, the old turkey stood there, holding a beautifully embroidered white dress in his beak. Turkey Girl put it on.
A large turkey lifted his wing and out fell a pair of the finest white moccasins.
Another turkey coughed and out came a sparkling shell necklace.
Dressed in her new clothes and with her glowing face, Turkey Girl looked truly beautiful.
She thanked the turkeys and turned to leave the canyon to go to the dance.
The old turkey said, “If you trust us and do what we say, we can help you go to the dance.”
“But I’ve got nothing to wear except these old clothes, and I’m dirty,” cried the girl.
The turkeys stared at her without saying a word.
“Ok, I trust you,” said Turkey Girl. “You've been my only friends all these years.”
The old turkey told her to take off her dress and put it on the ground. He then strutted back and forth on it, picking at it with his beak and beating it with his wings.
The other turkeys circled around Turkey Girl, brushing her with their wings and combing her hair with their beaks until her skin was clean and smooth and her long black hair was shining and wavy.
When the turkeys stepped away from her, the old turkey stood there, holding a beautifully embroidered white dress in his beak. Turkey Girl put it on.
A large turkey lifted his wing and out fell a pair of the finest white moccasins.
Another turkey coughed and out came a sparkling shell necklace.
Dressed in her new clothes and with her glowing face, Turkey Girl looked truly beautiful.
She thanked the turkeys and turned to leave the canyon to go to the dance.
Monday, 10 November 2008
The Poor Turkey Girl-4
“Before you go” said the old turkey “You must promise not to forget us here in the canyon and come back before it is dark, to take us back to our cages.”
“I promise!” shouted Turkey Girl, as she turned and ran towards the village. “You can trust me.”
When Turkey Girl reached the village no one recognised her in her gorgeous new clothes.
All the young men looked at her admiringly, wondering who this beautiful young woman was. All the young women GREeted her warmly.
At first Turkey Girl was a bit shy and found it hard to talk but gradually she joined in the dancing.
The more she relaxed, the more she enjoyed herself and danced and danced, forgetting about the turkeys.
It wasn’t until she noticed the long shadows cast by the sun as it sank behind the mountains, that she remembered the turkeys.
“I promise!” shouted Turkey Girl, as she turned and ran towards the village. “You can trust me.”
When Turkey Girl reached the village no one recognised her in her gorgeous new clothes.
All the young men looked at her admiringly, wondering who this beautiful young woman was. All the young women GREeted her warmly.
At first Turkey Girl was a bit shy and found it hard to talk but gradually she joined in the dancing.
The more she relaxed, the more she enjoyed herself and danced and danced, forgetting about the turkeys.
It wasn’t until she noticed the long shadows cast by the sun as it sank behind the mountains, that she remembered the turkeys.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
The Poor Turkey Girl-2
For the next three days as Turkey Girl walked with her turkeys into the canyons, she sighed and talked to the birds about the dance.
“It would be so cool to go to that dance.” she sighed.
The turkeys kept walking.
“But it’s never going to happen. And even if I could go I don’t have a nice dress to wear. Everyone would laugh at me,” she said to the turkeys.
The turkeys kept walking.
On the fourth day as Turkey Girl talked and thought about the dance she didn’t notice that the turkeys had led her further into the canyons than she had ever been before.
The turkeys stopped and circled her.
The oldest turkey flapped his wings, strutted up to her and said “We can help you go to the dance.”
Turkey Girl stared at the old turkey with her mouth wide open, unable to speak
Finally she screamed, “You spoke to me, you really spoke to me! Wow! My turkeys can talk!”
“Yes we can talk when we want to,”
said the old turkey. “Now get over it!”
“It would be so cool to go to that dance.” she sighed.
The turkeys kept walking.
“But it’s never going to happen. And even if I could go I don’t have a nice dress to wear. Everyone would laugh at me,” she said to the turkeys.
The turkeys kept walking.
On the fourth day as Turkey Girl talked and thought about the dance she didn’t notice that the turkeys had led her further into the canyons than she had ever been before.
The turkeys stopped and circled her.
The oldest turkey flapped his wings, strutted up to her and said “We can help you go to the dance.”
Turkey Girl stared at the old turkey with her mouth wide open, unable to speak
Finally she screamed, “You spoke to me, you really spoke to me! Wow! My turkeys can talk!”
“Yes we can talk when we want to,”
said the old turkey. “Now get over it!”
Thursday, 6 November 2008
The Poor Turkey Girl-1
A very long time ago in the village of Shufinne, a young orphan girl lived with her aunt.
The aunt spoilt her own children but was very mean to the little girl. She made her work from sunrise to sunset gathering wood, working in the fields, patching the mud walls of their house and looking after the turkeys.
Each morning the girl would let the turkeys out of their cages and take them into the canyons to let them search for food.
Each night she would go up into the canyons and call the turkeys to come home. They would gather round her and follow her back to their cages. Everyone in the village, including her cousins, called her Turkey Girl.
She was often sent off with the turkeys without any breakfast, and many times she went to bed hungry at night.
Turkey Girl worked hard for years. No one showed her any kindness. But she was very kind and caring to the turkeys. They loved her in return and came immediately she called them at night to lead them back to their cages.
Gradually Turkey Girl GREw into a young woman. But she always looked dirty and tired from all the hard work she did. Her hair was a tangled, untidy mess and her clothes were patched and tattered hand downs from her cousins.
One day it was announced there would be a big dance in the village in four days time. Everyone was excited. Turkey Girl’s cousins began sewing new mantas or dresses for the dance. They laughed as they sewed, and talked about how wonderful they would look at the dance.
Turkey Girl knew she was not invited and even if she was, she had nothing to wear. Everyone would laugh at her dirty and patched clothes.
The aunt spoilt her own children but was very mean to the little girl. She made her work from sunrise to sunset gathering wood, working in the fields, patching the mud walls of their house and looking after the turkeys.
Each morning the girl would let the turkeys out of their cages and take them into the canyons to let them search for food.
Each night she would go up into the canyons and call the turkeys to come home. They would gather round her and follow her back to their cages. Everyone in the village, including her cousins, called her Turkey Girl.
She was often sent off with the turkeys without any breakfast, and many times she went to bed hungry at night.
Turkey Girl worked hard for years. No one showed her any kindness. But she was very kind and caring to the turkeys. They loved her in return and came immediately she called them at night to lead them back to their cages.
Gradually Turkey Girl GREw into a young woman. But she always looked dirty and tired from all the hard work she did. Her hair was a tangled, untidy mess and her clothes were patched and tattered hand downs from her cousins.
One day it was announced there would be a big dance in the village in four days time. Everyone was excited. Turkey Girl’s cousins began sewing new mantas or dresses for the dance. They laughed as they sewed, and talked about how wonderful they would look at the dance.
Turkey Girl knew she was not invited and even if she was, she had nothing to wear. Everyone would laugh at her dirty and patched clothes.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Having been married
Having been married a long time, my husband sometimes needs a gentle reminder of a special occasion. On the morning of our 35th anniversary, we were sitting at the breakfast table when I hinted, "Honey, do you realize that we've been sitting in these same two seats for exactly 35 years?" Putting down the newspaper, he looked straight at me and said, "So, you want to switch seats?"
learn chinese
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