The Faithful Dog (aka. Happily Never After)

Ok, this is our final Ethiopian cultural story that we will share at this time and we have purposefully saved it for the end because it is the most interesting to us, you‘ll see why.

 

In one particular area, there was a poor farmer who had a very, very faithful and intelligent dog. This dog was known throughout the whole area because he was of such a great service to his master. Well, one year, there was a terrible drought and the majority of the farmer’s crops failed. This meant that he had to use the grain in the storehouses for feeding his family. This, then, meant that he had no seed with which to sow his fields the next year. So, he went to the local grain trader to buy some seed, but soon realized that the drought had caused seed prices to go way out of his means. Therefore, the farmer asked if it would be possible that he could receive the seed on loan, to which the trader replied “sure, but what will you give me as a guarantee.” The farmer knew he had nothing of real value to give but looking down at his feet, he said, “What about my dog, he can stay here and serve you until I repay the money. I promise that I will not even be seen with him until the debt is paid.”

 

Because this trader had heard of this faithful dog and knew of the farmer’s great love for him, he immediately agreed to the deal. In the coming weeks, the farmer sowed his fields and the rains came and the new grain sprouted in record time. As harvest drew close, the farmer thanked God for his provision and eagerly anticipated going to redeem his dog. When the crop was finally harvested and sold in the market, the farmer took the seed money and started walking to the home of the trader. Along the road, he surprisingly saw his dog bounding down the road toward him. “What are you doing here?!? We can’t be seen together until I pay this loan. Go! Go back!” he cried. But the overjoyed dog just jumped in the air and rolled on the ground under his master’s feet. Knowing the dreadful consequence of them being seen together the farmer picked up a stick and in order to shoo him away, he struck the dog on the neck. The blow must have been in just the wrong place as the dog immediately fell to the ground, dead.

 

It was then that the farmer saw it. Tied by a thread around the dog’s neck was a small piece of paper. He bent down and read it “Dear Mr. Farmer. I don’t know how to thank you. My child was out in the grass playing when a poisonous snake came against him. However, just before the snake attacked my son, your dog killed the snake. For the life of my boy, I have cancelled your debt and am now returning your faithful dog. I can’t thank you enough, The Trader.” The farmer wept bitterly over his dog’s body. THE END!

 

This story is disturbing. “Daddy, daddy tell me a bedtime story!” “Ok, how about the story of the faithful dog!” “oh yea, we love that one!” I think not.

 

Two questions that I need your help on: what is the moral? And is there any redeeming element in this story or is it just a “happily NEVER after” story?

Let's Kick It

It’s interesting how stories are often used to teach moral lessons to children. That is why this story is so interesting, because the obvious moral doesn’t seem like something I want to instill in my children. Maybe I’m missing it.

 

One day a donkey was walking along with his master when a hyena came to attack the donkey. The master hit the hyena with his walking stick so hard that he fell to the ground dead! Later that night, the donkey told his family of the tragic event on the road that day and so the whole donkey family prepared to go to the lekso (once again, this literally means ‘crying’ and it is the traditional funeral service that happens for several days). So, on the appointed day of the lekso, the whole donkey family got dressed up and went to the hyena’s cave. They entered and, all in a line, they sat along the wall. The hyena family sat along the opposite wall and they just stared at each other for a while (that’s how they go). Finally, one of the hyenas thanked the donkey family for coming and asked where their gift was. You see, it is characteristic for visitors to bring snacks or coffee or something to share with the grieving family. The donkeys nervously started looking at each other and they excused themselves to go outside, for they had brought nothing. Amongst themselves, the leaders of the donkey family said “how stupid we are and what a great insult it is that we brought nothing. Maybe we should give one of these little donkeys as a snack for them to eat. The little donkeys, overhearing their fate being discussed, piped up “Hey, we are so small, we would not be a very good gift for so many hyenas, we should give one of you fat old-timers for them to have a feast!” The leaders weren’t having anything to do with that suggestion and continued to talk about who to offer. Finally, one of the clever young donkeys said to the others “follow me.” He stuck his head in the doorway of the hyena house and said “our generous snack offering is whichever of us runs the slowest!” and with that the young donkeys took off running! The fat old-timers got only a few steps from the house and the hyenas ate very well that day.

 

The Lion's Tail

This story seemed a bit familiar, but we liked it. It has a good message.

 

Once upon a time, a little girl named Yabsera lived with her father, following the death of her mother. They were very lonely until one day, Yabsera was told that her father was marrying again. Very excited to meet her new “mother,” she peeked out the door as an elegant carriage pulled up on the wedding day. Suddenly she was pulled inside by her grandmother and asked to help chop onions (the main ingredient in doro wot!). Her father’s new bride entered the house and for the rest of the evening was surrounded by guests. The few times that Yabsera tried to approach her new mother, someone would grab her and say “Be patient, it’s not time yet.” Well apparently that time never arrived for soon after the party was over and all was cleaned up, Yabsera went to bed sad.

 

Over the next several days and weeks, Yabsera tried to interact with her step-mother but much to her disappointment, she never received any acknowledgement of her presence, besides an occasional cold stare. Yabsera decided to go to her wise grandfather for help and so, after telling him of her frustration, she asked his advice. The grandfather leaned back against the old fig tree and responded, “The key to winning the love of your step-mother is simple, but in order for me to tell you, you must first bring me a hair plucked from the tail of a lion.”Confused by the request, Yabsera went home and thought about her grandfather’s words all evening.

 

The next morning, Yabsera rose early and grabbed a large chunk of meat from the storehouse. Slowly and filled with fear, she went deep into the forest to the cave where a large lion was known to live. Hiding behind a large tree, she could see the lion’s eyes glowing in the darkness of the cave. The lion stood up and walked to the entrance of the cave, staring intently at Yabsera in her unsuccessful hiding spot. Quickly, she threw the meat toward the lion and ran as fast as she could back home.

 

The next morning, Yabsera did the same thing, visiting the lion, throwing the meat and running. Morning after morning, for more than a month, Yabsera brought the lion some food, and each time getting a bit more brave. First she started to look back as she ran home. Then she merely walked home. Then she started to stay behind her tree and watch the lion eat the meat. Then she stayed out from behind the tree. Then, after more than a month of this routine, she started to approach the lion little by little each day. Finally, one day she got close enough to the lion that she could stroke its mane as he was eating the meat she had brought. Amazed that she had won the trust of this powerful carnivore she understood her grandfather’s advice.

 

That afternoon, Yabsera finished her housework and began helping her step-mother with dinner. With great patience, Yabsera made a habit of helping her and not pestering her with questions, which always went unanswered. When Yabsera did speak, her first words were “you are a beautiful woman, I am glad that you married my father.” For the first time, Yabsera’s step mother intentionally looked at her with something other than a cold stare; “thank you” she replied, and they kept working. Slowly, by slowly, with Yabsera’s intentional kindness, the relationship between step-mother and step-daughter grew until the day that Yabsera received her first hug. Being held in her step-mother’s embrace for the first time brought tears to her eyes, feeling the love that she was longing for.

 

The next morning, Yabsera visited the lion again, as she had continued to do for many months now. As she was stroking the lion’s fur she reached down and gently plucked a hair from his tail. When it came time to leave, Yabsera didn’t go home, she went straight to her grandfather’s house. After the formal greetings, Yabsera reached into her pocket and pulled out the lion’s tail hair. She placed it in the hand of her grandfather and simply said “thank you.” Her face told the rest of the story and the wise grandfather smiled as Yabsera quickly ran home to her family.

 

Where's My Change?

In wake of our finishing Amharic language school, we are still posting blogs about our favorite traditional stories we learned in class. If you saw the earlier blog about driving (“Traveling Heavy” from September), you remember seeing the video with all the people and animals on the side of the road/highway. Well, this story comes from that context:

 

This story is told about why certain animals behave differently around cars. Apparently, one day, a donkey, a dog and a goat all got onto the taxi minibus. In every taxi there is a driver and a money collector/destination yeller. This later chap is called the “Redat” (which just means helper). When the Redat asked money from the donkey, the respectable donkey gave him the correct amount (1.90 birr = 15 US cents) and continued sitting in his seat nicely. The dog, however, did not have correct change so he gave the Redat a 5 birr bill and waited for change (which doesn’t always come right away). The Redat finally came to the goat, but just then they arrived at the final destination. The goat jumped out of the taxi and ran away as fast as he could. The donkey calmly exited the vehicle and continued his journey on foot (or hoof). The dog stepped out of the vehicle and turned around to ask the Redat for his change, but just then the taxi sped off. So this explains everything. When a donkey sees a car coming, he does nothing, knowing that he paid his fare. The goat, stricken with fear at the sight of the car, bolts whatever direction he can, thinking that the taxi is returning to get its money. And the dog, just like in the States, immediately chases after the car, of course trying to get his change back from that nasty Redat.

 

Is there a moral to this story? Or is it just an explanation of reality?

Fire on the Mountain

This is a story that you may be familiar with, but it is told in a strictly Ethiopian context. One day, Alemayehu, a young boy, far away from home, was watching his uncle’s sheep when he received the terrible news of a sickness sweeping through his home village. Over the next few days, he drove his sheep home to find that his parents had died of this illness. The only surviving member of his immediate family was his sister who, one year earlier, had been sent to another province to become a houseworker for a very rich man. In order to deliver this news, Alemayehu set out on foot to visit his sister. Upon arrival, the two cried together at the news. With the sister’s invitation and the rich man’s permission, Alemayehu began to work for the rich man as a keeper of his flocks.

 

One day, the rich man entered the compound screaming and yelling in anger and all the servants tried to look busy. Later, Alemayehu and his sister overheard the man yelling about how someone in the village had insulted him. “Who is as strong as me? I am a lion!” he boasted, “in fact, one night I spent the whole night in the mountains with only my mule to keep me warm. Is there anyone as strong as me?” Nobody said anything, except Alemayehu, who was too young to recognize a rhetorical question. “Why yes,” he replied, “I often spent the night in the mountains with nothing but my thin cloak (a very common garment of Ethiopians.)” The rich, proud man was infuriated and challenged him “ok, smarty pants (that’s not in the Ethiopian story), here’s the deal. You will spend the night in the mountains again, with just your thin cloak, if you come back in the morning, I will give you some money and 3 cows. But if you come back in the middle of the night, both you and your sister will no longer work for me!”

 

So, at sundown, Alemayehu was sent to the mountains. During the middle of the night, the cold was very bitter and wind was very strong. Alemayehu tried to stay warm by playing his little flute, but his fingers soon stopped moving. Finally, morning came and a very cold Alemayehu returned to the rich man’s house. Everybody silently rejoiced at seeing him, except the rich man. “How did you survive the night?” he demanded. “I did as I told you, with only my thin cloak. During the middle of the night, I saw a fire in the distance and seeing that flame, I dreamed of being warmed by it.” “Aha! I knew it, you couldn’t survive the night with just your thin cloak. Looking at a fire is just the same as building one yourself! You lose! You and your sister can pack your things! As for me, this very night, I want a big feast prepared in my honor.” All the other servants became silently angry, and started whispering among themselves.

 

As the feast time approached, the smells of nice doro wot (spicy Ethiopian, chicken stew) filled the house and trays full of injera (Ethiopian bread) where brought into the kitchen. The rich man and his friends had gathered around the mesob (eating table) and the hand washing servant performed his role. The magnificent smells continued to roll out of the kitchen as the minutes passed to hours. Growing impatient, the rich man called for entertainment so the kirayi player entered the dining room. His bow moved and his fingers danced on the string and his body swayed with expression, but no sound was heard. After a few minutes, the kirayi player bowed and left. Confused and becoming increasingly angry, the rich man demanded an explanation. It was then that Alemayehu’s sister quietly walked into the room. “I hope that you have enjoyed this magnificent meal and entertainment that we have presented to you,” she said in all seriousness. The rich man exploded “What, I ate no food and heard no music!” “Well, didn’t you smell the rich aromas of doro wot and see the lovely playing of the kirayi? Isn’t that enough?” she questioned. The rich man snapped back, “What kind of man can have his stomach filled by the mere smell of food?” to which Alemayehu’s sister confidently responded “The same kind of man who thinks a boy can be warmed simply by seeing a fire in the distance.” And with that she walked out of the room.

 

The rich’s anger was amplified by the laughter of all his guests that night so without saying a word, he stormed from the room and was not seen again until morning. Soon after the sun rose, the rich man sought out Alemayehu and silently handed him a bag full of money and three of his best cows. Alemayehu and his sister quit their jobs with the rich man, bought a house and started their own cattle herd. Soon Alemayehu became very rich and his sister became known all over Ethiopia for her vast wisdom.  THE END

 

Now what’s the moral of that story?