Long ago, in a small village called Keejee'jee, there lived a poor woman and her baby boy. The boy’s father had passed away, leaving the mother to work hard every day to get food. Despite her efforts, they were often hungry.
As the boy grew older, he began to wonder about his father. One day, he asked, “Mother, what did my father do to feed us?”
She replied, “Your father was a hunter. He set traps to catch animals, and we ate what he caught.”
“Trapping animals sounds like fun!” said the boy, whose name was ’Mvoo Laana. “I will do the same and see if we can have more to eat.”
The next day, ’Mvoo Laana went into the forest and cut branches from the trees. The second day, he made the branches into traps. On the third day, he twisted ropes from coconut fibers. On the fourth and fifth days, he set up traps all over the forest.
When he checked the traps on the sixth day, he found many animals. He took home enough for his mother and himself to eat. With the extra meat, he went to a nearby town, sold it, and bought corn and other food. Soon, their home was filled with food, and they lived comfortably for a time.
But one day, the traps were empty. Day after day, he caught nothing. Then, one morning, he found an ape caught in one of the traps. As he was about to kill it, the ape spoke.
“Please don't kill me,” it said. “I am Neea’nee, the ape. Free me from this trap, and I will repay your kindness one day.”
Surprised, ’Mvoo Laana released the ape. From a tree, the ape called down to him, “Remember this: Men are not as kind as animals. If you help a man, he might harm you later.”
The next day, ’Mvoo Laana found a snake in the same trap. He was about to call for help when the snake spoke.
“Please don’t harm me,” it said. “I am Neeo’ka, the snake. Let me go, and one day, I will help you in return.”
’Mvoo Laana freed the snake, which moved away quickly but warned him, “Be careful of men. They may repay your kindness with harm.”
On the third day, he found a lion in the trap. Frightened, ’Mvoo Laana started to run, but the lion called out.
“Don’t be afraid. I am Simba Kongway, the old lion. Release me, and I will help you one day if you are in need.”
Gathering his courage, ’Mvoo Laana freed the lion. The lion thanked him but repeated the same warning: “Do not trust men; they might hurt you after you’ve helped them.”
The next day, a man was caught in the trap. ’Mvoo Laana released him. The man thanked him repeatedly and promised to repay his kindness. However, the young hunter soon learned that the traps no longer caught any animals. He and his mother grew hungry again.
One day, ’Mvoo Laana said, “Mother, bake me seven cakes with the little meal we have left. I will go hunting with my bow and arrows.”
With the cakes in hand, he wandered deep into the forest but found no animals. After eating all but one of the cakes, he realized he was lost. Tired and hopeless, he sat down, but suddenly he heard a voice.
It was Neea’nee, the ape. “Are you lost?” it asked.
“Yes,” said ’Mvoo Laana sadly. “I don’t know how to get home.”
“Don’t worry,” said the ape. It ran off and returned with bananas and paw-paws. It even brought water in a calabash. After eating and drinking, ’Mvoo Laana felt stronger. He thanked the ape and continued his journey.
Later, he met Simba Kongway, the lion. “You look tired,” said the lion. “Rest here. I will help you.”
The lion brought him meat and even started a fire for him to cook it. After eating, ’Mvoo Laana thanked the lion and moved on.
Farther along, he came to a well. As he looked in, Neeo’ka, the snake, came out. “I recognize you! You freed me. Let me help you now.”
The snake filled ’Mvoo Laana’s bag with gold and silver chains and told him to use them wisely. Grateful, the young man continued his journey until he reached a city.
There, he met the man he had freed from the trap. The man welcomed him into his home. But while ’Mvoo Laana rested, the man went to the sultan and lied. “A stranger has come to town with a bag full of treasures. He says he got them from a snake, but I think he’s a wizard!”
The sultan sent soldiers to arrest ’Mvoo Laana. They tied his hands and brought him before the sultan. Just then, Neeo’ka, the snake, appeared and stayed by the lying man’s feet. The people were shocked.
“Release the young man,” the sultan ordered. “Why would this man accuse you after inviting you to his home?”
’Mvoo Laana told the sultan everything: how the animals had warned him never to trust men, but he had helped the man anyway. The sultan nodded and said, “It is true that some men are ungrateful, but not all. This man deserves to be punished for returning kindness with cruelty.”
And so, justice was served. As for ’Mvoo Laana, he returned home, wiser but still kind, knowing that kindness is a treasure—even if it isn’t always repaid.
Once upon a time, in a tiny village called Keejee'jee (so small even the chickens kept gossiping about the neighbors), there lived a poor woman and her boy, ’Mvoo Laana. Their home was cozy but empty—especially when it came to food.
One morning, as the boy chewed on a piece of bread so tough it could’ve been a rock in disguise, he asked, “Mother, what did Father do when you were hungry? Did he clap his hands and make food appear?”
His mother laughed. “No magic tricks, my boy. Your father was a hunter. He set traps to catch animals for food.”
“Traps?” said ’Mvoo Laana, eyes wide. “You mean surprise seats for animals? That sounds fun! I’ll be a trapper too!”
The very next day, the boy ran into the forest, full of energy and ideas—though not much knowledge about traps. He cut branches, twisted ropes, and set up traps all over the place. “This is going to be the best animal buffet ever!” he declared.
By the sixth day, his hard work paid off. He brought home enough food to feed a whole village (if the village liked rabbits and birds). His mother clapped her hands. “You’ve done it, my clever boy!”
But soon, the traps went empty. The animals must have sent out flyers: “Warning: Boy with traps in Sector 4—avoid!”
One morning, though, something was caught. It wasn’t a rabbit or a bird—it was a big, grumpy ape. The ape glared at him and said, “Seriously? A trap? On a Tuesday? What did I ever do to you?”
’Mvoo Laana blinked. “Wait… you talk?”
“Yes, I talk. What, you think I just swing around trees for fun? The name’s Neea’nee, by the way. Now, let me out, and I’ll owe you one. Apes never forget, you know. We’re like elephants, but with better hairstyles.”
’Mvoo Laana hesitated, then freed Neea’nee. “Thanks, kid,” said the ape, climbing a tree. “Oh, and one last thing: don’t trust humans. We animals? We’re honest. Humans? Not so much.”
The next day, he found a snake wriggling in a trap. ’Mvoo Laana stepped back, unsure what to do. “Don’t panic,” said the snake. “I’m not here to bite. Just here to negotiate.”
“You can talk too?” asked ’Mvoo Laana, now seriously questioning reality.
“Of course I talk,” said the snake. “I’m Neeo’ka. Now, if you let me go, I’ll help you someday. Snakes are sneaky, but we’re not ungrateful.”
So, ’Mvoo Laana freed Neeo’ka. The snake slithered off, calling back, “By the way, humans? Yeah… not as trustworthy as us forest folks. Just a heads-up.”
On the third day, he found a lion caught in the trap. Now, most people would run at this point, but the lion just sighed. “Oh, wonderful. Stuck in a trap. Could this day get any worse?”
“You’re not going to eat me, are you?” asked ’Mvoo Laana nervously.
“Eat you? Look at you—there’s barely enough meat for a snack. I’m Simba Kongway, by the way. Now, if you let me out, I’ll owe you big time. Lions always pay their debts.”
Taking a deep breath, ’Mvoo Laana freed Simba Kongway. The lion stretched and said, “Ah, freedom. Sweet, sweet freedom. Oh, and word of advice: don’t trust humans. They’re… complicated.”
On the fourth day, the boy found a man in the trap. The man grinned. Too much. “Oh, thank goodness! You’ve saved me! What a hero you are!” he said dramatically.
“You’re not going to betray me, are you?” asked ’Mvoo Laana.
“Me? Betray you? Never! You’re my best friend now!” said the man. Spoiler alert: they were not best friends.
Feeling sorry for him, ’Mvoo Laana freed the man, who thanked him with enough enthusiasm to win an acting award.
Days passed, but the traps stayed empty. Hunger crept back into their home. One day, ’Mvoo Laana asked his mother to bake seven small cakes with the last bit of flour. “Seven cakes?” she asked.
“Six for me, one for emergencies,” he replied. “I’m going hunting.”
He wandered deep into the forest but found no animals. After eating six cakes, he realized he was lost. “Great,” he muttered. “Lost, hungry, and stuck with one tiny cake. Worst hunting trip ever.”
Just then, Neea’nee the ape swung down from a tree. “Hey, cake boy! Need a hand?”
“Oh, thank goodness!” said ’Mvoo Laana. “I’m lost.”
“Say no more,” said Neea’nee, handing him bananas and paw-paws. “First, eat. Then we’ll figure out directions. Rule one of the forest: never think on an empty stomach.”
Refreshed, ’Mvoo Laana moved on and met Simba Kongway, the lion. “You look like you’ve had a day,” said Simba. “Sit. I’ll fix this.”
The lion brought meat and even built a fire. “Stay warm, kid,” said Simba Kongway. “You’ll need it.”
Finally, Neeo’ka, the snake, popped out of a well. “Ah, my favorite human!” said Neeo’ka. “Lost, are we?”
“Yes,” said ’Mvoo Laana. “Also broke.”
“Broke? Not anymore,” said Neeo’ka, filling his bag with gold and silver. “But remember: treasure’s no good if you don’t use it wisely.”
Grateful, ’Mvoo Laana reached a city. There, he met the man he’d freed. “Welcome!” said the man. “Stay with me!”
But while ’Mvoo Laana slept, the man ran to the sultan. “A stranger is here with a bag of treasure,” he lied. “I think he’s a wizard!”
Soldiers arrested ’Mvoo Laana and brought him to the palace. Just then, Neeo’ka slithered into the courtroom and coiled around the man’s feet, hissing loudly. The sultan frowned. “Explain this!”
’Mvoo Laana told his story. The sultan nodded. “Ungrateful humans! Guards, release the boy and throw this man in prison. Let him think about his choices.”
Justice served, ’Mvoo Laana returned home, wiser and wealthier, but still kind. The animals remained his true friends—though the traps stayed in the shed forever.
In Keejee'jee, a village small,
A boy and his mother had little at all.
His father was gone, and his mother worked hard,
But hunger would visit their poor little yard.
“Mother,” he asked, “what did Father do?”
“He hunted,” she said, “to feed me and you.”
“Then I’ll make traps to catch us some meat,
And soon we will have enough food to eat!”
He cut down branches, he twisted rope,
He worked for days with hunger and hope.
At last, his traps were ready to go,
And soon they were filled with animals—oh!
For weeks they feasted, their bellies were full,
But one day, the traps sat empty and dull.
Then came a surprise—a strange sight to see,
An ape in a trap cried, “Please set me free!”
“I am Neea’nee; spare my life, my friend.
One day your kindness, I’ll surely defend.
But heed my warning: Men are not the same,
Their hearts may hurt you; they play a cruel game.”
The next day, a snake in his trap did lay,
“Let me go,” it hissed, “I’ll repay you someday.
I am Neeo’ka, and you’ll see it’s true—
Kindness to me will come back to you.”
Then a lion was caught, with a roar so loud,
But it spoke with a tone that was calm and proud.
“I am Simba Kongway; set me free, my boy,
And one day, your life I will help to enjoy.”
But soon a man was trapped in the snare,
’Mvoo Laana freed him with tender care.
The man gave thanks and promised his aid,
But soon, the boy found his kindness betrayed.
Lost in the forest, weak and alone,
He thought of the traps and the seeds he had sown.
Then Neea’nee appeared with fruits in hand,
“You’re not alone, friend; I’ll help you stand.”
Simba Kongway then found him in need,
With fire and meat, the lion did feed.
The snake brought treasures, both silver and gold,
And told him, “Use these, be strong and bold.”
But the man he saved proved cruel and sly,
He accused the boy with a dangerous lie.
The snake appeared, the truth was known,
The Sultan declared, “Let this man atone!”
’Mvoo Laana returned, with wisdom bright,
Knowing that kindness is its own light.
Though men may hurt, and some may betray,
True friends repay you in their own way.
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