Anansi and the Oldest Animals

The animals debated who was oldest, and Anansi was judge.

Guinea-Fowl said, "I lived before the Great Fire. I stamped the Fire out with my feet; that's why my legs are red."

Parrot said, "I am older than tools; I pounded the first hammer into shape with my beak."

Owl said, "I come from a time before night and day!"

Alligator said, "I come from a time when everything was mud."

Anansi said, "I judge myself to be oldest! There was no earth when I was born, and when my father died, I had to bury him in my head."

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Inspired by: The Magic Pot: Nansi Stories from the Caribbean by Odeen Ishmael

Notes: This is story 11. The Oldest Creature. I didn't have room for all the animals, so I left out Elephant who said he came from a time when God had plenty of material to make noses with, but then he ran out of nose material.