There was a boy named Atchoo. His parents went on a journey, leaving Atchoo at home. "Close the door at night!" they warned.
But Atchoo forgot and left the door open.
A hyena entered, grabbed Atchoo, and carried him away.
"Now I'll eat you," the hyena said.
"Not without pepper and salt!" exclaimed the boy.
"I don't have any," said the hyena.
"I'll go home and get some," said Atchoo, and he ran home.
The hyena waited.
Finally, he went to the boy's house. "Atchoo! Atchoo!"
"Stop sneezing!" shouted Atchoo. "I'm sleeping."
Thereafter he kept the door locked at night.
Inspired by: "Pepper and Salt" in Ethiopian Folktales collected by Elizabeth Laird (website).
Notes: You can read the original story online. In the original story, the boy's name is Hantisho, which means "sneeze," and when the hyena comes to the house, he shouts, "Atishoo! Atishoo!" I wasn't quite sure how to make that work in English, but I hope this gets across part of the humor at least.
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