The Lizard and the Stink-Ant

During the dry season, Lizard had become very skinny from lack of food. One day, while hurrying home to his ailing mother, he met Stink-Ant.
When Lizard told Stink-Ant about his mother, he laughed. "If she's as thin as you, no wonder she's sick. I feel sick just looking at you!"
Later that day, Lizard met Stink-Ant again; Stink-Ant had just learned his father was dead. 
When Stink-Ant told Lizard he was going to his father's funeral, Lizard said, "You stink while you're still alive; I can't even imagine how bad your dead father smells."
That's how Lizard repaid Stink-Ant. 


Inspired by: "The Lizard and the Stink-ant" in Tales Tiv Tell by Harold and Ruth Bergsma, 1968.
Notes: You can read the original story online. African stink-ants can reach almost an inch in size! You can find out more at Wikipedia.

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