Ananse and the Pot of Beans, or Why the Spider Is Bald
Ananse smelled beans cooking at a neighbour's house and was invited to wait while they finished.
Any kitchen.
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Ananse and the Pot of Beans, or Why the Spider Is Bald
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Ananse and the Pot of Beans, or Why the Spider Is Bald
Ananse smelled beans cooking at a neighbour's house and was invited to wait while they finished. He was, as always, hungrier than was decent.
The moment the cook stepped out, Ananse pulled off his hat, scooped the hot beans into it and jammed it back on his head — because someone was coming, and a spider caught with his hand in the pot is a spider with a reputation.
The beans were extremely hot.
The neighbour came back and started a long, warm, unhurried conversation. Ananse's scalp began to cook. He nodded and smiled. He said his head felt warm, perhaps he should remove his hat — and his neighbour said no, no, keep it on, you'll catch cold. Steam rose. He excused himself, made it as far as the road, and by the time he tore the hat off, every hair on his head had gone with it.
That is why the spider's head is bare, and why Ananse always wears a hat.
Ananse smelled beans cooking at a neighbour's house and was invited to wait while they finished. He was, as always, hungrier than was decent.
The moment the cook stepped out, Ananse pulled off his hat, scooped the hot beans into it and jammed it back on his head — because someone was coming, and a spider caught with his hand in the pot is a spider with a reputation.
The beans were extremely hot.
The neighbour came back and started a long, warm, unhurried conversation. Ananse's scalp began to cook. He nodded and smiled. He said his head felt warm, perhaps he should remove his hat — and his neighbour said no, no, keep it on, you'll catch cold. Steam rose. He excused himself, made it as far as the road, and by the time he tore the hat off, every hair on his head had gone with it.
That is why the spider's head is bare, and why Ananse always wears a hat.