Brer Annancy and Caribbean Readers

The trickster more likely to be a Trinidadian


Brer Annancy and Brer Alligator

At last the moon rose and he went to see what he could do. He saw a stick lying by the water. He picked up the stick and threw it in. The stick floated. "Ha! Ha!' said Brer Annancy. "If a stick can float so can I." So he put his bag of bird-cherries on his back and jumped in.

Brer Alligator saw Annancy jump. He smiled. Annancy saw Brer alligator, and the smile on his face. Brer Annancy did not like that smile. It was not a nice smile. As Brer Annancy got nearer, Brer alligator's smile got larger. But Brer Annancy was clever. He said: " Look I have bird-cherries for you." said Brer Annancy. "That is very nice of you" said Brer Alligator. "My wife is very fond of bird-cherries. You much come and give them to her."

So they went down to Mrs. alligator. She was very pleased with them. She said; " I have just set the table. You much stay for supper Brer Alligator said: "You must stay the night. We will send you back home to your wife and children tin the morning."

The house was small, so Brer Annancy had to sleep with the children. Now, the children were ten eggs. during the night, Brer Annancy felt hungry, so he ate nine of the ten eggs.

Next morning he said: " you have a lot of work to do. Let me help. I will wash the children." Brer Annancy took out the egg and washed it. Then he took it back and put mud on it. The he took it out and washed it again, and again and again. Brer Annancy washed that egg ten times.

By this time Miss alligator had cooked a nice meal. Brer Annancy was hungry. He ate well. Then Brer Alligator put him in a boat. Two fish rowed and Annancy sat back. One of the fish could not hear well, the other could not speak well.

When the boat was near land, Brer Alligator called: " Brer fish! Brer fish! bring back Annancy, bring back Annancy!" " What did he say? " asked the fish who could not hear well. " Gulp! Gulp! said the fish who could not speak well.

" He said there is a storm is coming. Row quickly!" shouted Brer Annancy as loudly as he could. The first fish heard that! " Gulp!" said the other fish again. But the first fish rowed hard till they reached the land. Then Brer Annancy jumped out quickly and ran home.That is why Brer Alligator and Brer Annancy do not like each other.

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Transcribed from Caribbean Readers. The character, African Annancy is a spider known for his tricks. The more of this story may be to know your enemy's intentions. Annancy may also stand for life's journey and the tricks it deals out to us