1 Picture 1 Story Week #33

THE MAGIC DRUM

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As soon as Udo the tortoise got out of his hole, he tapped the drum. Different types of food and fruits came out of the drum. There was so many type of food including ripe bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and pineapples. Udo could not believe his eyes. He tasted the food and it was real food, deliciously prepared. Udo nodded in satisfaction. He ate as much as he could and then took the drum home.
He got the drum from a far away kingdom which was given to him by their king as a gift after his subject had treated Udo unfairly as a visitor he was.
"What was denied a woman was being sold in the open market," he murmured to himself.

Udo summoned his wife, Anim and other members if his family and ordered them to wash all the wooden plates, clay pots, plates, cups and spoons because food was coming. At first, they doubted him but remembered that their father was not only a well travelled man but also a wise man, they obeyed without a word. "A traveller,", it was said "was wiser than a gray-haired person."
Udo hit the magic drum. Food, food, was everywhere, real, cooked food. All the vessels were filled with food. Each person ate as much as he or she wanted.
The next day, Udo decided to invite all the animals to share his good fortune. He told his audience that he had found a solution to the persistent hunger that had troubled them all their lives. The animals were all eyes. They wanted to see what Nwambe would do.
Nwambe hit the drum lightly. Fantastic was the best word to describe what happened next. Food of every description appeared. The food was enough to satisfy anybody and everybody. The animals descended on the food like an army of ants attacking a dead insect. They ate to their fill. They praised Udo.
Now it happened that the elephant did not attend the gathering. When he heard of what had happened, he said he would not be left out. He wanted his share of the food. He went to Udo's house. Udo was not at home. The elephant persuaded Udo's wife to show him the drum. The elephant took the drum and hit is hard, food flowed. The elephant ate and ate. He continued hitting the drum and at a time he hit it so hard that the drum broke. No more food came out.

When Udo returned home everywhere was quiet. His house was like a funeral home. He wondered what had happened and he was told that the elephant had broken the magic drum.
He was so angry but later decided to go and get another drum from the kingdom he got the first one.
He went back to the kingdom and told the kind that he needed another drum. The king saw him as a greedy person and decided to give him another drum. He was given another drum and was told not to hit it till he is out of the kingdom. Udo was very happy to get another drum. He imagined more good times and more good food.
As soon as Udo was out of that kingdom, he beat the drum. Angry buzzing bees swarmed out everywhere. The killer bees stung Udo on all sides, front and back. Udo started to roll like a person on fire trying to put out the fire. Suddenly, he stumbled against the drum and immediately, the bees disappeared. Udo's whole body was swollen by sores from the bee stings. He could hardly move. He managed to crawl home with the drum.

He did not allow any of his family member to see what he had seen. He summoned all the animals straightaway. The attendance was impressive. Everyone was eager to share in the free food. Udo brought out the magic drum. There was one injunction to be observed. They should not hit the magic drum untill he had climed half way up a pal tree at the back of his compound. He murmured something which nobody heard, "You will eat yourselves".
Earlier, he had instructed his family to sneak out of the back door of his compound.

All the animals watched as Udo slowly climed the palm tree. The elephant was there, the gorrila, the lion, the dogs , the pigs everybody was present.
When the animals saw that Udo had reached half way of the palm tree, they could not wait any longer, they hit the drum with all their might. Out came a swarm of killer bees, they descended in thousands on the animals. The elephant had the greatest number of bees on him, bees all over his eyes, nose and ears too. In an effort to get away, the elephant trampled on so many smaller animals underfoot. The monkey tried to get away but the bees caught up with him and showed him no mercy. No animal was spared. Udo looked down from the safe vantage top of the palm tree, laughed at them and called them "Eater of food without getting the firewood to cook". "You want to reap where you did not sow."
By chance, someone stumbled on the drum. The bees vanished immediately. Many of the animals dies, some were so stunned and score that they were unable to crawl home.
Finally, Udo burnt the magic drum into ashes and never returned to that far away kingdom.

THE END

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Appreciation to @suboohi the organizer of the contest.

@tigerix