One picture, One Story Week #30

WHY PRAYING MANTIS STILL SHAKES

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Years ago, Oyankopon had a large farm full of yams. Everybody talked about it in every corner of the world. It was the most beautiful and the largest of all the farms in the world. Everyday, people came from everywhere to admire it.

As harvest time was approaching, Oyankopon announced to the inhabitants of the whole world the day the harvest would take place. Upon hearing this, men and woman from north to south and east to west were full of joy. Not a single day passed without people talking about this great event.

However, there was somebody who was jealous of Oyankopon and wanted to spoil his fortune. He was no other person than Anansi, the spider. He was so jealous that he decided to steal all the yams.
Every evening, Anansi went to uproot a large quantity of the yam and send them to his own farm. Nobody detected the theft, his wife and children did not know. Days passed, the night turned into day and week passed. The harvest day was fast approaching, preparations for the great event were underway.

One day, Oyankopon decided to go and visit the farm for the last time before the great event. He saw that nearly all the yams have been uprooted. Oyankopon ordered the search for the thief. "Bring him dead or alive", he said.
The search for the thief started immediately. A week passed, two weeks followed, weeks turned into months yet the thief was not identified and the yams continued to disappear from the farm.

Finally, Oyankopon decided to lay traps on the farm. Old Anansi knew nothing about the traps untill one evening he fell into one.
Anansi became sad, he knew that people were going to find him trapped in the farm and identify him as the thief before daybreak. The sun began to rise and Anansi lost all hope. His eyes filled with tears, What a misfortune!
Then he saw the first person coming from far away. Who could this be? He wiped off his tears to see properly. What did he see? A friend, the praying mantis! Anansi signalled to him.

When the praying mantis was within earshot, Anansi shouted, "Oh, is it you who is coming to replace me?"
"To replace you? How?", the praying mantis demanded in astonishment.
"So you are not the one? But when is my replacement coming? Why do they let me suffer like this?" Anansi said.
"What is this all about", praying mantis inquired.
"What? Don't you know that we are keep watch for Oyankopon? Are you not aware that we are searching for the thief", the sneaky Anansi replied.
"Oh, good, I don't know anything about this", the praying mantis said.

"It doesn't matter, my dear friend. Come near here, please. Come and give me a little help. I'm very hungry, there days without food", Anansi said.
"What could I do for you? You must be suffering a lot. What do you need?" the praying mantis asked.
'If it would be okay, come and replace me for a little time while I go down to the village and find something to eat," Anansi said in a friendly tone.
"I will do that for you but please don't take long," the praying mantis replied.
"You can count on me, my friend. Come and put your leg here," cunning Anansi said.
"What, is that not a trap?" the praying mantis questioned.
"A trap? What an idea. You don't trust me", Anansi replied.
"But that looks like a trap", the praying mantis said.
"You take me to be a fool then?" Anansi said.

The praying mantis allowed himself to be duped. He helped Anansi to remove his leg from the trap putting his in its place. What an unexpected chance for Anansi. As soon as Anansi was freed, he ran quickly towards the village shouting at the top of his voice,
"I have seen him. I've seen the thief, the thief who has been stealing the yams of Oyankopon. I've seen him at last. He is there at Oyankopon's farm, trapped."

A large crowd soon gathered. There were curses and threats everywhere. Everyone wanted to vent his or her anger on the one who had caused much suspicion among them. In no time at all, the villagers were in the farm. In front of them was Anansi who led the way to the praying mantis.
"There he is, the thief," he said, pointing to the praying mantis. The praying mantis had wanted to escape but it was in vain. The villagers rushed on him and beat him brutally until he became unconscious. When they thought that he was dead, they left him on the farm. But when he got up, his whole body was shaking and what was more, he could not see well.

He felt dizziness and till this day, the praying mantis still feels dizzy whenever he walks.

THE END

I invite @patjewell @josepha @waterjoe @ridwant and @weisser-rabe to also participate in this contest.