NEVER REVEAL YOUR SECRET #2

The tortoise was sitting in his hut and opposite him was the fox. “Did it work?” Asked the fox, “perfectly my friend,” laughed the tortoise, “you see have decide to pay you more twice the amount you demanded,” he said as he brought out a bag of cowries proceed from the money earned by the cat when he won against the tiger. He counted ten cowries and handed it over to the fox and then counted another ten and gave it to him, the fox was beside himself with joy and thanks the tortoise and left.

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Unknown to the cat, what had transpired between the tortoise and the fox was a fake show that was made to make the cat reveal the secret of his fighting skill to the tortoise; he also wanted to be a renowned fighter like cat. The cat had been betrayed by his best friend and brother. The next market day arrived, and the arena had been filled to the brim with all kind of animals who were eager to know the powerful stranger who had called himself, “the champions of all champions.”

The lizards had beaten the drum to frenzy and the monkey had been dancing their hearts out, king lion had seated himself on a special throne made for him that day by the gorilla, the arena was set and everybody had been waiting anxiously for the stranger to emerge. Soon, rumours started flying around that the other contestant had chicken out. Other said, he has gone to another fighting contest with the hippopotamus and soon come to talk the glory away from cat.

There were all manner of rumours floating around the arena. The cat had waited patiently and now growing impatient, just then the fox appeared, but he was not dressed in normal wrestling apparel and he entered the arena, “your majesty”, he began as he bowed down to the king and every noble animal of this great kingdom today you will witness the turnaround of event that will mark the beginning of a new era and will birth a new champion in the land. All animal cheered so loudly, and snakes hissed louder than any other animals in the arena.

“I present to you the champion of the champions the tortoise”. There was a bid silence in the arena many animals were confuse they did not hear the fox well just then the tortoise sprang into his feet, he jumped up in a way that the entire animal kingdom had never known he could.

There was a spring in his step and the way he walked showed there was something different about him, the cat was most surprised. The tortoise called his brother challenging him to a fight, unbelievable. The tortoise entered the arena and shouted in a loud voice, today you will see wonders. All the animal cheered loudly making a deafening noise that shook the entire arena like an earthquake, the gorilla was to referee the contest. The cat felt betrayed but the tortoise had a smile on his face that made the cat felt embittered.

The bell rang and the contestant locked themselves in a tight grip. They fought and fought for many minutes, none of their backs touched the ground. The gorilla rang the bell and declared the first round a draw. They both went to their corner to rest, giving each contestant time to drink water.

I can’t believe you are taking for granted my friendship, shouted the cat to the tortoise. My friend, there is nothing like friendship, today I am going to show the entire animal kingdom that you are not unbeatable-that in fact you can be beaten.” he said. The gorilla rang the bell again and they held themselves once more in a tight grip. They used the same techniques and fought and fought for several minutes before the gorilla rang the bell again and declared the second round a draw. The crowd now believed the tortoise is going to win this contest this time around. The cat had been known to floor his contender in the fist round. On one not even king lion passed the first round.

This time, they cheered the tortoise, calling him names like “the hero”, the most powerful, the strongest, the champion of all champion and all sort of names. Th tortoise head swelled with pride and he believed he was destined to win. Th gorilla entered the arena again and rang the bell. The tortoise confident that he was going to win rushed at the cat, who side-stepped and held him from behind and before the crowd could cheer the tortoise, his back was already on the ground.

The crowd burst out laughing and change sides hailing the victory of the cat. The tortoise struggled to get off his back without any success. All the animals rushed into the arena and lifted the cat up praising him and singing with his name. the champion of champion, the strongest of the strongest and all kinds of praises. The fox helped his friend the tortoise up and they both shamefully exit the arena through the back door as all the animals laughed at them. The tortoise was so ashamed that he never he felt free with the cat again.

So one day, he sojourned to a very far away land and there he lives away from all other animals. Unknown to the tortoise the cat had only shown him two secrets out of the three he had and the tortoise thought he knew the entire secret of becoming a champion, so he challenged the cat not knowing he would be beaten at his own game. said mama as she coughed loudly and ended her story.

“sorry mama” she said, holding the pillow up so her head could be properly balanced. “since you have finished talking to us, let me go and prepare the pap,” said my sister as she stood up. “Janie”, called my mother, “I have a confession to make today that is why I called both of you here.” She said. My sister sat down, her ears attentive. my mind racing and beating twice its normal rate. We sat down watching mama as she tried to raise herself.