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Death and the Old Woman

• Setting:

  • A fantastical realm beyond the Seven Seas and Glass Mountains.

  • Notions of good and bad: "where it was good, it wasn't bad, and where it was bad, it wasn't good."

  • Location: At the foot of the "Search-me-not-ask-me-not" Hill, with a river flowing and an ancient willow tree inhabited by a flock of fleas.

• Main Character: The Old Woman

  • Description:

  • Extremely old, older than hills and God’s gardeners.

  • Consumed by her desire for wealth. Didn’t contemplate death even after losing all teeth.

  • Lonely, with no one on Earth to care for her.

  • Actions:

  • Worked tirelessly to gather and hoard everything she could.

  • Grew richer and fatter; her home filled with possessions.

• Death’s Arrival

  • Death visits the old woman's house to take her away.

  • The old woman pleads for more time.

  • Requests a delay of ten years, five years, or even one year more.

  • Death refuses, uses the term "force" to imply urgency.

  • After much pleading, Death agrees to give her three hours instead.

  • Old woman argues for a postponement until the next day.

  • After further agitation, Death agrees again but insists on marking "Tomorrow" on her door.

• The Week of Deception

  • Every day Death returns, and the old woman shows him the word "Tomorrow" on her door, effectively postponing her fate.

  • This cycle continues for a week, testing Death’s patience.

• Death’s Resolution

  • On the seventh day, Death becomes irritable and removes the chalk from the door, indicating that the old woman cannot escape him any longer.

  • The following day, realizing her fate is unavoidable, the old woman becomes terrified.

  • In a state of panic, she considers multiple hiding places before discovering a barrel of honey.

  • She hides inside the honey, only exposing her eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Eventually, she decides to hide in her eiderdown instead but before she feels secure, Death arrives.

  • Death does not recognize the peculiar sight that greets him and runs away in terror, leaving the old woman safe yet perplexed.

The Dead Moon

• Setting:

  • Ancient Lincolnshire, characterized by bogs and danger; the moonlight reveals safe paths for navigation.

• The Moon's Curiosity

  • The Moon hears accounts of mischief in the bog when she is not present and seeks to investigate.

  • Disguising herself in a black cloak and hood, she steps down into the boglands.

• Encounter in the Bog

  • Inside the bog, she sees witches on cats and will-o'-the-wisps (ignis fatuus).

  • She slips and catches a snag which binds her hands.

• The Man in Distress

  • The Moon sees a man straying towards danger.

  • She tries to help him but cannot free herself.

  • As she struggles, her hood slips back, revealing her light, which guides the man to safety.

• The Moon's Capture

  • Exhausted from her struggles, the Moon succumbs and is captured and buried by the bog's evil creatures.

• The Villagers' Desperation

  • The absence of the Moon plunges the village into darkness; villagers employ amulets and charms for safety.

• The Search for the Moon

  • Eventually, villagers receive a hint of the Moon's whereabouts from a man who saw her guiding light.

  • The Wise Woman instructs them on actions to retrieve the Moon, which includes silence and a solemn approach with offerings.

• The Resurrection of the Moon

  • Villagers discover the Moon's coffin in a bog and restore her light, leading the evils of the bog to retreat.

  • Since this event, the Moon shines brightly over the boglands.

The Meatballs' Leader

• Setting:

  • Inside an oven, focused on a dish of meatballs.

• The Meatballs' Plight

  • Meatballs are distressed over the heat of the oven.

• The Self-Proclaimed Leader

  • A large meatball steps forward, promising to guide them to safety and comfort.

  • All agree to follow the leader without question.

• The Unforeseen Turn of Events

  • The Cook serves the meatballs onto plates with rice and sauce.

  • However, their fate takes a tragic turn as they are served to humans.

• The Meatballs' Realization

  • The meatballs accuse their leader of betrayal for leading them into danger.

  • The leader argues that their fate was inevitable, being a meatball meant to be eaten.

Today Me, Tomorrow Thee

• Setting:

  • A humble abode in Kikuyu, Kenya, during rain season.

• The Grandmother's Request

  • Grandmother Wanjiri requests more wood for the fire as the rain causes her pain.

  • Little Ephantus accommodates her and avoids using green wood.

• The Kikuyu Saying

  • Grandmother shares a Kikuyu proverb which teaches a lesson of humility and awareness of shared destinies.

  • She narrates a story regarding Tortoise and Lizard, emphasizing the values of hard work vs. laziness.

  • Tortoise is depicted working diligently to feed her family, while Lizard is indulgent and seeks shortcuts.

• The Encounter

  • Lizard's schemes lead to Tortoise losing food to him by trickery.

  • Tortoise observes Lizard’s patterns, leading to a plan for revenge.

  • Tortoise captures Lizard's tail when he is vulnerable, showcasing justice’s victory.

An Evil Being Appears at an Appointment Instead of the Right Person

• Setting:

  • The Daru people prepare for a fishing expedition, setting up a time to meet.

• Deception by the Hiwai-abere

  • The evil hiwai-abere eavesdrops and impersonates the woman's friend, enticing her to follow.

• The Fishing Encounter

  • The woman starts fishing under false pretenses and gradually realizes her companion’s intentions.

• Combat Against Deception

  • She decides to keep catching fish to deceive the hiwai-abere into eating them.

• Escape from the Monster

  • The girl outsmarts the hiwai-abere to escape, returning home before revealing her adventure.

  • The community learns to avoid calling each other without prior agreements to prevent similar deceptions.

The Revolution

• Setting:

  • Central America during a time of war amidst political turmoil.

• The Aftermath of Conflict

  • Obregonists suffer an ambush that leaves them dead, with plentiful resources abandoned.

• The Narrative of Survival

  • A young protagonist recounts youthful interactions during the chaos of war, including food theft and survival tactics amid soldier raids.

• Community Resilience

  • Despite hardship, the community manages to trade with soldiers for food, highlighting themes of resourcefulness.

• The Cycles of War and Recovery

  • The aftermath depicts a shift back to stability after the tumultuous conflict ends, showcasing enduring community spirit and resilience against adversity.