Anansi and a Witch Named Five
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Anansi was a spider.
Anansi was a trickster.
Anansi was hungry.

 

There was no food in Africa.
There was no food in Anansi’s village.
There was no food in Anansi’s home.

 

There was a witch in Anansi’s village.
Her name was Five.

 

Five did not like her name.
She cast a spell.
If you said her name you fell asleep for a year.

 

Anansi saw Rabbit.
Rabbit had corn.
Anansi talked to Rabbit.
“How many piles do you have?”

 

Rabbit counted. “One. Two.
Three. Four. Five.”
Rabbit said “five.”
Rabbit fell asleep.

 

Anansi tricked Rabbit.
Anansi took his corn.

 

Anansi went to Goose.
Anansi tried to trick Goose.
“How many piles of corn do you have?”

 

Goose smiled.
Goose counted.
“One. Two. Three. Four… And that pile.
The one you are sitting on.”

 

Anansi was mad.
Anansi said, “No! That is not how you count.
Watch me. One. Two. Three. Four. Five.”
Anansi said the witch’s name.
Anansi fell asleep for a year.

 

Goose tricked Anansi. Goose did not say “five.”
Goose got Anansi to say “five.” How many piles of corn did Goose have left?