Sang Kancil loved to eat the fruits and roots and shoots of the forest. But he loved something else even more. He loved the vegetables in the farmer’s garden.
One day, Sang Kancil went to the edge of the forest. He looked out at row after row of vegetables.
“Mmmm,” said Sang Kancil. “Juicy cucumbers! Yummy yams!” He started into the garden. Snap! “Oh!” His leg was caught in a snare! Sang Kancil pulled and pulled. But he could not get away.
“Oh, no!” he said. “The farmer will have me for dinner!”
Then he saw the farmer coming. Sang Kancil thought fast. He lay on the ground and made his body stiff.
“Well, well,” said the farmer. “Look what I caught. A mouse deer! But he looks dead.” The farmer pushed him with his foot. Sang Kancil didn’t move.
“Maybe he’s been dead a long time,” said the farmer. “Too bad! I guess we can’t eat him.” He pulled Sang Kancil’s leg out of the snare. Then he tossed Sang Kancil back into the forest.
Sang Kancil landed with a soft plop. Then he jumped up and ran.
Behind him, he heard the farmer yell, “Hey! You tricked me!”
Sang Kancil laughed. “The farmer is smart. But I am smarter!”
A few days passed. Sang Kancil kept thinking about all those vegetables. One day, he went back to the edge of the forest.
“Mmmm,” said Sang Kancil. “Tasty gourds! Scrumptious sweet potatoes!” Then he saw something new. It looked like a man. But its head was a coconut, and its body was rubber.
“A scarecrow!” said Sang Kancil. “That silly Farmer. Does he think he can scare me with that? I’ll show him how scared I am!”
Sang Kancil marched up to the scarecrow. “Take this!” He gave it a big kick. But his leg stuck to the scarecrow. The scarecrow was covered with sticky sap from a rubber tree!
“Let me go!” said Sang Kancil. He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his other front leg. That leg stuck too.
“Turn me loose!” He pulled and he pulled. Then he pushed with his two back legs. They stuck too.
“PUT ME DOWN!” He pulled and he pushed and he pulled and he pushed. But Sang Kancil was trapped. Then he saw the farmer. Sang Kancil thought fast. But he didn’t have any ideas!
“Well, well,” said the farmer. “How nice of you to come back.” He pulled Sang Kancil off the scarecrow and carried him to the house. He put him outside in an empty chicken coop.
“I’ll keep you here tonight,” said the farmer. “And tomorrow you’ll be our dinner.”
All that night, Sang Kancil couldn’t sleep. He didn’t want to be dinner! When the sun rose, Sang Kancil just lay there sadly.
Then he heard something. “Why, it’s Sang Kancil! So, the farmer caught you at last. It serves you right!” It was the farmer’s dog. Sang Kancil thought fast.
“What do you mean, Dog? Farmer didn’t catch me.”
“Then why are you in the coop?” said the dog.
“Because there aren’t enough beds in the house. You see, Farmer is holding a feast tomorrow. And I’m the guest of honor.”
“Guest of honor?” said the dog. “That’s not fair! I’ve been his loyal friend for years, and you’re just a thief. The guest of honor should be me!”
“You know, Dog, you’re right. Why don’t you take my place? When Farmer sees you in here, he’ll make you the guest of honor instead.”
“Really?” said the dog. “You don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” said Sang Kancil. “You deserve it.”
“Sang Kancil, you’re not so bad after all. Thank you!” the dog lifted the latch and opened the door.
“You’re welcome, Dog. Enjoy the feast.”
Sang Kancil ran for the forest. Then he watched from the forest edge. He saw the farmer come out and stare at the dog. Then he heard him yell.
“You stupid dog! You let the mouse deer get away!”
Sang Kancil laughed. “Farmer will have to find a different dinner now!” Then he went off on his merry way.
Question to Ponder:
In your opinion, are Sang Kancil’s actions in the story justified? Give a reason for your answer. (You can write your answer in the Comment section.)
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