Anansi and Nothing (Campfire Story)

Next door to ANANSI's poor little hut, there was a fine big palace. And in the palace lived a very rich man. And his name was Nothing.

One day, Anansi and Nothing decided to go to the next town together, to find wives.

Nothing wore a beautiful cloth of rich velvet. Anansi wore a ragged old cotton one, full of holes. And on the way, Anansi said, 'Nothing, my friend, let's trade clothes for a little while. Just for fun. I'll give yours back before we get there.'

So they traded. And they walked on. And every time they came to a place to trade back, Anansi had a reason why not yet. 'Oh, not here, it's dusty.' 'Oh, not now, my hands are dirty.' Until they walked into the town, and Anansi was still wearing Nothing's velvet. ANANSI!

And everybody in town thought Anansi was a great rich man. And he got as many wives as he wanted.

And everybody thought Nothing was a beggar. And they laughed at him. And nobody would marry him. Until at last one kind woman felt sorry for him, and gave him her daughter. And all of Anansi's new wives laughed at her for marrying a beggar. But she didn't pay them any attention.

So they all set off for home. And when they came to the crossroads, the wives saw something strange. The road to Anansi's house was a narrow little path, half overgrown with weeds. But the road to Nothing's house was wide, and smooth, and covered with beautiful carpets. And servants were waiting there, with fine clothes for Nothing and his new wife.

Nothing's wife became the queen of the whole district, with everything she could ever want. And Anansi's wives had to live in his poor little hut, and eat green bananas with pepper.

And when Nothing's wife heard how badly her friends were doing, she invited them to a feast at the palace. And they liked it so much there that they stayed. And they never went back to Anansi.

And Anansi was furious. And he decided to get rid of Nothing.

He got some rats to dig a deep pit right outside Nothing's door. And he filled it with sharp things. And he smeared okra, slimy, slippery okra, all over the palace steps. And in the middle of the night, he called out, 'Nothing! Nothing! Come out here! Come and see this!'

'Don't go,' said Nothing's wife.

'Nothing! Come and see!'

'Don't go,' said his wife.

But at last Nothing got curious, and went out. And he stepped on the slippery steps, and slipped, and fell into the pit. And that was the end of Nothing.

And his wife was heartbroken. She cooked a great big pot of yams, and mashed them, and carried them all over the district. And to every child she met, she gave some, so that the child would help her cry for her husband. BOO HOO!

And all the children cried, and cried. BOO HOO! BOO HOO!

And that's why, to this day, if you see a child crying and you ask what's wrong, they'll tell you...

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