| Category: | African American Legends |
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One day, Brer Fox was fed up with Brer Rabbit's constant trickery. "I've had enough of that rabbit making a fool out of me!" he grumbled. Determined to catch Brer Rabbit once and for all, Brer Fox came up with a clever plan. He gathered some tar and made a sticky figure that looked just like a baby. He dressed it up in old clothes and set it in the middle of the road.
Brer Fox then hid behind a bush and waited. It wasn't long before Brer Rabbit came hopping down the road, whistling happily. He stopped when he saw the strange figure sitting in his path. "Well, who is this?" Brer Rabbit said, scratching his head. "Hello there! How are you this fine day?"
The Tar Baby didn't say a word.
"What's the matter? Don't you have any manners?" Brer Rabbit asked, leaning closer. Still, the Tar Baby said nothing.
Getting annoyed, Brer Rabbit shouted, "If you don't speak up, I'm gonna knock your head clean off!" But the Tar Baby remained silent.
Furious, Brer Rabbit drew back his paw and punched the Tar Baby square in the face. His paw got stuck fast in the sticky tar. "Let me go!" Brer Rabbit yelled, struggling to free himself. He kicked with his feet, but soon they were stuck too. He tried headbutting the Tar Baby, but that only got his head stuck as well.
Just then, Brer Fox jumped out from behind the bush, laughing hysterically. "Well, well, Brer Rabbit, looks like you got yourself into a sticky situation!"
Brer Rabbit squirmed and twisted, but he couldn't move. "Looks like I've caught you at last," Brer Fox said, grinning wickedly. "Now, what should I do with you? Roast you over the fire? Skin you alive?"
"Do whatever you want!" Brer Rabbit cried out, "but please, Brer Fox, don't throw me into the briar patch!"
Brer Fox paused and thought. "The briar patch, eh? You must really hate that place. Maybe I should throw you in there!"
"No! Not the briar patch!" Brer Rabbit pleaded, shaking his head frantically. "Anywhere but there!"
Grinning, Brer Fox lifted Brer Rabbit and hurled him straight into the thick, thorny briar patch. "That'll teach you!" he shouted.
But to Brer Fox's surprise, Brer Rabbit bounced up from the briar patch, laughing merrily. "I was born and raised in the briar patch, Brer Fox! You've just set me free!" And with that, he scampered away, leaving Brer Fox fuming and outsmarted once again.