The Singing Scoutmaster: Iktomi and the Boulder

One day, as the sun shone brightly over the grassy hills, Iktomi the trickster strolled through the open plains. The land stretched far and wide, the grass swaying gently in the breeze, but Iktomi felt bored. He kicked at the dirt as he walked, searching for something—anything—that might entertain him. As he wandered, he suddenly spotted a massive boulder sitting alone in the middle of the plains. It was a huge, weathered stone, its surface cracked and rough from years of wind and rain. Iktomi's eyes lit up with mischief as an idea formed in his mind.

"Well, look at you, old rock," Iktomi said aloud, putting his hands on his hips and eyeing the boulder with a grin. "You're sitting here all alone, just like an old man with no one to talk to. How sad and lonely you must be!" He walked around the boulder, patting its cool surface as if greeting an old friend. "Would you like a little company today?" he asked playfully. Of course, the boulder didn't reply, but that didn't stop Iktomi from chattering away.

Feeling even more playful, Iktomi decided to take his little joke a step further. He looked down at the colorful blanket wrapped around his shoulders. It was a beautiful piece, woven with bright patterns and warm enough to fend off even the chilliest winds. "You know what, old rock?" Iktomi said thoughtfully. "You must be feeling awfully cold out here with no blanket to keep you warm." With a dramatic flourish, he pulled off his blanket and carefully draped it over the top of the boulder, wrapping it up as if it were a friend he was tucking in for the night.

"There! Now you won't feel cold anymore," Iktomi said, stepping back to admire his handiwork. The boulder looked almost comical, dressed up in a blanket meant for a person. Iktomi chuckled to himself, thoroughly pleased with his own cleverness. "Enjoy the warmth, old rock!" he called over his shoulder as he turned and walked away, humming a cheerful tune.

For a while, Iktomi continued on his way, feeling quite pleased with himself. But as he wandered farther from the boulder, the sky began to change. Dark clouds rolled in, covering the sun, and a cold wind swept across the plains. Iktomi shivered as the temperature dropped. He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to keep warm, but it was no use. Without his blanket, the cold cut through him like a knife.

"Brrr! I need to get my blanket back!" Iktomi muttered, his teeth chattering. He turned around and hurried back up the hill toward the boulder. "What was I thinking, giving my blanket to a rock?" he grumbled to himself as he climbed. When he reached the boulder, he grabbed the edge of the blanket and yanked it off. "Sorry, old rock, but I need this more than you do," he said, pulling the blanket around his shoulders and sighing in relief as the warmth returned.

But as soon as Iktomi turned to leave, the ground beneath him began to tremble. A deep, low rumble filled the air, and Iktomi spun around in surprise. The boulder, which had been so still and silent before, started to shake. Slowly, it began to roll forward, picking up speed as it moved down the hill. Iktomi's eyes widened in shock as he watched the massive stone coming straight toward him.

"What—? Wait!" he shouted, stumbling backward. But the boulder didn't stop. With each rotation, it seemed to gain more momentum, its rumbling growing louder and louder. Iktomi's heart pounded wildly as he realized the boulder wasn't going to stop—it was chasing him!

Panic set in, and Iktomi turned and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his blanket flapping behind him like a cape. He sprinted down the hill, the ground a blur beneath his feet. But no matter how fast he ran, the boulder rolled faster, bouncing and thundering along the hillside, gaining on him with every turn.

Iktomi's breath came in gasps as he ran, dodging rocks and leaping over bushes. He could feel the ground shaking beneath him, hear the terrifying roar of the boulder as it bore down on him. He ran and ran until his legs burned and his chest ached, but still, the boulder followed, relentless and unstoppable.

Finally, just as he thought he couldn't run another step, Iktomi saw a large tree up ahead. With a desperate burst of speed, he dove to the side, rolling into the tall grass just as the boulder thundered past him. It crashed into the tree with a tremendous *thud*, the force of the impact shaking the branches and sending leaves fluttering to the ground.

Iktomi lay on the ground, panting and bruised, his heart racing. Slowly, he sat up and stared at the boulder, which now lay still and silent at the base of the tree. For a long moment, there was only the sound of the wind rustling through the grass. Then, to Iktomi's astonishment, a deep, low chuckle seemed to echo from the stone. The ground vibrated slightly, as if the boulder itself were laughing at him.

"You… you should have told me you liked the blanket so much!" Iktomi shouted, shaking his fist at the rock. "I would've let you keep it!" He felt a rush of irritation and embarrassment, but he also knew he was lucky to have escaped unharmed.

The boulder, of course, didn't respond. It was just a rock, after all—or was it? Iktomi narrowed his eyes, unsure if he really had heard that rumbling laughter or if his tired mind was playing tricks on him. Either way, he wasn't about to test his luck a second time.

With a sigh, Iktomi stood up and brushed himself off. "Well, I guess I've learned my lesson," he muttered to himself. "Never take back what you've given, even if it's to a boulder. You never know how it might react!" Wrapping the blanket more tightly around his shoulders, he glanced one last time at the boulder, which now seemed to rest peacefully once more.

From then on, Iktomi kept his distance from the boulder and any other gifts he had given. He continued to roam the hills and plains, causing mischief and weaving schemes, but he never forgot the day a simple boulder taught him a lesson about generosity and the consequences of his own actions.