After Anancy loses his basket of fish to Tiger on the way home, he bides his time, and looks for an opportunity to change things.
Anancy made a mistake by not going straight home with his big catch of fish. And, so, when Tiger caught up with him again, Anancy was under a tree counting and admiring his fish. The basket that Anancy had just earlier on the road told Tiger was empty, now stood open: Fish inside; fish lying outside.
Tiger didn’t have any trouble taking the whole basket of fish away from Anancy. Tiger was used to getting away with things like that. And his reputation for roughness and toughness was well-deserved.
Tiger now sprawled off under the very same tree that Anancy was sitting under a minute ago. He had amused snarl plastered on his face.
Tiger started to eat fish one . . . by . . . one …by one. Anancy looked on; trying not to do anything rash. He knew better than to trifle with Tiger on a good day. Let alone when Tiger was hungry. And Anancy could see that Tiger was keeping an eye on him.
But Anancy had a plan.
“Good, fish, Tiger,” encouraged Anancy. “Good fish. I know a man like you have a larrgeee appetite. But there’s plenty. Good fish, man. Good fish.”
“This fish is good, Anancy. No lie, ah tell yuh. This thing, sweet. Yuh shouldn’t try to keep such good fish from me, Anancy. . . . Yuh shouldn’t. This fish is good.”
Anancy continued to make small talk. Encouraging Tiger to eat to his heart’s content. Not to say that Tiger needed much encouragement from Anancy.
Soon, with half the basket of fish gone, Tiger fell asleep under the tree. Still rubbing his stomach now and then in his sleep, and still mumbling on about good fish. Tiger was so sure of himself that he didn’t even care that Anancy was around.
When Anancy was very sure that Tiger was in a deeeppp sleep from having his belly full, Anancy tiptoed around and quietly tied up Tiger by lashing Tiger’s long hair around the tree.
Anancy then took up his basket, and hopped and skipped his way home. Even half a basket of fish felt better than no fish at all . . . and dealing with a dangerous Tiger.
Tiger was left under the tree. Asleep. Too full from eating fish. And tied up. Things could get preetty bad for a helpless Tiger tied up under a tree.
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