Tales from the Caribbean by Trish Cooke

Author:Trish Cooke
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141373263
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2017-08-03T04:00:00+00:00

Papa Bwa and Monkey Trouble

This story is based on a folk tale from Trinidad

Annie was a baker. She loved to bake cakes. All kinds – coconut cakes, lemon cakes, ginger cakes, chocolate cakes, banana cakes – any cakes you care to name, Annie made them all.

People loved Annie’s cakes. They would come from far and wide to buy them at the market. Annie had a special stall there, with a sign above it which said ANNIE’S DELICIOUS CAKES. And delicious they were!

With the money Annie made from her cakes, she would buy the most amazing dresses. She liked to dress well, especially when she went dancing – which she loved to do.

Now, every morning, Annie would get up bright and early so that she could bake before she went to the market, which was a fair way from where she lived.

But on this particular morning, Annie didn’t get up bright and early. She had been dancing the night before and had gone to bed long after midnight. She was very tired and had slept long past her usual time. When Annie finally awoke, she couldn’t believe what time it was. She had so much to do – so many cakes to bake and so little time to bake them in!

Annie jumped out of bed and started baking as quickly as she could. When she had finally loaded the last of her cakes into her basket, she set off.

The market was in town and most people walking alone would walk the road around the forest to get there. So would Annie on her usual daily trip. However, on this day, Annie knew that if she were to take the long road around the forest she would never get to the market on time. Annie decided she would take the short cut through the forest itself to get to town.

Well, everyone knew that anyone walking alone through the forest should take great caution. It was known that Papa Bwa, the protector of the forest and everything in it, did not like too many people wandering around and disturbing his peace. Annie knew this, but she hoped that taking the short cut would not disturb Papa Bwa. After all, her plan was to dash through as quickly as possible. She hoped very much that Papa Bwa wouldn’t even notice she was there.

And in any case, Annie told herself, if by chance she were to disturb Papa Bwa’s peace, she would let him know immediately that she was not a hunter. You see, Annie knew that Papa Bwa hated hunters and woodcutters and anyone or anything that threatened to hurt the forest and the creatures in it. Annie was sure that once she told Papa Bwa that she was not a hunter he would let her go on her way.

So Annie made her way through the dense forest. It was very dark. Annie had never been in the forest alone before, and the big trees and all the strange sounds and hoots coming from the forest creatures frightened her.

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