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Young World
Many hens and a cock
ANURADHA RAJIVAN
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The girls decided to challenge Andare…
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Andare used to tease the village girls. One day the girls got together and decided to challenge him. Each girl hid an egg in her clothes and went to the village pond to take a bath. The girls got into the pond with the hidden eggs and called out to Andare–
“Andare! Andare! Come to the pond! Can you produce an egg? We can!”
An answer
Andare wondered what to do. He stood on the bank and watched the girls splash about.
“Are you afraid? Jump in! Produce an egg!” challenged one of the girls, as she dived in and came out with an egg, “Like this!”
Another girl did the same. And another. And another…
Andare could no longer stand on the bank and watch. They were all teasing him, laughing and egging him on. He jumped in. The girls watched.
After a few seconds under water he came out flapping his elbows, making a noise with his palms tucked in his arm-pits, pak-pak-pak-pak…
“I am a cock! Naturally I don’t lay eggs like all you hens!” he declared, pretending to look indignant. The girls gave up and enjoyed his witty answer.
A Lankan tale retold
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