Hi, my name is Natalie Sude. I am nine years old and I live in east Hampton where there are beautiful beach and summerhouses. At night, my mother lets me go outside to play with the other kids by the beach, extracting a promise from me, never to go near the water. Every night, when I go to the beach with my other beach friends, we always form a playing circle under a huge palm tree, dancing and singing all types of song until it was time for bed.
One night, as we were singing, we heard a distinctive drum beat which sounded so much like an African Zulu drum with trumpets playing and soft music. In the mist of our silence, we heard a voice recount a tale, starting with story story. Being kids that we are, we went to investigate.
And behold, there sat a very old man who we later learned is Mr. cane ban smoking a pipe while telling a story. We looked around and found the birds holding trumpets, the fire dancing mischievously, the sky more brighter than ever and the moon fuller. Right before our eyes, fire flies turned into animals from the arctic ranging from arctic fox, arctic tern, beluga whale, arctic hare, eider duck, walrus, arctic unicorn, narwharl, polar bear, bearded and hooded seal, reindeer warble-fly and musk ox. A Coconut were playing drums and a pineapple singing banana while a mango was playing a guitar. A little was standing very close to the fruit band that you will think she wants to be in the band. The animals started to sit around the campfire and looked intensely at Mr. Cane. We were dumbfounded. “This can’t not be,” we kept saying. “Unbelievable” some said. We were sacred and intrigued at the same time. How can iced cold (arctic) animals live on land especially the water ones and how come in a summer and humid region? So we crept closer to the old man and he looked at us and said
“Welcome children”
We looked taken aback. So he repeated himself
“Welcome children.” It is right glad I am that you are joining us today for our tales by moonlight.” He chuckled
And we crept even closer to this man who had a wonderful soothing voice.
“Come closer and I shall tell you a tale”
Intrigued, we crept closer, though a little wary, but we just couldn’t resist the lure of hearing a story at this night.
The old spoke again. “Children, welcome and I want you to reply “WELCOME BANANA”
So we did. “Welcome children” he said
“Welcome banana”
“I can’t hear you”
‘Welcome banana”
Again he said
Warming up to the idea,
We shouted welcome banana and right before our eyes, the old man turned into a ripe banana, with a huge smile on his face, a nice cowboy hat and arms and legs.
And we gasped, speechless and ready to flee
But the banana just smiled, sat back again and said in a more hushed voice which captivated us
“It is time for tales by moonlight” and repeat after me when I say what time it is he said.
“What time is it”?
Ah the lure of a story, so we said chorused despite our fears
“It’s time for tales by moonlight”
“I can’t hear you”
Reservation fleeing we boomed
“Tales by moonlight”
“Story”
We screeched “story”
“Once upon a time”
“Time time”
And so the old man started his story.
There was a little girl who didn’t have any friend at school in Scotland. Every one had a friend except Binta Yorker. Every kid got to play with a swing or seesaw but no one played with her or let her play. They ate lunch separately from her. It isn’t because she is not beauty or smells but because no one found a reason to like her or just want to be friends with her. She is always sad and has always wished for a friend.
Hey Nat here, oh I so love this story. What will happen to the sad girl? I mean she really have no friend when I have tons of friend. Looking around on the interest on my friends’ faces and on the animals, which were mesmerized by the banana voice, I could help but wonder and wish for a friend for Binta. And as if Mr. cane heard my wish, he looked right at me and said “AAAAh Miss Natalie Sude. Her wish did come true. Please concentrate on the story and learn.” He said
I was so shocked. How did this man who changes into a banana with melodic voice know my name and I sighed and listened to the story equally as mesmerized as the other but not before I saw Binta materializing from the fire as if on film before our very eyes and not before I saw many fireworks of different colors like those beautiful kinds of July 4.
Sitting at lunch one day, biota was so sad that she hasn’t been invited to the popular girl in the 4th grade class’s picnic. Her sadness could be told be just looking at her. Even the sun was dimmed that day because of her sadness and it started to rain as tears came to Binta’s eyes. She cried as it rained and the harder she cried, the harder it rained. After getting home that night, she wished harder one last time for a friend and to be invited to the picnic and fell asleep.
The next day since the picnic was at the school playing ground, binta tried to invite herself but one of the mean kids said. “I am sorry, this picnic is just for cool kids.”
“But I am a cool kid” binta said.
“Yeah in your dream,” he hissed
As binta was about to go away to be alone again, the popular girl named Annie almost tripped and Binta saved her from falling.
Annie looked at Binta as if seeing Binta for the first time and she smiled at Binta and said “thank you.”
Binta was shocked and couldn’t believe her hearing. Annie the most popular girl in 4th grade just said hi to me. As Binta turned to walk away, Annie said.
“Aren’t you coming to my picnic? You could be my friend for helping me.”
Natalie here, Yippee Binta’s wish did come true
Binta was so happy and she looked up to the sky and started crying but this time inside of rain falling and ruining the picnic in which her new friend was hosting, she blessed it with as many balloons as her happiness could contain.
And that is the end of my story, the banana said as he slowly turned into the Old man again.
We were so intrigued that the transformation didn’t even scare us.
“More” we boomed
“Not tonight kid. It’s bed time but before I let you go, I want you to tell me what you learned’ he said
“I learned that when you wished hard enough, you wish would come true.” John said
“I learned that it is not good to be mean,” Mary said
And you Natalie what did you learn, the old man asked
“You will have to tell me your name first?”
He laughed and said Old Mr. Cane Ban
So I said “geez that’s like your cane which is the magic wand and ban for banana right.”
“Right” he said chuckling again. “Now tell us what you learned from our today’s tales by moonlight.”
“Oh ok, I said. It is not good to ignore someone as if the person doesn’t exist. It is only good to be friends with everyone, that way, nobody is ever sad.”
“Interesting he said.” Clapping his hand together, the artic animals began to vanish and we began to yawn and long for our beds.
“Good night children” he said
Standing up, we all turned to go home and replied at the same time “Good night Banana.” So said we all fled home but as we got closer to our houses we heard the banana I mean old Mr. cane ban say as if from the sky
“See you tomorrow and remember a smile each for everyone you meet.
That night was the best night of my life because I have heard a tale by moonlight that I learned from. Knowing that I will hear a tale tomorrow be a spring to my legs as I ran home. So until next time be cool and calm for tales by moonlight is the best tale ever. Before going to bed that night, after mom and dad have tucked me in, I recounted every thing that happened today at the campfire. Although I don’t know where banana came from, I sure am glad that he came to the east Hampton beach to tell us wonderful tales by moonlight and I am so looking forward to tomorrow.
GOOD NIGHT
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: Linda is from Nigeria West Africa. She is also a model,
singer (recently released her debut album), actress, and writer.
General
Information by Linda: My grandma used to say
that when the desirable is not available, the available becomes the
desirable. I follow this sayings to the letter. If I don't work as hard,
then I can't have my desirable available. I am very easy going and fun
to work with. With my determination and your skills we can pull a
project off.
For
more on Linda, please visit her website at www.bbrent.com/linda
BACK
TO THE TOP
|
|
|
