Story Corner: Sera and the monster

Once upon a time, in a far away land lived a man called Mwambu and his wife Sera. They had no children and Mwambu was a pastoralist.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Once upon a time, in a far away land lived a man called Mwambu and his wife Sera. They had no children and Mwambu was a pastoralist.

In their village lived a monster that had eaten half of the residents and was still eating others. Because of that, Sera would open the door for her husband only after he had sang a song that they both knew.

Sera and her husband were the only survivors and the monster was scared of Mwambu because he had a spear, but not of Sera.

One day the monster followed Mwambu on his way back home. He sung in a low voice "Mwambu has returned; Sera, open for your dearest husband.”

The monster crammed the song and went happily away, assured that it would eat up Sera the following morning. When Mwambu left for work, the monster was at the door immediately singing the song.

Sera never opened because the monster’s voice was very rough and big. The monster too realised that the problem was with his voice.

He went to a witch who told him not to eat anything and not dance to the tunes of birds. He was also given medicine to drink before he sung. On his way, the monster heard pretty melodies from the birds.

"Since the witch is not seeing me, let me dance,” he said as he started dancing.

Then he also started eating every insect he came across as he danced. When he reached Mwambu’s house, he sang in a small voice.

"Thank God the magic worked,” said the monster as watched Sera opening the door. He forgot all about the medicine that he had to drink.

He caught Sera, but when he was about to swallow her, he remembered that he had to swallow the medicine he had been given by the witch.

As he fidgeted to eat Sera and drink the medicine at the same time, Mwambu arrived and killed the monster with his spear.

This is how Sera and Mwambu survived, and after that they had many children and grandchildren. The village was a safe and happy place to live in again.

Ends