 One day, when Rabbit returned home, he noticed strange tracks in front of the door to where he lived. He shouted, “Who’s in my house?” A loud voice roared back, “I am all powerful. I eat elephants for breakfast. I turn rhinoceroses into dust. I am invincible.” Terrified, Rabbit ran away. What could a small animal like himself do against one who was so powerful? As he ran, he saw Jackal, who agreed to go to Rabbit’s house to help him get rid of the mighty creature. Jackal called out, “Who’s in Rabbit’s House?” The loud voice roared back. “I am all powerful. I eat elephants for breakfast. I turn rhinoceroses into dust. I am invincible.” Jackal turned and left, saying he could do nothing against one so formidable. Rabbit continued asking bigger, stronger animals to help. But after hearing the fearsome words of the powerful stranger, Leopard said he had a toothache. Tiger said he had a prior appointment. Lion said he was too busy. Privately, they all admitted that whoever was in Rabbit’s house was too fierce for them. Discouraged, Rabbit met Frog and told him of his troubles. Frog agreed to see what he could do. When they reached Rabbit’s house, Frog shouted, “Who is here in Rabbit’s house?” The voice roared, “I am all powerful. I eat elephants for breakfast. I turn rhinoceroses into dust. I am invincible.” Frog gulped. Took a deep breath. Shouted back. “I am the strongest of all living creatures. I leap over mountains. I fly over rivers. I fear no one. Whosoever arouses my wrath will live to regret it.” Suddenly, out crawled Caterpillar. “Please, don’t hurt me. I’m only a tiny caterpillar.” When Frog and Rabbit saw Caterpillar shaking with fear, they all had a good laugh at the trick Caterpillar had played.
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World TalesAge old stories of wit and wisdom from around the world. Tales retold by Nancy King. Archives
June 2025
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Nancy King is a widely published author and a professor emerita at the University of Delaware, where she has taught theater, drama, playwriting, creative writing, and multidisciplinary studies with an emphasis on world literature. She has published seven previous works of nonfiction and five novels. Her new memoir, Breaking the Silence, explores the power of stories in healing from trauma and abuse. Her career has emphasized the use of her own experience in being silenced to encourage students to find their voices and to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with authenticity, as a way to add meaning to their lives.
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