How to Fool a Cat Read online

  How about this house? He opened the door slightly and peeked in. He saw no one at home. But someone might be in the back yard.

  He walked around and peeked behind the house. Far, far back, he saw Jisama (old man, Grandpa) and Basama (old woman, Grandma) working in their vegetable garden. After each chop with a hoe, they rubbed their backs. Another chop, and they rubbed their backs again.

  “Oh, this is great. It will take them a while to finish their job. Meanwhile, I can steal a little bit of rice.”

  The burglar slid open the door quietly.

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi (very, very quiet walking)

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  Where is the rice box? Oh, there it is.

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He found the rice box, opened the lid, and took out a dirty bag from his jacket. He picked up the wooden measuring scoop and was about to pour rice into his bag when he suddenly heard from the next room,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!” A baby was crying.

  “Oh, oh, that loud cry will surely reach Jisama and Basama. This is not good, not good at all.”

  He hurried to the next room and tried to soothe the baby.

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  The baby smiled. Now he could try again to steal rice.

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He reached the box and picked up the scoop. He was about to pour some rice into his bag when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!” the baby cried again.

  “Oh, oh, this is not good, not at all. What a loud cry! This is not good.”

  He hurried to the baby.

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  That worked before, but the baby had already seen it.

  “Oh, she doesn’t stop crying. How about this?

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA. (peek a boo)

  “Yes! She stopped crying. Now is the time.”

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He was about to pour some rice into his bag when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, oh, not good, not at all.” He hurried to the next room.

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  “Oh, no, she doesn’t stop crying. How about this?”

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  “Yes, yes! She stopped crying.”

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He was about to pour some rice when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, this is not good.

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  “Oh, no. She doesn’t stop crying.

  CHO chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa. CHO chi

  CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa.

  “Yes, yes, she stopped crying. Now I can try again.”

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He reached the rice box and was about to pour some rice when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, oh, I’m in trouble again.”

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  CHO chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa. CHO

  chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa.

  “Oh, no. She doesn’t stop crying.

  Otsumu ten ten, hiji ton ton. Otsumu ten ten,

  hiji ton ton.

  “Well, well, she stopped crying. Now . . .”

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He was about to pour some rice when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, no. I’m really in a trouble.

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  CHO chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa. CHO

  chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa.

  O TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON. O

  TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON.

  “Oh, no. She doesn’t stop crying. I’m really in trouble.”

  Agari me, SAgari me, GuRUtto MAwatte,

  NYAn ko no me.

  “Yes, yes! She stopped crying. Now . . .”

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He was about to pour some rice when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, no. I’m really in trouble now . . .”

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  CHO chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa. CHO

  chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa.

  O TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON. O

  TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON.

  Agari me, SAgari me, GuRUtto MAwatte,

  NYAn ko no me.

  “Oh, no, she doesn’t stop crying. All right.”

  He picked up the baby in his arms and sang,

  NEN-nen-YO, HOra nen nen YO. Sleep, baby,

  sleep.

  Yes! She started to sleep. Gently, gently, the burglar put the baby down.

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi

  NUki ashi, SAshi ashi, shiNObi ashi.

  He was about to pour some rice when,

  “HonGYA, honGYA!”

  “Oh, no. Oh, no.”

  Belo belo belo—BA! Belo belo belo—BA!

  Inai inai, BAAA. Inai inai, BAAA.

  KAiguri KAiguri TOTtono ME. KAiguri

  KAiguri TOTtono ME.

  CHO chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa. CHO

  chi CHO chi, A wa wa wa wa.

  O TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON. O

  TSUmu TEN TEN, HI ji TON TON.

  Agari me, SAgari me, GuRUtto MAwatte,

  NYAn ko no me.

  NEn nen YO, HOra nen nen YO. Sleep,

  baby, sleep.

  “Oh, no! She doesn’t stop crying. What can I do? Oh, there’s a rope.”

  He slung the baby on his back with the rope and sang a lullaby.

  NEN-nen-YO, OkoROri-YO. You are such a

  good baby. Go to sleep, baby.

  He walked around the room, singing.

  Just then, Jisama and Basama came back from the field.

  The burglar was panic-stricken!

  But Basama saw the burglar and said, “Oh, my! I don’t know who you are, but thank you for babysitting our baby. You helped us out. I would like to give you something for what you have done for us, but what can I give you? Oh, I wonder why, but my rice box is open. Please take some rice with you.”

  Basama brought a nice clean bag from a cupboard and filled it with rice. She took the baby from the burglar’s back, and put the bag on his back instead.

  “Thank you very much. Thank you.”

  She thanked the burglar many, many times and sent him off.

  Oshimai

  COMMENT FROM FUJITA-SAN: This story teaches us many traditional Japanese ways of entertaining babies. In a story, we passed the wisdom from generation to generation.

  TIP FROM FRAN: You can substitute your own favorite ways of distracting babies. But in case you want to use traditional Fukushima baby games, see CITATIONS & ADDITIONAL NOTES for directions on how to do them. Or you can watch a video of Mrs. Fujita telling the story. Visit www.franstallings.com/fool-a-cat for the link.

  Worn Out Z
ori

  Once upon a time, there was a man who had to make a long journey to deliver a message far away. As was the custom, he prepared three pairs of zori (handmade straw sandals) for the trip. He put one pair on, and the other two he hung from his waist. They were for later use.

  Carrying his other belongings in a cloth bundle on his back, he started off.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga (sound of

  walking)

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked.

  When his first pair of zori wore out, he took out his second pair and put them on. Again he walked.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked, and walked, and walked. When his second pair of zori wore out, he took out his third pair and put them on. Again, he walked.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  Then his third pair was worn out.

  “I have no more zori. I need to buy some somewhere.”

  He looked around, but there was no store selling zori.

  “Well, then.” He started walking in his bare feet.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked and walked. Little by little, his feet started to wear out.

  Up to his ankles, his feet wore out.

  Still, he kept walking.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked and walked.

  Up to his knees, his legs wore out. Still, he kept walking.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked.

  Up to his thighs, his legs wore out. Still, he kept walking.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  He walked and walked.

  Up to his chest, his body wore out.

  Then he realized, “If I wear out up to my mouth, I won’t be able to tell the message.”

  So he unfolded his carrying cloth, pulled off his head, and wrapped it up.

  With his bundle on his back, he started walking again.

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga,

  Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga.

  Oshimai

  COMMENT FROM FUJITA-SAN: Traveling is much easier now. We have strong shoes that last more than a year, rain-proof clothes, and foods that keep a long time. There is public transportation. There are many restaurants. Besides, if we just need to tell a message, we don’t even have to travel. We can pick up a phone. But this story suggests that people considered their mouth the most important way to tell a message.

  TIP FROM FRAN: In this tall tale, the youngest listeners may not get the joke when the messenger takes off his head, but they enjoy the rhythmic repetition of Zunga, Zunga, Zunga, Zunga. Get them chanting along with you.

  Carrot and Daikon and Burdock

  Long long ago, Carrot and Daikon and Burdock worked in the muddy rice fields together. At the end of the day, they wanted to wash themselves and then enjoy a good soak in the hot tub.

  Before Burduck began washing, he tested the water in the tub to see how hot it was. He said, “AA-chi-chi-chi! (Ouch!) I can’t take a bath in such hot water. I’ll go work some more till it cools.” He went back to his muddy work in the rice field.

  Because he didn’t take a bath, that’s why they say the Burdock root still looks muddy.

  Daikon radish tested the water to see how hot it was.

  He said, “AA-chi-chi-chi! It’s so hot that I can’t get in now. I’ll just scrub myself till the bath cools.”

  He scrubbed his body. GOshi goshi gosh (Rub-a-dub-dub).

  His hands. GOshi goshi gosh.

  His legs too. GOshi goshi gosh.

  He unfolded the washcloth and scrubbed his back. GOshi goshi gosh.

  The hot water took a long time to cool down.

  Because he scrubbed himself so long, that’s why they say Daikon is so white.

  Carrot scrubbed himself clean, rinsed, and then tested the water in the hot tub.

  It was very hot. “AA-chi-chi-chi!”

  So he said, “First of all, I will cautiously put a toe into the hot water . . .”

  “Next go in knee-deep. Next go in waist-deep.”

  “Next navel-deep, Whew! Let’s take a break.”

  This is where courage is needed most. (Hold your breath.)

  “Next chest-deep.”

  “Next neck-deep.”

  Carrot soaked as long as he could stand it, counting, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!” (Hold up fingers)

  But it was really too hot. He got out quickly.

  The hot bath had turned his face and his body red, and they stayed that way.

  That’s why Carrot is red and Daikon Radish is white to this day.

  And why is Burdock the color of mud?

  Probably you understand now.

  Oshimai.

  TIP FROM FUJITA-SAN: Sometimes I use this story to teach children the way to scrub themselves before they get into the hot tub. “Wash behind your ears, goshi goshi goshi gosh” or “Between your fingers, goshi goshi goshi gosh.” Like this I make the children notice the parts they often forget to wash. But if you do too much of this it’s going to be just a lesson instead of fun, so you have to be careful.

  NOTE FROM FRAN: This story describes root vegetables that are popular in Japan and well known to the children there. Burdock is a very long thin root with a grey-brown skin and greyish flesh. Daikon radish, increasingly available in the U.S., is snowy white inside and out. The story calls carrots “red” because, as in many other languages, there was no traditional word “orange” until the citrus fruits became widely available.

  One Bean Make a Thousand Beans

  INSIGHT: Usually the old-time farmer sang this chant in a loud voice as he planted, hoping that the god of the mountain or the god of the field would hear his plea. See CITATIONS & ADDITIONAL NOTES for the Japanese words of the Farmer’s and Tanuki’s songs.

  Once upon a time, Jisama went to his field on the mountainside to plant beans.

  When this Jisama planted beans, he used three seeds for each hill. One is for the god of the earth, the second one is for the living things of the earth, and the last one is for the farmer.

  So that last bean was very important. He wanted it to grow and produce many beans. Jisama sang this song while he planted:

  One bean become a thousand beans.

  Two beans become ten thousand beans.

  One bean become a thousand beans.

  Two beans become ten thousand beans.

  He was telling the beans how he wanted them to grow.

  On this day, a mischievous Tanuki (Asian animal sometimes called “raccoon dog”) appeared and sat on a tree stump. Tanuki sang,

  One bean is one bean. If the wind blows, the

  bean will be spoiled.

  Two beans are two beans. If the birds eat

  them, the beans will be spoiled.

  Jisama thought, “Oh no! The beans must not hear such bad words. I have to sing my song to the beans in a loud voice.” Jisama sang,

  One bean become a thousand beans.

  Two beans become ten thousand beans.

  Tanuki also sang in a loud voice:

  One bean is one bean. If the wind blows, the

  bean will be spoiled.

  Two beans are two beans. If the birds eat

  them, the beans will be spoiled.

  So Jisama sang in a still louder voice,

  One bean become a thousand beans!

  Two beans become ten thousand beans!

  And Tanuki sang even louder,

  One bean is one bean! If the w
ind blows, the

  bean will be spoiled!

  Two beans are two beans! If the birds eat

  them, the beans will be spoiled!”

  At last Jisama got angry and said “Hey! You nasty Tanuki! I’ll catch you.” Jisama crept up slowly to where Tanuki was sitting and tried to catch it. But Jisama was slow and Tanuki was nimble. Tanuki ran away quickly.

  “Hey! Wait!” Jisama tried to catch it; it ran away. “Hey! Wait! Wait!—”

  From this side, he crept up quietly. It ran away.

  From the other side . . . It ran away . . .

  Finally Tanuki escaped back to the mountain.

  That evening, Jisama said to Basama. “My dear, today I told the beans ‘One bean should become a thousand beans’ but Tanuki came and said ‘One bean is one bean.’ I wanted to catch it, but it was too fast and nimble for me. What should I do about this?”

  Basama said, “My idea is, smear gluey pine gum on the stump where Tanuki likes to sit.”