Friday, January 25, 2008

Jaguar!

(As told to me by Victor and Simeon.)

A very long time ago, who knows how long? "The people" ( Ye'kwanas) did not keep track of days and things back then! We did not know a Sunday from a Monday, a January from a February, days were just days! All we knew, was the changing of the moon, and the times of rain and dryness.

But... a very long time ago, when we were very small boys, we would play every day! All day, for we had no schools yet. We only ate and played or helped our Fathers. On this day, we were playing together, running, jumping, chasing and hiding from each other.

We knew better than to wander off into the jungle alone. From the time we could walk, our grandmothers would tells us that if we went into the jungle alone, we would get lost! We would be eaten by jaguars, or gored by wild pigs, bitten by snakes, or worse yet, we would be attacked by Canaima, and die for sure!

On this day, we forgot how far we had wandered. Little boys do this! If you turn your eye away for even one moment, they will "poof!" disappear! Our sons are like this today, you now! So we ran and we hid and we chased each other, until we realized, we were far from home!

We did not know what might happen to us! Were the old grand mothers right? Would Canaima come and get us? We began to run as fast as little ones can! These were the days before store bought clothes. We only wore our red loin clothes, the flaps were slapping along behind us as we ran, when ,suddenly...

On the path right before us... we saw a dark body, crouching along side the path. We stopped in our tracks! It was not Canaima, but it was... a jaguar! And a big one!

What should two little boys do? We had nothing like a weapon, not even a small knife like we normally would carry if walking with our fathers in the jungle! The jaguar slowly came closer. It was beautiful! We stared into its eyes. Our skin became like the skin of a jungle chicken! All bumpy with fear!

We stood our ground and the jaguar slowly came and even sniffed us! It was making funny, rumbling sounds in its throat! All of sudden, little Simeon, pulled out a small plastic comb from the waist of his loin cloth. The missionaries had given us these and we used them as toys more than to comb our hair. We would chase one another and flick each other with the combs as hard as we could. It would really sting and leave a red mark on the skin! You know, that's how little boys play! Our sons, today are the same way!

Simeon quickly, flicked the comb right on the jaguar's nose!

The jaguar jumped back, and screamed just like a woman, but even louder! And, you know, woman can scream very loudly when frightened, but this was even louder than that! It was so loud, that we screamed as well. Both of us began to run down the path as quickly as possible for two little ones! Still screaming, for we were but little boys and not very brave yet!

As we got closer to the village, we slowed down. We had a big problem ,you see, for how could we tell the men we had seen a jaguar? And how could we recount the bravery of Simeon? For we were not to have ventured so far off alone! The old women would spank us for sure! What should two little boys do?

We decided to tell no one. For many years we kept this secret. Only when we were men ourselves did we tell others of our adventure, for now the old women could not spank us!

But... you should have seen that jaguar and heard it scream!!!

12 comments:

~*♥Verja♥*~ said...

Wow. That story is so funny. I love to hear it. A COMB! OF ALL THINGS!!
I would have tried to grab a tree limb or something at first, and if that didn't work, THEN I would try the comb! I love this story!

Baptist Girl said...

I have shared some things with my mom now that when I was a child, there is no way I would have shared them, in fear of the Great Wooden Spoon. We even can laugh at a few but back then, let's just say I would not be sitting down for awhile *S*. I've been so busy lately I have not had the chance to read some of my favorite blogs. I'm glad I took the time to pop in.


Cristina

Anonymous said...

Boys will find adventure!!

What fun....exciting and scary!!

Bet they never wandered so far again until they grew older!!

Unknown said...

Kids are the same everywhere really aren't they? funny story
and oh by the way, you weren't the lurker I spoke with yesterday. It was cuz Ron Kennedy!

Glenn B said...

Excellent. I wonder if it was a dream, if an exaggeration, or just as it happened. Maybe a bit of each, maybe pure fact - whatever - it was GREAT!

Nicholas Z. Cardot said...

That is a very neat story. I love the stories that have been coming out of this blog. What a blessing!

Keep up the great work that you guys are doing down there. I'm praying for you!

Brooke said...

LOL!

Liz said...

Maybe the animal was a cowardly jaguar... hehehe

Rebecca said...

That's funny. Isn't it wonderful to see the hand of the Lord in their lives even so long ago.

groovyoldlady said...

Oh dear. If my son returned home alive after an encounter like that, I'da killed him for scaring his ole mother so badly!

Thursday's Child said...

Reminds me of a joke: A pastor loved to play golf and he'd always wanted to play on a Sunday morning but was always working. One week he decides to play hooky and go play golf. He calls the associate pastor, tells him he's sick, and has him cover for him. Then he remembers the president of the congregation sometimes plays golf on Sunday mornings and doesn't want to run into him. So he calls and asks him to be sure and be at church to make sure things run smoothly. The pastor goes to the first tee and St. Paul is talking to Jesus and says, "I hope you're going to teach him a lesson." The pastor gets a hole in one. St. Paul can't believe his eyes! "Surely you're going to get him on the next one!" But he gets another hole in one. This goes on for the rest of the game. Finally St. Paul just can't hold it in and yells, "What are you doing?! You should be punishing him!" Jesus just looks at him and says, "Who's he going to tell? And if he tells anyone, who's going to believe him?"

Roger W. Gardner said...

Hi Jungle Mom. Wow. Do you actually live in that wonderful compound in that photo?

Isn't the internet incredible that we can be conversing like this -- you down there in your jungle and me all buried in New England snow.

I loved that story. It was so simple but so interesting and surprising.
I'm returning
the visit from the nice comment you left about my article on Crusader Rabbit.

Thank you for that. It's a pleasure meeting you.

Best wishes,
Roger G.