Trickster Tale: The Parrot And The Crocodile

Trickster Tale: ‘The Parrot and the Crocodile’ A long time ago a parrot lived in a fig tree on the riverbank. Life was good for him. He grew big and strong eating the tree’s fruit. A lot of crocodiles lived in the river, along with the parrots, and one of them watched the parrot for a long time as he ate and slept in the tree.
“That parrot’s heart must taste so sweet from all the fruit he eats,” the crocodile thought to herself. “I want to eat it”
She turned to her husband and said, “See the parrot up there in that tree? Bring me his heart, I want to eat it.”
Her husband looked up at the parrot in the tree and then looked at his wife. “But the parrot lives high in the tree and I’m here in the river. How can I catch him?”
“I know what I’ll do,” he said to himself. “I’ll trick the parrot into riding on my back”
The crocodile swam closer to the tree to begin his trap. “Hello Mr. Parrot. How are you today?” he called out, smiling and trying to sound friendly. When he smiled he showed all his big, nasty teeth.
“I’m fine, thank you,” said the parrot, trying not to look scared as he stared down from the tree at the open mouth with all those big sharp teeth.
“Mr. Parrot, why do you only eat the fruit from that fig tree when there are so many juicy mangoes on trees on the island in the middle of the river?” asked the crocodile.
“Because I can’t get across the river; I can’t fly that far,” answered the parrot.
“No problem, you can ride on my back and I’ll take you over there,” said the crocodile as politely as