How the Tucan got his Beak
by Max Baroi, March 1999
 
 
 
 
      A long time ago when the world was new.  In the rainforest where trees reach the sky.  There lived a toucan, best beloved, who teased the other animals.

     One day a monkey swung by from tree to tree.  Then he met the toucan, and he said: “Toucan come and swing with me please?” and the toucan said: “No!  I will not swing you and get your fleas from your fur!”   So the monkey swung away.

     Next came the snake and he asked the toucan: “Dear toucan will you come slither with me?”  And the toucan said: “No!  I will not slither with you and get your shedding skin on my feathers!” So the snake slithered away.

     Then came a tree frog.  So he asked: “Toucan please can you hop with me from tree to tree?”   And the toucan said: “I will do no such thing and get your warts from you!”  So the tree frog hoped away.

     So the tree frog, the snake, and the monkey asked the jungle soltan to teach the toucan a lesson.  So the jungle soltan flew to the toucan and he said: “Toucan the animal say you have a big mouth.”  Then there was a cloud of smoke and the toucan’s beak grew and grew until it was two times bigger than before.  So the soltun said: “Now you do have a big mouth.”  And the soltan disappeared.

     Now, best beloved, you know how the toucan got his mouth, but we call it a beak not to hurt his feelings.