Old Tropes

The two-hundred-foot-tall Nganga approached the village, his footsteps shaking the ground. The villagers stumbled out of their huts, still in their night clothes. It was the same throughout the village. Everyone would look up, scream and run.

Nganga laughed a deep, dark, scary laugh. “You’re listening now,” he shouted, lifting his foot to stomp a hut.

Just then, someone yelled, “Stop!” It was Kembe, riding on top of the Elephant Bird. Next to him was Ayana, riding on top of Danh.

He turned to meet them, laughing again. “What are you going to do, cry at me? I’ve already beaten your friends.”

Ayana jumped off Danh and ran toward Nganga. She yelled up at him, “You might be big, but you’re a tiny coward inside!”

He roared in anger and picked her up, holding her over his head. He said, “Why don’t you see exactly how big I am inside.”

He opened his mouth to eat her and that’s when Ayana threw the rest of Anansi’s gift into his mouth.