“This week for story time we are going to read about two
animals who once had a big conflict with each other. They both may seem very
cute and cuddly, but that was not always the case. Who here likes bunnies and
otters? “
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| The Rex Rabbit from Wikipedia |
All the kids in Ms. McDaniel’s second grade class raised
their hands high in the air.
“Ok kids well today we are going to be reading a Cherokee
legend about how the bunny stole the otters soft, furry coat.”
The kids all waited patiently, and eagerly, to hear the
story that was to follow.
“Once there were many animals in a forest, and all thought
they had the most wonderful and beautiful coat of all. The animals decided that
they couldn’t go on any longer, and it must be decided whose coat was the best.
They planned a meeting that was mandatory for all animals where it would be
decided whose coat would take first prize.
The bunny was insistent that he would win. He thought that
it was a sure shot…until he heard about the otter. Not many people had seen the
otter. He lived very far away, but it was rumored that his coat was
magnificent!
The bunny was scared. He could not be beat!
The bunny came up with a plan to steal the otter’s coat, so
that he could ensure that he would win. That day he set out to find the otter
to set his plan in motion.
The bunny had walked for days, and was almost running out of
hope when he saw movement in the distance. It was the otter, and he could see
how beautiful the otter’s coat was even from far away! The bunny went up to the
otter and said that he was there to escort him to the meeting, so that he would
not get lost.
The first night everything was calm, and the two took off
their coats and slept under the stars before starting on their way again. They
walked all day, and were exhausted by the time night came. That night the bunny
told the otter that this was a dangerous area because sometimes fire fell from
the sky. For this reason he would stay up and keep watch. The otter took off
his coat, and lay down to sleep.
After the otter had fallen soundly asleep, the bunny took
the coals from the fire they had cooked dinner over, and threw them in the air.
He screamed fire! Fire!
Immediately the otter shot up and ran to the nearby creek to
escape the fire. The bunny saw this as his chance. He stole the otter’s coat
that was hanging in the tree and ran as fast as he could.
He made it to the meeting later that evening where everybody
took notice of the lovely otter in the corner, but they were shocked they the
otter seemed so shy. When the otter looked up, it was actually the rabbit.
Everyone was outraged that the bunny had done this, and chased him out of the
meeting. The bunny never did give the coat back though, and to this day the
otter resides in the water where he was chased by fire.”
“Now kids, this story, although sad, has a valuable lesson.”
Said Mrs. McDaniel
“What do you think this lesson is?”
“Watch your coat at all times?” said one of her student.
“ Good guess, but no. The lesson is that some people may
seem nice when you first meet them. You
have to be careful though because there are people out there who only want to
be your friend so that they can benefit from something you have. You shouldn’t
be scared to make friends, but you must look out for yourself. Make sure you
are paying attention and gauging the intentions of people who seem a little off
to you. Trust you guts.”
The kids all seemed to be receptive of this lesson, but were
also probably more excited that they got to stand up and go to recess.
Author's Note: For this story I wanted to use the story of How The Rabbit Stole the Otter's Coat to teach a lesson that many people have to learn from experience. This is why I chose to have a teacher and a second grade class because children are very trusting. The original story was about why the otter lives in the water, and why the rabbit has the coat that it does, but I thought it could also have a more valuable lesson involved.
Bibliography:
How The Rabbit Stole The Otter's Coat From Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney (1900)
