Samar and the Tigers

One day, Samar’s mama and papa presented him with a fine suit of clothes. Meandering through the jungle, Samar encountered a tiger, who declared its intention to eat him. “No, accept my scarlet coat instead.” The tiger was quite taken with such a splendid coat and agreed.

A second tiger approached, licking its chops. “Breakfast time!”

“I don’t think so,” Samar said. “How about these exquisite shoes instead?”

“Of what use are they?” the tiger scoffed. “You have two feet, I have four.”

“But these are ear-shoes. You’ll be the finest tiger around.” The tiger put them on and strutted off.

The next tiger announced that Samar would make a tasty morning meal. “Not so fast. Here, take my umbrella instead.”

The tiger protested, saying he had no way to hold it. “Grasp it with your tail. You’ll be the envy of the jungle.” Samar held out the emerald umbrella.

Another tiger confronted him, and Samar sighed. “I suppose you’re as hungry as your comrades.” He pondered what he could offer as all he wore were his plum-colored pants. Finally, he held out the trousers to the tiger. “You’ll be oh-so elegant,” he said. The tiger looked at him suspiciously, then reluctantly agreed.

Samar sauntered along, uninterrupted, when suddenly he heard ferocious growling. Creeping through the undergrowth, he peered out to see the tigers chasing one another around a date palm with a vengeance. They had quarreled over whose garments were the finest and left all of Samar’s clothing piled in a heap.

The tigers chased each other, jaws snapping at tails, until they became a blur and melted into a pool of golden tiger butter. Samar put his clothes on and scooped up the tiger butter to carry home to his mama. She made pancakes piled high with melted butter and warm syrup, which Samar devoured.