COME AND DINE WITH US

Rabbit planned for a large gathering in his cave. He hopped through the forest from morning until night picking wild berries for pie, and pulling up potato root for stew. When he was sure he had plenty, he hurried back to his cave. There he prepared his foods and his table. Rabbit was pleased. His guests were soon to arrive.

First came Opossum, who waddled in and took a seat. Next came Raccoon, Turtle, Owl and Squirrel. Bear, Deer and Woodpecker arrived late. They all sat down and admired the berry pie, then sniffed approvingly at the potato stew. But as Rabbit was ready to serve dinner, an uninvited guest appeared at the cave entrance.

“I am hungry,” said Coyote. “What is this food I smell?”

Rabbit, who never trusted tricky Coyote, hid behind Bear.

“Ah, I see we have pie and stew,” said Coyote, dipping his paw into the pie and taking a bite.  “Yuk! I hate berries. But what’s this? Stew!  My favorite.” He again dipped in a paw. “Ptooie,” he said. “This stew is tasteless. It needs….hmm, why it needs a fat rabbit!”

Rabbit leapt out from behind Bear and raced to the forest, where he found a thick thorny bush to hide, staying there until Coyote left. After that, Rabbit changed his address. Now he lives under a thick thorny bush. You can always find him there when Coyote is around.

From Traditional Stories and Foods: An American Indian Remembers, by Joan Leslie Woodruff