Retold by Barbara A. Warren aka Shining Woman
Cherokee Words:
- Rabbit Tsi-s-du
- Fox Tsu-la
- Fish A-tsa-di
Back when the World was young, Tsisdu had a very long bushy tail. In fact, his tail was longer and bushier than the tail of Tsula. Now Tsisdu was very proud of his tail, and he was constantly telling all the other animals about how beautiful his tail was. One day Tsula became so tired of hearing Tsisdu brag about his tail that he decided to put an end to the boasting once and for all.
The weather was getting colder. The day came when it became so cold that the waters in the lake and streams froze. A few days later, Tsula went down to the lake carrying four atsadi. When he got to the lake he cut a hole in the ice. Then he tied the four atsadi to his tail, and sat himself down and waited for Tsisdu to come by.
Soon Tsisdu came hopping over the top of the ridge. When Tsula saw Tsisdu, he quickly dropped his tail into the cold water. Tsisdu hopped right up to Tsula and said, “What are you doing, Fox?” Tsula answered, “I’m fishing”. And Tsisdu asked, “With your tail?” Tsula replied, “Oh yes, that’s the very best way to catch the most fish.“
Tsisdu said, “How long have you been fishing?” Tsula lied and said, “Oh…about fifteen minutes.” Tsisdu asked, “Have you caught any fish yet?” Then Tsula pulled up his tail, and there were those four atsadi hanging on it.
Tsisdu asked, “What do you plan to do with the fish you catch?” Tsula said, “Well, I figure I’ll fish until I catch enough to take to the Cherokee Village and then trade them in for a pair of beautiful tail combs. There is only one set of tail combs left, and I really want them.”
Tsula could see that Tsisdu was thinking. Tsisdu thought to himself, “Hummm…if Fox caught four atsadi in fifteen minutes and I fished all night long, I bet I would have enough atsadi by morning to trade at the Cherokee Village. Then I could get those tail combs for myself.”
Tsula said, “Well, It’s getting late and I’m cold. I think I’ll come back and fish some more in the morning. See ya, Rabbit.” So Tsula loped off over the top of the ridge. As soon as Tsula was out of sight, Tsisdu dropped his long tail down into the icy water of the lake. Brrrrr, it was so cold! But Tsisdu thought, “Oh, no. I want those tail combs more than anything.” So, he sat down on the hole in the ice and fished all night long.
Soon after the sun came up, Tsula loped over the top of the ridge. He ran right up to Tsisdu and said, “What are ya doing there, Rabbit?” Tsisdu’s teeth began to chatter. “I’mmm ffffissshing, Fffox.”
Tsula asked, “Oh! Well, have you caught any fish yet?” Tsisdu started to get up but he found he couldn’t budge off the ice! He said, “Fffox you’ve ggott to helppp me. I’mmm ssstttuck.”
So, Tsula, with a smug smile on his face, walked behind Tsisdu. He reached his paws out toward the back of Tsisdu and then gave one mighty big shove. Then — POP! Ttsisdu shot out of that hole and landed clear across the other side of the lake! But his tail…was still stuck in the frozen water!
And that’s why, from that day to this, Tsisdu has such a very short, short tail.