Folk Legends
Saru Kani Kassen
In the evening, the monkey came home. "I'm so cold," he exclaimed, and just as he plopped down next to the fire, the chestnut burst up from the ashes, scalding the monkey's behind. The monkey ran yelping into the kitchen and dunked his hands in the tub to gather water to dowse his burning pain. The baby crabs jumped out and snapped at him with their claws. At this, the monkey dropped the jug and picked up the pail of soft miso to spread over his burn. The bee sprung out promptly and stung him left and right. The helpless monkey then retreated to his bed, but jumping into it, he was poked all over by the needle buried under the covers. Screaming "Ouch! Ouch!" the monkey finally made to flee the house, but just as he got through the doorway, the mortar clanged down on his head.
Groaning with pain, the monkey cried, "I promise I'll never misbehave again!"