Once upon a time Tortoise and lamb agreed to friend forever. They also agreed to be doing things in common such as raising their children, farming together and sharing opinions. Tortoise is one of the reptiles (animals) who can lay multiple eggs and hatch them alive within periods of months in a year, while Lamb can alone give birth to one or two in year. Every year, the children of Tortoise are increasing in number while Lamb children are not. All they got from their farm every year are spent for the raising of children of Tortoise while less is used for Lamb's children. One day Lamb invited tortoise in her house and suggested to her about family planning because of the amount they normally spend every year in raising their children. But Tortoise in her wisdom refuted the opinion of Lamb by saying "I will never do such in my life neither I to cheat gods who made it so." She asked "Are you envying my children?" No replied Lamb, how can I be doing such, I just suggested to you so that things would be easy for us? When Tortoise discovered that Lamb was angry with her, she planned how to eliminate her entirely. One day, she called lamb to come and accompany her to the stream during raining season. When they reached the stream, she begged her to fetch water and Lamb accepted with clear mind but without knowing that Tortoise had evil plan for her. While she bent down to fetch water, then Tortoise pushed her to the deep area where she was drowned. While she (Lamb) was dying, she shouted "O my lovely friend who knows my heart has eliminated my precious life." When Tortoise saw that she had being drowned, she went home happily and acquired all they possessed for years.
© Nwankwo Johnson C.