Anansi and the Talking Yam

One day, Anansi was in his garden digging up yams for dinner. To his utter amazement, one of the yams said, "Well, it's about time! I was getting tired of being in the ground." Anansi dropped the yam and ran away in terror. He ran straight to the King's court. "I have found a talking yam!" he panted. The King and his elders were skeptical. "A yam cannot talk," the King said. "I swear it!" cried Anansi. The King, annoyed, said, "Very well. I will send my guards with you. My royal Dog and my prize Ram will be witnesses. If the yam talks, I will reward you. But if it does not, I will have you beaten for wasting my time." Anansi led the procession back to his garden. He picked up the yam and shouted, "Speak, yam! Speak!" But the yam remained silent. He begged and pleaded, but the yam said nothing. The guards, following the King's orders, gave Anansi a severe beating. Bruised and humiliated, Anansi picked up the silent yam to take it home for dinner. As he limped out of the garden, the yam finally spoke: "See? Didn't I tell you it was a bad idea to tell anyone?"