Mbe and the Pot of Beans

Mbe the Tortoise cooked a large, delicious pot of beans and intended to eat it all himself. As he was about to begin, he saw a visitor approaching. Not wanting to share, he quickly dug a hole, buried the hot pot, and sat on top of it, pretending to be resting. When his friend arrived, Mbe complained that he had no food at all. But his friend, who was observant, saw steam rising from the ground all around the tortoise. Furthermore, Mbe could not sit still; he kept fidgeting and lifting himself up because the hot pot was burning his backside. "Friend," the visitor said, "your buttocks seem to be steaming. Are you unwell?" Mbe, caught in his lie and in great discomfort, had to confess. His greed had not only cost him his meal but had also given him a painful burn and public shame.