The Tale of the Lion's Whisker

A long time ago in Ethiopia a woman called Leeya got married to the man who had one son. His wife had died a few years prior to. As hard to be as Leeya might try, she couldn't seem to create a bond to the boy.

She served the boy food, but the boy was unable to consume it. She gently spoke to him but he refused to listen. He turned away. She sat beside him and he would stand up and leave. After years of these, Leeya did not know where to go.

Thanks to Nedira, Brooklyn, NY

In Leeya's village, there was a doctor and healer who was a mountain dweller. If any villager was suffering from illness or pain visiting him could cure the problem. The majority of the time, Leeya felt she could resolve her own problems. However, she was not doing it this time. She was in need of assistance!

When Leeya was walking towards the healer's cabin She noticed that the door open. The doctor's old voice said, without changing his mind, "I hear you coming. What's the issue?"

She introduced herself and gave an explanation.

"Ah Yes," he said. "I understand. What do you expect me to do?"

"Make me an amulet, a potion" she cried Leeya. "Anything! Anything to make this child respond towards me."

The man who administered medicine was looking her in the eyes. "Young female," he said. "This isn't similar to fixing a fractured bone or treating the earache. I'll need more time to think about. Return in three days."

Three days after, Leeya returned to the cabin.

"Leeya," said the old man, with a smile, "I have good news for you! There's a potion which will alter the child's attitude towards you. However, you must be aware that it requires a certain ingredient. You have to bring me an animal's whisker. lion."

"A whisker of a lion"What?! ?" said Leeya with shocked. "Such an idea isn't even possible!"

"You would like your stepchild to change his mind?" He yelled. "Bring me the lion's whisker." He then turned away. "There is nothing else I can say. As you can see, I'm extremely busy person."

The next night Leeya was tossed around. What was she going to do? whisker from a lion?

The next day she left home. Her hand held an empty bowl of rice dipped with a meat sauce.

Leeya visited the shady trees in a grove in which lion tracks were observed, in the past and where a lion is said to reside. She walked in a secure area away from the trees that shaded her and then carefully set the bowl onto the ground.

And then, as calmly and securely that she possibly could, she turned away and headed home.

The next day, at exactly the same moment, she brought an additional bowl of cooked rice topped with meat sauce into the cave. As she realized that the previous bowl wasn't full, she picked it up it off and set down the new one, which was full. Again she left quietly.

Everyday, she did this. The months passed by. Leeya did not see the lion. She could tell by the footprints that were left on the ground she was in fact the lion that is eating the food she was feeding.

One day, she spotted the head of a lion peeking out from behind a tree. Making sure not to stare at the lion's eyes the woman walked very slow to the exact spot just as she had always. She laid down the new, fully-filled container of food. She took the empty bowl and left.

Each day the lion's head was poked through the trees close to the spot where she put the bowl down. The animal was in the vicinity of an empty cup when the woman came and waited for her. The next time, she sat down and waited as the lion consumed its food. After he finished eating and ate, she brushed its thick fur, much like a cat in a home. She looked into its soft eyes and noticed that it was now trusting her.

"Actually," she thought, "it is a rather pleasant creature once you begin to get acquainted with it."

It took a long time until Leeya decided that it was time to test whether she could obtain the whisker.

On the next morning, she took along a small knife. When she put down the food bowl and the lion permitted her to touch its head as she said in a quiet voice "Oh you, my dearest lion! Could I please have one of your fine whiskers?"

When she was petting the lion using the other hand, she then removed the whisker using the other hand, taking care not to harm the Lion or in some way. "Thank for your kindness, sweet companion," the lion's owner said.

Then she ran for the hut of the medicine man. As she held the whisker tightly in her palm She cried, "I have it! I have the whisker of the lion!" She described the steps.

She was proud to hand her the whisker. The healer examined the whisker with care. He then walked to the flame and put it in the fire and it began to burn quickly to the point of being a crisp.

"What has happened What have you done?" Leeya cried. "What was it that took me to realize this!"

"Leeya," said the elderly doctor, "you don't need the whisker. Is this child actually more risky than the Lion? If wild animals react to your patient and tender care, wouldn't you think that a child who has lost his mother will do the same?"

Leeya was stunned. She thought .. Maybe? Then, when she arrived home, she had a clear idea of how she was going to respond.