​Alo o! Alo! (Story time! Story time!)

Описание: ​Alo o! Alo! (Story time! Story time!)
​In a small village under the hot African sun, the market day was bustlling. The air was filled with the smell of roasted corn, palm oil, and the most irresistible aroma of all—freshly roasted groundnuts.
​This aroma came from the stall of Iya Elepa (The Groundnut Seller). Iya Elepa was an elderly woman, wise and hardworking. Her groundnuts were known to be the crunchiest and sweetest in the whole land. She sat patiently behind a large, overflowing basket of this "crunchy gold," waiting for customers.
​Not far away, Ijapa (the Tortoise), the cunning trickster, was slowly walking by. His stomach rumbled loudly. Ijapa had not eaten since morning, and he had no money in his pocket. The smell of Iya Elepa’s groundnuts hit his nose, and his small eyes widened with greed.
​"Ah-ah," Ijapa whispered to himself. "Those groundnuts must be mine today."
​Ijapa knew Iya Elepa was sharp, so he couldn't just steal them easily. He needed a plan. He polished his shell, put on his best smile, and approached her stall slowly.
​"Good afternoon, our respected mother," Ijapa greeted smoothly, bowing low. "My, the sun is terrible today! How do you manage sitting here all day with these heavy baskets?"
​Iya Elepa looked at him suspiciously over the rim of her glasses. "Good afternoon, Ijapa. Hard work does not kill a person. What do you want?"
​Ijapa feigned shock. "Want? Mama, I want nothing but to help! I see you are tired. Let me sit here and watch over your precious groundnuts while you take a short rest under that bigger shade tree over there."
​Iya Elepa hesitated. She was indeed tired, but she knew Ijapa’s reputation. However, the heat was intense. "Hmm. Very well, Ijapa. But if one nut is missing, I will turn your shell into a soup bowl."
​Iya Elepa moved away to rest. As soon as her back was turned, Ijapa did not watch the groundnuts. Instead, he began to eat!
​He threw them into his mouth rapidly—crunch, crunch, crunch. He stuffed handfuls inside his shell for later. He was enjoying himself so much that he forgot to watch the time.
​Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. It was Iya Elepa. She had returned earlier than expected.
​She looked at the basket. It was noticeably half-empty. She looked at Ijapa, whose cheeks were bulging strangely, and who had groundnut skins stuck to his chin.
​"Ijapa!" she shouted, her voice ringing through the market.
​Ijapa tried to speak, but his mouth was too full. "Mmmph-mmm-gh!" was all he could say.
​Iya Elepa grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and shook him. Roasted groundnuts tumbled out of his mouth and poured out from under his shell like rain.
​The whole market stopped to watch and laugh. "Look at the wise tortoise!" they jeered. "He came to guard, but he came to graze!"
​Iya Elepa pointed a stern finger at him (just like in the poster). "Greed is a heavy burden, Ijapa. Today, your greed was heavier than your shell. Get out of my sight!"
​Ashamed and still hungry, Ijapa slowly crawled away, while the village children laughed behind him.
​Àlọ́ mi dá gbà, àlọ́ mi dá gbó. (Thus my story ends.)

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