An Adaptation of The Carabao- a Vietnamese folk-tale

The Carabao, or water buffaloes, are used as work animals in the rice
paddies of Vietnam, on the east coast of Thailand. Subject to hard work, they pull
a heavy yoke through mud and water in order to till the fields. Their long horns
are curved and their dark blue- grey skin is bruised and battered, from their
masters whips. A pitiful picture, sweat beads incessantly roll down their bodies as
they trudge from one end of the field to the other over and over, without a choice.
Up and down and up and down the fields. However, this wasnt always so
Long long ago, much before any living man can remember, the Carabao
were free. A freedom they now no longer even dare to dream about. The mud
was not their workplace, but their playground. Children rolled in the mud gleefully,
while the adults carelessly lazed around, without a worry in the world. With their
long horns and shiny skin, they were intimidating, but different. And unfortunately,
being different was almost like a crime.
While dirt and slush put off the other animals, the Carabao thrived in it.
Enjoyable as this was, it gave them an unbearable stench. This, along with the
mud layered on their skin, drove off the other animals. The Carabao were clumsy
creatures, who often lacked the grace that came naturally to the elegant peacock
or the noble tiger. Much to the Carabaos humiliation, they would often lose their
footing on a rock and fall with a splash into the muddy water. The animals
strangely took delight in the Carabaos fall and amidst laughter would mockingly
shout out:
Theyre dirty
They smell
Theyre clumsy
They stink
Theyre ugly
They reek
Theyre muddy
THEY JUST DONT BELONG
The baby Carabao would often go out to play, but when they went to the
other children and asked if they could play, the animals would snicker and rudely
say:
Youre dirty
You smell
Youre clumsy
You stink
Youre muddy
You reek
Youre ugly
YOU JUST DONT BELONG
Dismayed, the children would go back crying to their fathers and mothers
who one day decided enough was enough. Their fathers couldnt bear their
childrens isolation and decided to complain to the other animals. They prepared
a petition for the monthly meeting, and finally stood up to the other animals.

When the monthly meeting finally arrived, the Carabao explained how bad
they felt when they animals laughed at their stench, ridiculed them for thriving in
the mud and excluded their children. The other animals heard them out, but were
far from understanding. Instead of being pitiful, they laughed mercilessly at the
Carabao. And with no hesitation at all the animals drove them out with the same
cry that had brought the Carabao there in the first place.
But the animals werent prepared to stop at that. They felt a need to
eliminate everything that they didnt understand, everything that dared to be
different. They felt the Carabao simply did not belong in the jungle and decided to
be done with their complaints once and for all. And with that, the animals reached
a consensus to exile the Carabao from the jungle. Filled with adrenaline and
driven with anger, they set out immediately to eliminate the Carabao with brute
force. They charged towards them, crying out:
Theyre dirty
They smell
Theyre clumsy
They stink
Theyre ugly
They reek
Theyre muddy
THEY JUST DONT BELONG
The Carabao were shocked to see a mass of animals approach their
homes, and knew that it would not bode well. Hearing the enthused war cry and
seeing the rage-filled faces of the other animals, they realised that a battle was
imminent. Quickly gathering their youth and sheltering the babies, they prepared
for battle.
The animals charge toward the Carabao was reciprocated with the
Carabaos charging back. Not only did they match the other animals physically,
but also retaliated to the animals mockery with a war cry of their own.
Were dirty
We smell
Were clumsy
We stink
Were ugly
We reek
Were muddy
BUT WE DO BELONG.
In unison, the Carabao met the animals head on and matched them blow
for blow. Fighting with heart, they bulldozed the animals, one after the other. A
chipped horn, a couple of broken teeth or a bruised back failed to persuade the
Carabaos into submission. Their determination and bravery were rewarded when
the animals were forced into submission. With all their jokes and mockery, they
had failed to compete with the brute strength of the Carabao. As a result, they
returned, fewer in number and unsuccessful, defeated by the same creatures that
they relentlessly had made fun of.

The animals, furious that they were defeated, decided to attack the
Carabao again, but with larger numbers this time The tigers scratched and
clawed, the bears rammed, the panthers pounced, the bulls charged, the jackals
jumped, and the snakes bit, leaving the Carabao helpless. With broken bones,
and bright red gashes decorating their skin, the Carabao were in a sorry state.
After the flurry of attacks they had just enough energy to flee, and flee they did.
-------------------------------------A FEW WEEKS LATER--------------------------------------A few weeks later, the clouds rumbled, as if they were protesting the
Carabaos dismissal. As the days progressed, the rumble grew louder and louder,
sending shivers down the animals spines. Soon the mighty clouds spewed out
torrential rain and all hell broke loose. It was a fierce storm, with strong winds,
falling trees, and an angry flooding river. For days and days, the storm persisted,
till the animals could find no shelter or food. The entire forest was overrun with
water and mud.
Stomachs growling with hunger, the usually energetic monkeys tried to
brave the flood. Swinging from one slippery branch to another, they could make
very little progress before one over-enthusiastic one lost his grip, fell, and was
carried away by the strong currents. In desperate need for food, the zebras too
gave it a shot. They attempted to wade through the thick slush, but they could
hardly make it a few steps before the surging water immediately pushed them
back.
It was then when the animals ruefully remembered the Carabao. It was the
Carabao who had always been helpful in the miserable monsoon. They were the
only creatures brave enough to plunge into the mud and water to procure food.
Now, standing unfed and unsheltered the helpless animals drowned in regret.
Theyre dirty
They smell
Theyre clumsy
They stink
Theyre ugly
They reek
Theyre muddy
BUT MAYBE THEY DID BELONG
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