THE TWO FOOLISH PEDDLERS

THE TWO FOOLISH PEDDLERS

               

          Opong and Angkil are neighbors. They call each other “Pare”. They love to drink basi(a wine from the Philippines) very much. One morning, Opong called Angkil. “I know how we can be rich, Pare,” said Opong. “Tell me about it, Pare,” said angkil. “We shall go to town and sell basi,” said Opong. “Where shall we get the basi? You and I have drunk all the basi in the barrio,” said Angkil. “We shall go to the other barrios. We shall buy all the basi we can get. We will sell our carabaos to have capital.”

        So they went to the nearby barrios and bought all the basi. They poured the basi into a long bamboo tube. They took turns in carrying the basi. They walked along the barangay road and shouted. “Basi!Basi! Buy our sweet basi.” Then a woman bought a five peso worth of basi. Opong gave basi into the woman’s bowl.

        “Who shall hold the money?” asked Opong. “The one who holds the bamboo tube when the sale is made,” said Angkil. And they both agreed.

        They walked and walked. Nobody bought their basi again. They stopped under a big tree. “Pare,” said Opong, “Please give me five peso worth of basi.” Opong gave Angkil a five peso bill. Angkil gave Opong a dipperful of basi. Angkil looked at Opong. He likes a dipperful of basi also. Angkil looked at the five peso bill in his hand. And Angkil bought a dipperful of basi.

        The five peso bill changed hands. The two man poured each other a dipperful of basi. They drunk all the basi in the bamboo tube.

        “Now Pare, let us go back to the village. Let us count our money.” Said Opong. “Yes, Pare!, let us count our money.” Said Angkil.