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One day Coyote was going along when he came upon
his old friend Dog. "Howdy! My you're looking
good!" Coyote said to Dog, noticing how shiny his
fur was, how plump he looked, and also noticing his
brand new clothes he was wearing.
"Coyote! Its been a long time! Yes, I got this new
job working for the man. He treats me really well
and I always have something to eat now," Dog
explained, as he noticed that Coyote's old and
tattered clothes were hangingloosely on his skinny
frame, and his belt had new notches cut in it so it
could be cinched up farther. "Why don't you come on
over tonight for dinner? The man won't be home
until late and we could talk about old times."
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"Coyote and Dog
Drink"
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"Oh, I would
sure like that," Coyote said, never one to turn
down a free meal. "I'll see youtonight!"So Coyote
went off on his way and Dog went back to work.
Coyote soon found an old bottle, and he took it
down to a nearby creek. There he washed it out and
filled it with muddy water to take to Dog as a
house present. He had no money for a bottle of
wine, so he thought that this would have to do.
That night, Coyote waited for the man to leave, and
then he went up to the house and knocked. Dog
opened for Coyote.
"I hope your hungry," Dog said, "because I have
fixed us tacos and enchiladas and tostadas, and I
have plenty of them, too!"
"I sure am hungry, Dog. Everything smells
good!"
They sat down to eat, and Dog gave Coyote a bottle
of wine to drink. As they ate and talked, Coyote
drank more and more of the wine. Dog, on the other
hand, politely drank the muddy water Coyote had
given him, straining the rocks out through his
teeth. As the night wore on, Coyote got drunker and
drunker, and began singing at the top of his lungs,
while sober Dog realized that it was almost time
for the man to return.
"Coyote! You've got to leave now! The man will be
home any minute!" urged Dog
"Arooo!
Arooooooo!"
Coyote sang louder.
"You must go now!" Dog urged.
"Aroooo!
Yip
Yip
Yip!"
went Coyote.
"Coyote! The man is coming home now! I can see him
now!" Dog warned.
"Yowaoorooooo!"
"Quick! Run out the back!" beseeched Dog.
But Coyote did not listen, and the man came in with
his rifle and shot Coyote dead, right where he sat,
singing.
.........................Chiricahua
Apache - retold by Susi Nagoda Bergquist
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