Khadambi and Kivuli Nothing ever happened to Khadambi, except on the day that he cut his thumb. For it was on the same day that he cut his thumb that he had an argument with his shadow. And it was because of the argument he had with his shadow that he got turned into a snake. But usually nothing really ever happened to Khadambi. Except on that one day. Now it all started because Khadambi's mother had sent him out to dig up some yams. But Khadambi had quickly forgotten what it was he was supposed to do, maybe because he had come across an empty tin by the side of the road, but whatever the reason, Khadambi decided that he was going to make some music instead. So he put some stones into the top of the tin, and then he squashed the tin flat with his hands, so that the stones wouldn't fall out through the opening. "Ouch," he said, for his thumb was bleeding, having been cut on the sharp edge of the tin. But never mind that, thought Khadambi, and he started to shake the tin up and down, and then he began to dance. "Hey, fellow, stop rattling that najingiri!" said a voice, "That noise is the worst music I ever heard!" "Who said that?" asked Khadambi. "I did, of course," said the voice. "And look what you've done now! You're spilling your blood all over my black coat. Stick your thumb in your mouth, before any more blood gets on me." "Come out, come out," demanded Khadambi. "Stop that hiding! Where are you?" "I'm behind you and beneath you," said the voice, "and wherever you go I follow closely." "What are you talking about?" said Khadambi, getting very mad. "Come out and show yourself. I can't see you." "I can't come out, you foolish boy, you're standing on top of me. My name is Kivuli, and I'm your shadow." Now, realising that his shadow was talking, Khadambi became frightened. "Get away, get away," he shouted. "I can't get away," said Kivuli, "we're joined at the feet." "Well," screamed Khadambi, "I don't want to be joined to you. Go away." Then Khadambi threw the najingiri to the ground, right on top of his shadow, and the stones scattered everywhere. "You impudent rascal," said Kivuli. "You can't treat me this way just because I'm a shadow. I'll teach you. I'll teach you what it's like to have to slide across the ground all the time. And you'll soon find out what it feels like to be trodden on." "Hey, what's happening to me?" called Khadambi, and he felt suddenly strange. "I'm turning you into a snake, you stupid boy. Now you can spend the rest of your life on the ground, just like me." "No, no," pleaded Khadambi, but it was too late. Khadambi had already turned into a snake, and he was slithering sideways over the ground, his blunt head parting the tufted grass. And now, because he was a snake, the only thing he had in his mind was the business of snakes. All he could think of right now was a bird's egg, a shining white egg that he would swallow in one bite, crushing it whole inside his mouth. "Khadambi, Khadambi, did you learn to be this useless in school? Where are those yams? Get off the ground this instant!" It was the voice of Khadambi's mother. Khadambi sat up with a start. " But mother, it was my shadow! He turned me into a snake!" "Ah, Khadambi, you must have shadows for brains. Get yourself a stick and dig up those yams straight away. Straight away now. The water's boiling in the pot." Nothing ever happened to Khadambi. Except on that one day.