TELL ME A STORY: The Twist of a Tale (a story from Burma)

Long ago in Burma, there lived four men who had - or so they said - traveled all over the world. They often sat in the village market and told tales of their fabulous lives, of the adventures they'd had, the sights they'd seen and the wondrous things they knew. They told tales of climbing the highest mountains in the world, and of sailing the seas in a bathtub.

All the villagers listened closely. Although some thought the tales might not be true, nobody ever really said so. They whispered among themselves - ""Could it be true?"" - but because none of the villagers had traveled far away, they thought the four men must know more than they.

One day a dashing stranger appeared in town. As he sat in the village market, he overheard the tale-tellers regaling their listeners with stories of grand adventures.

""In Ireland,"" one of the men said, ""I caught three leprechauns.""

""In Italy, I became king,"" said the second man, ""but I gave up the throne so that I could return home.""

""In France, I was a famous vintner. Everyone in France now drinks my wine,"" said the third.

""Ah, you think that's something?"" began the fourth, but just as he was about to tell yet another fantastic tale, the traveler stood up and walked over to them.

""Excuse me,"" he said to the four men, ""I couldn't help but overhear your stories, and I wonder if you're telling the truth.""

The listening villagers gasped in surprise and moved closer to hear.

The four men looked at one another and smiled, for they had long hoped to find someone who would question their tales.

""You don't believe us, then?"" asked the first man.

""I do wonder,"" the traveler said.

""Perhaps you will agree, then, that all travelers are fine storytellers.""

""Some travelers tell true tales,"" the traveler said.

""Then let me propose an idea,"" said the second tale-teller. ""Since we all have been great travelers, why don't we share our most wonderful adventures? But if anyone thinks a story is not true, he must become the servant of the storyteller.""

""Terrific idea,"" said the third man, for they had long talked of this scheme. They were certain the traveler would not believe their stories, and when he admitted just that, he would become their servant.

But the traveler was a wise man himself, and so he said, ""Agreed. You go first.""

The first man began. ""Long before I turned a year old, my family and I lived in a great forest, and one day I climbed a tree so high, my father did not have the strength to climb after me. I picked fruit for my mother from that tree, and after that, everyone knew I was the finest climber in the world.""

All the listeners smiled in admiration at this feat, and the traveler never said he did not believe the story, for if he had, he would have had to become the man's servant.

""And now you,"" said the traveler to the second man, who began: ""When I was just a baby, I swam across the sea, and because not one ship could move as quickly as I swam, my parents never did find me. Eventually I swam back here.""

Again, nobody said, ""Impossible.""

""Well, that's nothing,"" said the third man. ""When I was 5, I caught a ferocious tiger with my bare hands and saved a king's daughter from harm.""

Again the men waited, but no one said, ""That can't be true.""

""Now hear this,"" said the fourth man. ""As a young man, I once swam to the very bottom of the sea and caught a shark with my bare hands. I brought him to the surface and before everyone's eyes, I grabbed his fin and rode him like a horse.""

Again nobody said, ""Preposterous.""

The four men were surprised, but now they waited to hear the traveler's tale. They knew they would never say ""Impossible,"" and the game would end, and none of the villagers ever would dare doubt their tales.

And so the traveler began. ""When I was a younger man, I had servants who loved to tell tales. One day the servants stole all my money and all my fine clothes. Then they ran away. You, gentlemen, are those very same men, and since those clothes you are wearing are mine, and since the money in your pockets belongs to me, I would be very glad if you would willingly return these things, and I shall be on my way.""

The villagers waited to hear the four men's answers. They could not say, ""Impossible,"" for if they did, they would have to become the traveler's servants. And at last, the four men blushed and reached into their pockets. They handed over all their money to the stranger, and then they handed over their fine clothes. The traveler bowed and went on his way, leaving the four tale-tellers to ponder the story of their misfortune.

The second book collection of wonderful tales from ""Tell Me a Story"" is available for $14.95, plus $3.50 for postage and handling. Send your orders to ""The Spectacular Gift,"" in care of Andrews McMeel Publishing, P.O. Box 419242, Kansas City, MO. 64141; or call (800) 642-6480. Be sure to indicate your newspaper's name on your order. Allow three to four weeks for delivery.



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