The Thief-Folktale

Gwalidi grew tired of school and his mother's aspirations for him to become a doctor. He rebelled, turning from a good boy into a bad son. He started stealing from poor villagers - goats, chickens, pigs, and even cows to earn more money. Despite his mother's pleas to abandon this behavior and consider his future, Gwalidi's mind was clouded, like a burning charcoal from Mozambique. His wicked actions made him notorious in the village.

In the same village, there lived a woman named Tsapa, who possessed mysterious powers. She owned numerous cows and animals on her farm, but they began disappearing. Wondering who was behind these thefts, Tsapa sought the help of her traditional healer and magician to protect her animals with magical spells. Luckily, she acquired a special charm that would safeguard her possessions and wasted no time in casting the spell upon it.

Surprisingly, Gwalidi's behavior started to change after encountering Tsapa's enchanted charm. One night, as he approached the cattle pen, he felt as though he was being watched. "Today feels different, but I will still steal the cow! Hahaha!" Gwalidi exclaimed, his eyes wide open. With caution, Gwalidi led the cattle away from the pen, and it followed him. He took it far from the village and his home, tying it to a large tree before returning.

The following morning, Gwalidi went to retrieve the cow he had stolen and found it where he had left it. He took it to the market and sold it at a lower price, happy with the money in his pocket. However, on his way back home, Gwalidi suddenly transformed into a large snake. He cried uncontrollably, resembling a frightened child. His entire body had transformed, except for his head and face, which looked incredibly strange. He crawled back home, where his mother was on the veranda. Seeing the approaching snake, she ran inside and locked the door. But then she heard her son's voice, pleading for her not to close the door, revealing his true identity. This terrified his mother, who cautiously opened the door and peered outside. Indeed, the snake's face was that of her son. She screamed for help while her son comforted her, urging her to apologize to Ms. Tsapa for his actions. He vowed never to engage in such dangerous activities again and asked to return everything they had stolen. Though reluctant due to her knowledge of her son's behavior, his mother eventually agreed.

News of Gwalidi turning into a snake spread throughout the village, and people were afraid to go near his home, fearing the snake might attack them. However, his mother noticed the sincerity in her son's tears, indicating his transformation. Finally, she agreed to accompany him to Tsapa's house to beg for forgiveness and acknowledge his change.

Tsapa forgave Gwalidi and accepted the money from the cow's sale. She also apologized for bewitching him and warned him to cease his destructive behavior, which could lead to his demise. However, she commended him for returning everything and choosing the path of goodness once again, comparing his journey to that of a lost child who has found their way back.

"Thank you very much, Mother. I apologize for bringing shame upon you and the entire village, but I am now a new person," Gwalidi said tearfully, embracing his mother as they both wept.