Native American Legends
A Coyote's Tales
A Papago Legend
Late in August, just as the days were approaching their shortest
length, the last group of visitors moved past the coyote exhibit
at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. "The Museum closes in
five minutes," a docent (trained volunteer) told the visitors.
"Look at what the sign says," a tall, thin-legged man
told his friends. "Darn coyotes are scavengers. Says they eat
rabbits, mice, even cactus. Cows, too, my brother tells me."
Juanita the Coyote was pacing her area, head drooping and tongue
hanging out at the fading late afternoon sun. "That coyote
sure is scrawny. His coat looks like it could use a trip to the
dry cleaners," a female visitor said. "It is a female
coyote, ma'am," the docent corrected. "Hey, you scruffy,
mangy, overgrown dog!" the thin-legged man yelled.
Juanita stopped her pacing and sat on the ground facing the visitors.
She held her head high and let out a long, menacing howl. The three
straggling visitors jumped back. Juanita ended her howl, turned
abruptly, and strode off to her den. "That's the five o'clock
whistle, folks," the patient docent said. "Please, let's
move toward the exit so our animals can have their evening meal
in peace."
A full moon was rising into the night sky as Juanita lay in a corner
of her den catering to her brood of pups. Walter, her husband, dosed
in the far corner, resting up for his own concert of howls that
he would give once the moon had risen to its highest point. Several
of the pups finished their meal and licked each other's noses and
mouths.
Stephanie Coyote, the runt of the litter but the most outspoken,
said in the loudest voice she could manage, "Mother, please
tell us one of your tales about running free in the wild."
"I will, Stephanie, but only if you lower your voice. Your
father is sleeping." "Sorry, mother," Stephanie said
in a whisper. "I want a story, too," Guillermo said. "If
Stephanie gets one, I want one, too," he sulked. "Children,
please bide your time. I usually recite only one bedtime story each
night. In honor of the full moon which coyotes love so much, I will
tell a Stephanie tale and a Guillermo tale this evening." All
six pups quickly gathered around their mother in a semi-circle.
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